TFtember: Trans-Europe Express

"Trans-Europe Express", the Transformers, December 23, 1985

Megatron is on a rampage across Istanbul. Why? Because he's looking for Pearl of Bahoudin. It isn't because it's a priceless artifact or the monetary value-no. He wants it because it is actually part of a Cybtertronian weather satellite and with it he can rule the world!

The Autobots, meanwhile, are competing in the Europea 2000 road race. They're racing for charity but their actual mission to safeguard the car of the American driver as the Decepticons might want the prototype racer for themselves. 

Yeah, turns out both plots will merge in the end but it turns out the Decepticons faked a road race to lure the American driver and his fancy car out to combine the car's shell with the pearl. So, how did they fake a race across multiple countries? Wouldn't it have been easier to just steal the car once they get the pearl? Why do something that would involve the Autobots at all? 

TFtember: Transformers#60

"Yesterday's Heroes!" the Transformers#60 (December 1989) with credits to Simon Furman (script), Jose Delbo (pencils), Dave Hunt (inks), Nelson Yomtov (colors), Jim Massara (letters), and Don Daley (editor)

To sum up last issue, Ratchet and Megatron were at ground zero of a massive explosion. This makes Optimus Prime rather put out. 

On Cybertron, the Autobot Pretenders have teamed up with the Micromasters to lead a resistance against the Decepticons. Lord Thunderwing is most annoyed at this point, so he summons the Mayhem Attack Squad (Bludgeon, Octopunch, and Stranglehold) to find the resistance and kill them. 

Optimus, meanwhile, is brooding on the Moon. Hot Rod figures the best to get him out of his funk to program a giant drone to attack the Autobots but let Optimus win in order to build his confidence up. Pity the drone goes berserk for real. 

Oh, and due to a teleporting screw up, the Autobot resistance ends up meeting the Transformer god, Primus. 

Well, that's a heck of a note to end on. Yeah, Optimus ends up getting his groove back, Megatron seemingly dead and yeah, here's god. Can't fault the creatives for coming up with some twists. 

TFtember: Long Haul

 Long Haul

And we end our look back at the Transformer toys this month with the guts of the Constructicons, Long Haul. 

Starting out as a Diaclone Construction Vehicle RobotNo. 5 Dump Truck, Long Haul was one of the first combiner bots in the franchise. Like I said with Hook, subsequent combiners would only have one robot as the torso but here we gets two, so Long Haul got to act as the lower body. 

There weren't too many toys on him. Much like his Constructicon brethren, there was the initial toy in 1985, a later giftset and the European release where he was a bit yellow. 

The file card paints rather interesting character. Hates his job but understands the importance of supply lines. "Can be goaded into a fight if he's overmatched" is a rather interesting line. Does he avoid violence unless there's no other option? Does he wait until he's overmatched?

The comic was less clear. Built by Shockwave on Earth, he mostly stayed with the Constructicons in group shots until they were slowly faded away in the background. Seriously we didn't even see them get shot or anything. 

The cartoon, where he was voiced by Gregg Berger, didn't fare much better. He mostly complained about his job, as well as having multiple origins. His biggest individual role was dragging an injured Kickback away in the movie. After that, it was all background shots until the end. 

TFtember: War Dawn

 "War Dawn", the Transformers, December 25, 1985

We open with the Aerielbots taking on the Decepticon Seekers. It's rough going, as Starscream has hostages. He dumps them out, but thankfully Aerielbot leader Silverbolt saves them! Mostly by catching on his back, which seems to me would be instantly fatal but what do I know?

There is dissention in the ranks, however. Some of the Aerielbots are wondering if the Decepticons aren't right, or at the very least if humans are worth fighting for. On a mission to Cybertron, the Aerielbots blunder into a trap and end up sent a few million years in the past. Cybertron's past to be specific where they end up encounter a young bot named Orion Pax. 

They also encounter Megatron and a few of his followers. Things get progressively worse from there, with Pax and his two friends being gunned down by Megatron. Thankfully Alpha Trion is here, and he has some ideas about repairing them into something a bit more...prime

Not bad, even if the animation is a bit wonky in parts. We get a proper origin for Optimus Prime, which had been strongly hinted at in "the Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2"

TFtember: Transformers#59

    "Skin Deep" the Transformers#59 (Mid. November 1989) with credits to Simon Furman (script), Jose Delbo (pencils), Dave Hunt (inks), Nel Yomtov (colors), Jim Massara (letters), and Don Daley (editor)

More Pretender shilling

Grimlock is back baby! He tries to kill Megatron but fails. The Decepticon laughs, did Ratchet really think this low level treachery would succeed? Not really, but then again Grimlock wasn't his main weapon...

Speaking of that, Starscream is wiping the floor with the Autobots and gathered Decepticons, so much so the factions call a truce and try to take down the newest Pretender. All hopes seems lost until Hot Rod manages to hit the right spot to weaken the Air Commander. The rest pile on and soon Starscream is back to his old cowardly self. 

Megatron is less than pleased at this but he's going to go all to pieces when he figures out Ratchet's real plan...

Great set up and even the toy advert is handled with care. 

TFtember: Kickback

Kickback 

Last Insecticon we'll look at this month. Starting out as a Diaclone Waruder Insect Robo Battas figure, this one went from robot to grasshopper. Since it was also a Battas figure, there was a small cockpit for a figure American audiences never saw. 

The filecard had him as a real nasty bit of work. Blackmail seems to be his reason for living, only befriends bots so he can dig dirt of them, holding it against them. 

As far as the comic go, Kickback was first introduced as a loyal warrior to Lord Staxus but he had no issues switching over to Megatron. He would mostly show up with the other Insecticons until he faded away, with #41 being his last appearance. 

The cartoon wasn't much better. Voiced by Clive Revill, he was mostly a thug. He wasn't much on blackmail but he could clone himself, so there's that. Like his Insecticon brethren, he had one main episode then slowly faded into the background. He was featured in the Movie, being crushed by Kup and possibly being turned into Sweep. He seemingly got better and showed up in a few episodes during the third season, but as Kickback so I guess it was a clone that got changed?

TFtember: Aerial Assault

"Aerial Assault", the Transformers, December 10, 1985

Not the most offensive episode set in the Middle East, if that means anything. 

This focuses on the Aerialbots as they run afoul of the Combaticons. One by one they are picked off and stripped of vital parts. The surviving bots happen across a young boy named Hassan who gives them the lowdown. To wit, the once peaceful country was ruled by Prince Jumal, until he was deposed by the traitor Ali, who not only seeks to strip the country of its wealth but he's also allied himself with Megatron!

Yup, seems the parts that are being stolen are to be the key parts to a new series of drone fighters Megatron is building. 

Also a giant purple griffin, because why not?

Yeah bit of mess. The Combaticons are here yet we don't have their origin (that would air next month in '86) so the familiarity everyone has is a bit confusing. Plus there is also the plot point that the Aerialbot's parts are also being used for cars which doesn't make sense even by 1980's cartoon logic. 

Tftember: Transformers#58

    "All the Familiar Faces!" the Transformers#58 (November 1989) with credits to Simon Furman (script), Jose Delbo (pencils), Dave Hunt (inks), Nelson Yomtov (colors), Jim Massara (letters), and Don Daley (editor)

Ratchet has been challenged by Megatron to bring Starscream back to life using the most advanced medical tech on Cybertron. He has taken the challenge, mostly due to his being threatened but also the sheer nature of the work. He also eyes the three Autobot bodies he brought with him from Earth...

While Prime fights the Decepticons on Earth, Ratchet finishes his work. Starscream lives! Sort of; his broken body has to be kept in a large outer shell to help the healing plus his mind has been reworked to be 100% loyal to Megatron. He's no fool after all. 

While Starscream begins his assualt on Earth, Megatron prepares to kill Ratchet but remember those Autobots he brought with him? Yeah, meet the Autobot Pretenders!

Decent and yes, this is yet another shilling the toy episode but it's handled well enough to build tension. 

TFtember: Jetfire

Jetfire 

Or Skyfire, if you prefer

A figure that in all likelyhood will NEVER be reissued. It began life as a VF-1S Super Valkyrie from Macross and it was made by Takatoku Toys. As best as I can tell the whole thing came about for two reasons. 1) Hasbro was in dire need of need toys for Series 2 2) Takatoku was in dire need of money thus they lent the molds to Hasbro. The figure is a real beauty, going from robot to jet to a 'guardian mode' which you'd be familiar with if you caught any episodes of Robotech.  

The filecard doesn't go in a whole of detail. He's the fastest and seems interested in science but there's nothing to suggest he's a proper scientist. He's also so high tech he can prone to mechanical failure. 

The comics painted a different picture. He started out as a Decepticon but also a mindless one. Yeah, he was built at the same time as the Constructicons but unlike them he had no personality. Thankfully Buster, when he briefly had Creation Matrix powers, and Bumblebee managed to alter Jetfire's programing and give him free will. He later would be used pretty much anytime the Autobots needed air support until he was blown up by Starscream, although later materiel suggested he was simply injured and not dead. 

The cartoon, where he was voiced by Gregg Berger, was a sort of blend of the comic and the filecard. In the show, Skyfire (can't seem to find a reason for the name change) was originally a scientist alongside Starscream. In fact they were the closest of chums but during a scouting mission to what would become Earth, Skyfire was lost in a storm and crashed, only being thawed out millions of years later. 

He would at first be a loyal Decepticon but after seeing how they acted he switched sides to the Autobots. He was then buried again but got thawed later. He also acted as their air support/taxi for the rest of the series. He was later seen being shot (but not overtly killed) in the episode "Dark Awakening". 

All told, disappointing waste of a character. Lots of potential, especially his past with Starscream but they barely did anything aside from using him as transport. 

Tftember: The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2

"The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2", the Transformers, November 26, 1985

Optimus has finished refurbishing the the old jets into new robots but since Megatron has the key there isn't much he can do. Alpha Trion has an alternative-namely he'll use up all his energy to power the computer and thus give the jets life. Before Prime can object the old fellow up and does that. He dies but that's enough to power in the computer to give the new jets life. 

The newly dubbed Aerialbots are impressive but Trion's ghost warns them that the Key of Vector Sigma will have strange effects on Earth. That doesn't bother the Aerialbots, who proceed to demonstrate their ability to form Superion is darn nice and an almost complete rout of the Decepticons. 

But can the Autobots get the key back before the Earth is destroyed?

Decent although the episode is a rather hard shill for the Stunticons and Aerialbots, the fight scenes keep things moving along. 

TFtember: Transformers#57

   "The Resurrection Gambit!" the Transformers#57 (October 1989) with credits to Simon Furman (script), Jose Delbo (pencils), Dave Hunt (inks), Nel Yomtov (colors), Jim Massara (letters), and Don Daley (editor)

Somehow, Megatron has come back. Ratchet is not having this, but Megatron skips over the details of resurrection and moves right into explaining his master plan. 

Back on Earth, Optimus Prime and the rest of the Autobots are having issues with the Decepticon Micromasters, which grow when Scorpinok arrives. Looks like Ratchet is on his own...

Rather not spoil this one but the story and possible return hinted at? Brillant work easily the best use of the trope. 

Tftember: Inferno

Inferno

So we're looking at a guy whose name has been both an Autobot and a Terrorcon. He started out a Diaclone and aside from the few safety requirements was pretty much the same as his Japanese version. 

The next figure in Generation one was an Action Master. Rather good with ball joints and came with the biggest dang gun in the entire line I think. There was also a European Classic line, with was the exact same as his American version.

The file card has him as a cowboy cop who plays by his own rules. Yup, he might stop fighting a forest fire to go fist fight with a Decepticon. He loves fighting fire and a fighting period. 

The comics were a different story. He didn't show up in the American comics until#78 and pretty much stayed in the background until the series ended. He did have a longer career in the UK comics, actually having action and doing things. 

The cartoon was voiced by Walker Edmiston. He didn't much aside from hosing things down and working with Red Alert in the background. He apparently dated Firestar, for whatever that's worth. 

Seriously, a guy who's whole deal is being in the background no matter the medium. That's almost impressive. 

TFtember: The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1

"The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1", the Transformers, November 25, 1985

In which we met the Stunticons for the first time

The Autobots are hauling some new super fuel back to base when the Decepticons attack! Thankfully there is a tunnel nearby and the jets are driven off. Megatron isn't happy. 

So he has his troops steal different types of cars and trucks and with a little elbow grease they bring them to life, sort of. They don't have any personalities and that's bad apparently. Prime, learning about this, realizes the next step is going to the massive supercomputer Vector Sigma in order to implant personalities, despite this never being brought up before. 

Seriously, the Dinobots were built on Earth and so were the Constructicons (at least in one telling). 

Shockwave radios in, letting the Decepticons that while finding the computer was easy there's a component missing-the key! Which is in the possession of Alpha Trion. 

 When the Decepticons arrive back on Cybertron, Trion puts up a good fight but he's no match. The Decepticons get the key and quickly give the Stunticons personalities. They're all wild but they're willing to listen to Megatron at least. 

The Autobots arrive too late. They manage to save Trion but they fail to stop the Stunticons from becoming alive. Despairing, they notice some ancient rockets and jets buried in the rubble near the computer. If the Decepticons can increase their ranks, why not the Autobots?

Back on Earth, the Stunticons make their move, with a confused populace now convinced the Autobots have turned bad...

Decent; I mean, we've never seen Vector Sigma before and we won't see it again so the retcon is a bit muddled; plus the Stunticons are a bit bland aside from a generic 'rah, I'm a bad guy' moments. 

TFtember: Transformers#56

    "Back from the Dead" the Transformers#56 (September 1989) with credits to Simon Furman (script), Jose Delbo (pencils), Dave Hunt (inks), Nel Yomtov (colors), Jim Massara (letters), and Don Daley (editor)

Ratchet's been plagued by nightmares lately, although you can't fault the medic for that. Optimus Prime pops by for a pep talk and to insist Ratchet get some downtime. 

He doesn't get it as more Micromasters attack. A new group, claiming to be the Autobot Sports Car Patrol, help the Autobots out and offer Ratchet a lift back to Cybertron. Seeing this as a golden opportunity to get his friends fixed with a proper medical bay, Ratchet leaps at the chance...but things aren't what they seem...

Darn good. Furman makes the most of his first issue and brings back some old favorites. 

Tftember: Hook

Hook 

Back to the Constructicons, as we look at the heart (literally) of the team, Hook. The toy started out as a Diaclone Construction Vehicle Robot Number 3 Truck Crane. Basic but good, as he could also go from robot, to crane, to the upper torso of Devastator. His file card paints him as a perfectionist, capable of surgically working on both a microchip or a 20 ton girder with equal ease. He is also deeply unpopular with his fellows. 

That was pretty much it for the figures, aside from a gift set and the Euro reissue (where he became yellow for some reason) but there be more in later lines. 

The comic was pretty much identical to Bonecrusher's story arc. He showed up, was part of Devastator and that's about it. He made it to #41 before he just faded away to nothing. 

Neil Ross voiced him in the show. The show did him both good and dirty. Good, in that he had a decent presence and actually did things but it was always with the other Constructicons around him and as such he was done dirty in that he was never given the spotlight. He was given three separate origins so I guess that makes up for that? After the Movie's release, Hook was slowly regulated to the background and his perfectionist tendacies never really came up.  

comic/cartoon)

TFtember: Hoist Goes Hollywood

 "Hoist Goes Hollywood", the Transformers, Nov. 21 1985

Pretty self explanatory title.

Spike and Carly are enjoying a ride in the country inside Hoist when two cars speed past them. When one of the cars veers off a cliff, Hoist to the rescue! He snags the car and then gets yelled at by a director, as he just blew his shot.

However, a giant robot that can turn into a car? Ok, he can work with that, so the director invites the trio to the studio. At the same time, Dirge is transporting a mysterious object, or at least trying to; despite his best effort he ends up crash landing in a swamp set located at Major Pictures-the very same studio our heroes are going to!

The next day, Hoist arrives but the director gives him the brush-off. Gate crashers Tracks, Warpath, Sunstreaker, and Powerglide on the other hand? Them he loves and casts them in the film. Hoist might have dodged a bullet, as every scene the Autobots are in involve them crashing, being dressed up as silly aliens and being shot, or crashing again as the leads make out over them.

The Decepticons are busy however, as Dirge is recovered and the mysterious object. What is it? It's mysterious! Also Wheeljack built it (no idea how Dirge got it), so regardless of his intent it's probably going to explode. When Megatron switches it on, however, all it does is smoke. 

Megatron, when he finishes beating Starscream, is mortified when told some humans caught them on film so he orders them to steal all the footage. Will they succeed? Will Hoist get his big chance? Will Attack of the Alien Robots sweep the Oscars?

Hoist really gets his time to shine here and while it's a bit silly (did the studio have those masks on hand or did the Autobots sit in the makeup chair?) we do get some nice comedy and a new setting. Starscream gets the tar beaten out of him a lot though. 

TFtember: Transformers#55

   "The Interplanetary Wrestling Championship!" the Transformers#55 (August 1989) with credits to Bob Budiansky (script), Jim Fern (pencils), Mike Gustovich (inks), Nel Yomtov (colors), Jim Massara (letters), and Don Daley (editor)

Picking up from last issue, Roadhandler has been invited to be on Cecila Santiago's talk show (she was introduced last issue, reporter who made friends with the Autobots). Roadhandler has a message for the people-he's a Micromaster. They aren't following the Autobots anymore and they're here to take a bite out of crime!

All of this (aliens acting as vigilantes, also they turn into small cars and trucks) fails to impress Jake "the Jackhammer" Jackson. He's the local wrestling champ and brother, if he wants to impress him, then he can drag his chassis in the ring, brother! Roadhandler accepts!

Only later does someone explain how pro wrestling works. Roadhandler is mortified but his honor is at stake! They met later at the gym and Jackson explains how to run the ropes without killing anyone. The match is a hit and soon Roadhandler is racking up victories left and right. 

Of course, while Roadhandler is imploring kids to train and eat their vitamins, the Decepticons have their own Micromasters and they figure Roadhandler would make an easy target; failing that they can always kill his fan club. 

Can Roadhandler save his fans or will be he forced to do the job?

This was Budiansky's final issue. A bit silly but he manages to juggle the plot, wrestling, and advertising new characters at the same time. 

TFtember: Hoist

Hoist  

More of a background guy, but he does his part well enough. Hoist started out as a retool of Trailbreaker, only with a tow truck instead of a camper. Whereas Trailbreaker was a Diaclone originally, Hoist technically doesn't count due to the retooling. 

Hoist' main function is maintenance, which raises a question about Ratchet. If an Autobot gets sick, do they need a doctor or a mechanic? Having both makes things a bit murky. The file card paints him as dedicated and jovial. 

He comes across less well in the comics. He first appeared in #14. He was shown as a stickler for maintenance but mostly stuck to the background before being blown up in #50. 

He fared better in the cartoon. Voiced by Michael Chain, he often acted as the Dr. Watson to Grapple's Holmes. He also drove Grapple around, which raises a lot of questions about scale that the show will never answer. He wasn't killed in the movie, which for a lot of characters is a major accomplishment in unto itself. 

TFtember: The Girl Who Loved Powerglide

"The Girl Who Loved Powerglide", the Transformers, Nov. 18, 1985

Or, the episode that raises WAY more questions than it answers

Here we met Astoria Carleton-Ritz, filthy rich and CEO of Hybrid Technologies. It's her birthday, but she isn't happy, mostly due to her being  stuck having to oversee the company. Her board of directors feel the exact same way, most of them grousing about having to essentially babysit a spoiled brat. 

Just then the Decepticons attack! Thankfully, Powerglide (Autobot who can fly) happens by. He manages to snag Astoria with a rope and fly her to safety. After some impressive dogfighting, he manages to lose the enemy jets and takes her back to Sparkplug's workshop. She rests while Optimus briefs Powerglide. It's also now pretty obvious Astoria isn't the brightest bulb, not even being sure what her company does. So what do the Decepticons want with her?

Powerglide doesn't know but he's ordered to take her back to the Ark. Pity that Astoria is quite hungry, so she gets him to make a detour to a nearby amusement park. Fine, he says, one meal then we go. 

She has her fill of hotdogs but now she wants to go on the Merry-Go-Round! Fine, he says, one turn on the round then we go.

Pity this detour is enough to let the Decepticons find them again. Powerglide isn't as lucky this time out and Astoria is kidnapped. Ratchet and Wheeljack drag him back to base for repairs.

Declaring himself fixed enough, Powerglide flies out to rescue her. And why do the Decepticons want Astoria so bad? Because of the energy formula her father gave her! The jokes on them, she answers, as he never told her. 

Turns out he did, sort of, via the locket she's wearing. Can she part with the item before Powerglide is shot down for good?

Shockingly good; Powerglide and Astoria make a rather cute couple. Pity she didn't show up any more. 

TFtember: Transformers#54

  "King Con!" the Transformers#54 (July 1989) with credits to Bob Budiansky (script), Jose Delbo (pencils), Danny Bulandi (inks), Nel Yomtov (colors), Jim Massara (letters), and Don Daley (editor)

Some hunters are on the prowl somewhere in New Jersey. They're hunting a monster, and they find one. Not the Jersey Devil, and not Bigfoot-nope, they stumble over Iguanus and he isn't happy. They manage to escape with their lives and a tale no one will take serious. 

On the Autobot side, Optimus is worried. Still mourning the Autobots lost in #50, he realizes they need more Autobots if they want to survive, so he puts out the call. He gets the Micromasters (now available at your finer retail stores kids!).

Optimus is underwhelmed by the tiny terrors but eh, you work with what you got. Two missions he has, 1) the sightings of Iguanus and possible Decepticon activity and 2) strange weather that has been plaguing New York and New Jersey. 

Turns out both items are connected. Yup, the Decepticons have set up shop in New Jersey and the weird weather is a result of their latest machine to gather energy; thus the Micromasters scramble and we get good character moments and everyone has a decent build up.

I mean, they do a hard sell on the Micromasters but they still establish them as characters.  

TFtember: Grimlock

Grimlock 

The Leader of the Dinobots, AKA the bad ass dude on the show. The toy was a real beaut, starting in life as a Diaclone Dinosaur Robo Tyrannosaurus. Gun, sword and a tiny pilot (in Japan anyway) all rolled up to make one mean mother of a toy. The figure was largely unchanged from his Japanese counterpart, save for a few paint details. The file card paints a study in contrasts; cares for the Autobot cause but hates weakness (especially humans), Dinobot commander but resents authority, aside from lack of speed has no weakness. 

Grimlock proved popular enough to be part of the Pretenders line (yet they did very little with his disguise being a human) and part of the Action Masters too. The latter being pretty basic but they did get the basic visual of the character down. 

The comic was pretty similar to the file card but goes in a darker direction. Seriously, gets named Autobot leader and half a panel later he's sporting a crown and issuing death to his enemies and boy, does he have enemies. Mostly people who disrespect him; pity that Grimlock has a very board definition of the concept of disrespect. He manages to stick around, usually being the hothead on the Autobots side. 

Grimlock was eventually humbled and even made it to the last issue

The cartoon was probably the most known version of the character. Voiced by Gregg Berger, here Grimlock was a monosyllabic destroyer, usually starting every line with "Me Grimlock". He was the wild card and the episodes that featured the Dinobots made it clear Grimlock was the smartest of the Dinobots, even if that doesn't mean a whole lot. A real nutty character but it is easy to see why he's in most versions of the show. It's also odd in the consistency. Comic, cartoon, and toyline takes on the character are nearly identical. Brash, a little dim, but willing to put everything aside to kick some metal ass. 

TFtember: The Search for Alpha Trion

 "The Search for Alpha Trion", the Transformers, Nov. 12, 1985

AKA the one with the ladies

Yeah, this episode sees the debut of the female Transformers. It seems a small group of them got left on Cybertron and they've been running a resistance ever since the Autobots left. They've just hit Shockwave's energon stash but in the process of the raid they get discovered. 

Shockwave manages to track down their hideout. Their leader Elita-One gets captured but the rest flee. Megatron calls up Optimus to boast about this, prompting the Autobot leader to rush to her rescue. Unseen by him, Powerglide, Ironhide, and Inferno follow.

Optimus is quickly dropped into a vat of acid but Elita-One uses her special power of time to rescue him, at the cost of her life. Prime gets her out of there and goes in search of Alpha Trion. 

Who's he? Alpha is the Autobot who made Elita-One (and also Optimus but he doesn't know that until the end of the episode) and thus might be able to reset her settings. 

The heroes arrive and the female Autobots are soon given a new hideout. 

Not bad, although it raises more questions than it answers. Ignoring the whole biology thing, if Elita-One and Optimus have the same creator, wouldn't that make them siblings? Like I said, weird. 

TFtember: Transformers#53

 "Recipe for Disaster!" the Transformers#53 (June 1989) with credits to Bob Budiansky (script), Jose Delbo (pencils), Dave Hunt (inks), Nel Yomtov (colors), Jade Moede (letters), and Don Daley (editor)

When we last left Landmine and Cloudburst, things were looking grim. The Mecannibals were about to chow down on our heroes. Getting cracked out of their Pretender shells gives them an idea and they quickly use a remote control on the shells to provide a distraction!

It's of little use and they are soon cornered again. The pair know when they're licked and give up but some seasoning would really them go down easier. Yeah, if the cannibals wouldn't mind letting them go and pick up some seasonings they would really give the meal some kick.

Shockingly, the cannibals agree to let them go, but they keep Berko as hostage (a human who had been flying around with Sky-Lynx). The pair flee to Femax, a world ruled by Amazon warriors. Tasked to prove their worth as warriors, Cloudburst does so with so much ease the First One declares him the perfect candidate for her mate. Cloudburst points out the issue that is going to cause. She takes it well, by which I mean she decapitates him. 

Landmine argues their case and does so well enough that the First One gives them the seasoning they need, plus Cloudburst's head too. 

More Decepticons show up but everything is resolved. 

Definitely some twists and turns in this one. 

TFtember: Grapple

Grapple 

Ok, now we're getting back into characters that were actually in the show/did things. This time we'll be looking at the Autobot's official architect. 

The toy started out as a Diaclone, sharing the same body as Inferno. He only had the one figure during Generation One but he went from a crane to a robot with (Japan only) spring loaded drills for hands. I wonder if they made it hard to type?

The file card paints an interesting figure. Back on Cybertron his work is considered art yet when one of his works is destroyed he falls into a depression. In vehicle mode he's prone to breakdowns. 

 

The comic was similar in terms of jobs. He also built Omega Supreme, apparently by himself. That's about it, mostly he was used as filler in group shots. 

The cartoon, where he was voiced by Peter Renaday, usually paired him up with Hoist. He actually had an episode devoted to him ("The Master Builders") where he opts to work with the Constructicons to try and make something useful. The rest of season two would limit him to background shots, although he was used in "Prime Target" as one of the captured Autobots. Captured in a trap he could easily escape from, so yeah. He later showed up in the Movie but he did survive so good for him. 

TFtember: Auto-Bop

  "Auto-Bop", the Transformers, Nov. 13 1985

The dancing episode

Raoul and his pals are just trying to earn some scratch via breakdancing. Pity they opted to dance near the Danitron disco, who send out some punks to run them off. Thankfully Blaster and Tracks happen by and rescue the teens.

The 'bots enter the disco and notice right away something is amiss. Among the usual teenagers, they spot a middle aged businessman, a woman in hair rollers, a garbage man, etc. 

Raoul and his pals are taking a train home when the conductor goes loopy and tries to crash the train. Hooking back up with the 'bots, Raoul and Tracks notice there's an active construction sit. By itself? Not odd. At one in the morning with the same crew they spotted in the disco? Now that might warrant another look.

Yeah, turns out it's a Decepticon trap. Overall good and Tracks does pretty good. The big reveal was a pinch telegraphed but a decent ride all things considered. 

TFtember: Transformers#52

 "Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner!" the Transformers#52 (May 1989) with credits to Bob Budiansky (script), Jose Delbo (pencils), Dave Hunt (inks), Nel Yomtov (colors), Manny Manos (letters), and Don Daley (editor)

Checking in with the rest of the Autobots, things are looking grim. Dozens are still downed with injuries so Optimus Prime sends out Autobot Pretenders Landmine and Cloudburst to snag some microchips from the Grand Central Space Station. 

They get to the station but things are looking even worse there. Seems the chip market is run by Powermasters Hi-Test and Throttle, neither being particularly loyal to the Autobot ideal. They do manage to lead the two to the missing Sky-Lynx. They find him hanging with the Mecannibals, aliens who just having strangers over for dinner. 

The Powermasters are ecstatic, because that's were Sky-Lynx-he's being had for dinner. Can our heroes rescue their friend? Will they be exposed? Will they stop panicking about being thrown into space long enough to realize they don't need to breathe oxygen?

Ok, good intro for some characters but the Pretenders hard shell? I 'm sorry I just can't buy a three story tall human walking around other humans and not keeping any one fooled. 

Can our heroes escapce?

TFtember: Freezon

Freezon

Well, bit a first here. We have the first female Decepticon and the first journalist of the Transformers. 

Some backstory: Freezon and Natron came included with a slot racing set made by Tyco. Yeah, a toy made by another company. Slot racers were a bit neat. You have a car fitted for a race track and you race them around, usually with one of them crashing. 

Freezon the toy was a generic mustang (even if there seems to be some issue on which car she is) that popped open to reveal the robot inside. 

As far the bio goes, we get a unique one but slim. She's a gossip columnist for an intergalactic magazine. That raises some questions which at no point does anyone attempt to answer. 

TFtember: Prime Target

 "Prime Target", the Transformers, Nov. 14 1985

Or, the One Where Optimus Prime said "boobies"

We open with a proper crossover with GI Joe, as an Oktober Guard jet is speared by a submarine. The culprit is Lord Chumley, big game hunter and he's looking to nab the ultimate prize for his collection: The Head of Optimus Prime!

Chumley and his manservant Dinsmore capture several Autobots first. With world tensions reaching fever pitch, Chumley manages to capture several more before sending a message to Prime-his life for his friends. Prime is rather annoyed but Megatron (who's been spying on the conversation) is rather happy. The Decepticon sends Blitzwing and Astrotrain to check out Chumley's lair. They get captured rather quickly.  

Prime fights his way through Chumley's estate and manages to finds his friends. Chumley frees the two Decepticons to fight Prime but turns out you really can't trust someone called a Decepticon. 

Amusing plus we see Hector Ramirez the newscaster here. A rather nice rift on the Most Dangerous Game which has been done before but still rather neat here.   

TFtember: Transformers#51

"The Man in the Machine!" the Transformers#51 (April 1989) with credits to Bob Budiansky (script), Jose Delbo (pencils), Dave Hunt (inks), Nel Yomtov (colors), Bill Oakley (letters), and Don Daley (editor)

Spike's been having some rough nights. While he's glad his brother Buster is back, he's been plagued by increasingly horrible nightmares. He vows to do something about-while he's on a skiing vacation with his buddy Cliff he'll toss his headmaster control helmet away at the earliest opportunity.

He does so at a junkyard they pass on the way to the mountains but this doesn't quiet the nightmares. It also provides Decepticon trackers Carnivac and Snarler the scent to track him down. Which they do as Spike and Cliff try to enjoy the slops. 

Ditching the killer robots for a moment, Cliff relies on his few semesters of classes to try and help Spike, who realizes the nightmares aren't some hidden meaning fluff but rather Fortress Maximus calling for help. Falling asleep, Spike makes contact with the giant robot and summons him for help. 

Pretty decent and the action moves at a good pace.  

TFtember: Electric Train and Battle Set

Electric Train and Battle Set

Bringing this feature back, so this time out we look at one of the more unique items in the Transformers universe. First, this was made by Tyco and not Hasbro.

I always had a fondness for model trains but never the room. The set here features a train (of course), a mat, several Transformers figures and a few buildings. The train is the main feature, and it is a beau. Every car changes, although some are more advanced than others. The engine, for example, just has a panel that flips up, whereas the caboose changes into a Hawkjet. The coal tender just flips over to reveal a laser turret and the box car turns into a weapon center. Impressive, all things considered. 

The figures, with Autobots one color and Decepticons another, were basic and non-transforming. Nice but nothing amazing. The buildings were your basic cardboard but the set up was nice. 

Interesting idea but train sets were quickly fading as a child's toy by this point. Tyco went all in on licensed sets, ranging from Rambo to MASK. The Transformers one at least changed the playmat up a little bit. 

Odd but sometimes odd isn't so bad.