A History of the Transformers

1986: Escalation

January 1986

Jetfire is reprogrammed as an Autobot and brought to life by the Creation Matrix.

[He appears fully alive and with Autobot allegiance (though still wearing his Decepticon badge) in the flashback of Dinobot Hunt part 3 (UK #49), so this must have happened between Prime Time (US #12 / UK #39-40) and that story. I wonder how it fits into the "ultimate Autobot" debate going on at the time - maybe it helped spark it off. Also, there wasn't time to perform the rite of Autobrand before Dinobot Hunt, so it can't be that long before.]

Mid January 1986

Shooting Star (US #13/UK #51-52)

Small-time crook Joey Slick discovers the inert Megatron, who has lost the ability to think for himself. Joey uses Megatron to become a one-man crimewave. He eventually tires of his new luxurious lifestyle and confronts a crime boss he had been on the wrong side of before. In the process, Megatron's ability to think is restored, and he decides to spare Joey when Joey stands up to him.

[This story takes place over a few weeks. The start of the story is long enough after Repeat Performances (US #8/UK #28) for the snow in which Megatron landed to have melted. This probably means that it must be at least April or May. However, the story must also be fairly soon after Prime Time (US #12 /UK#39-40), because there's a newspaper headline about it.]

19th January 1986

Flashback: The Icarus Theory part 1 (UK #45)

Professor Morris tells a Roxxon meeting that Blackrock must be behind the giant robots. His theories are mocked, and he uses his robot-controlling machine to work off his anger on a dummy.

[The date is given in two separate captions as January 19th.]

20th January 1986

The Icarus Theory part 1 (UK #45)

Professor Morris goes fishing in the fishless reservoir known as Lake Dena. He discovers the body of Swoop.

[The date is given as 20th January in two separate captions.]

Late January 1986

Crisis of Command part 1 (UK #42)

Two factions of Autobots petition Prime over the issue of using the Creation Matrix. Prowl advocates creating some ultimate Autobots to crush the Decepticons, Jazz opposes it. Prime sides with Jazz, but is suffering from self-doubt. Ravage sneaks into the Ark, and discovers this. He is captured and then escapes.

[This takes place not that long after Prime Time (US #12 / UK #39-40), as the Decepticons are only just regrouping after their defeat.]

Late January 1986

Flashback: Crisis of Command part 2 (UK #43)

Bumblebee discovers that Ravage has escaped. He tells Prime, who is falling under Prowl's influence. At Prowl's suggestion, Prime tells Bumblebee to send Hound and Mirage after Ravage.

[This follows on from Crisis of Command part 1 (UK #42).]

Late January 1986

Crisis of Command part 2 (UK #43)

Bumblebee chases after Ravage and falls into a trap. He is easily beaten. Laserbeak takes Bumblebee's severed arm to the Ark just as Prime discovers that Bumblebee has gone from the Ark.

[This follows on from the flashback in this story.]

Late January 1986

Crisis of Command part 3 (UK #44)

Laserbeak tells Prime that if he wants to see Bumblebee again, he must come alone. Prime does so - even though he's walking into a trap. During the fight, he recovers his confidence and rescues Bumblebee. He then delivers his decision to the Autobots - there will be no ultimate Autobots.

[This follows immediately from Crisis of Command part 2 (UK #43).]

25th January 1986

The Icarus Theory part 1 (UK #45)

Prime goes to apologise to Bumblebee, but ends up being apologised to. Meanwhile, Professor Morris has perfected flying Swoop. As he returns Swoop to Roxxon's roof, Morris is interrupted by a security guard - who tries to blackmail him. He uses Swoop to attack the guard, and accidentally kills him. He then resolves to destroy what he sees as Blackrock's robots and sends Swoop to attack the Ark.

[This is dated in a caption as the 25th January. It is clearly very soon after Crisis of Command part 3 (UK #44), as Bumblebee's condition shows.]

25th January 1986

The Icarus Theory part 2 (UK #46)

The Autobots are unable to subdue Swoop without risking serious damage. Prime then realises that Swoop, as Divebomb on Cybertron, disliked his orders. He gives Swoop an order, allowing him to break free. The Autobots then track Swoop back to Roxxon. There, Morris talks Swoop out of killing him. However, Swoop suddenly loses control and attacks the Autobots. With Morris's help, they subdue him again. Morris destroys his equipment and turns himself in. Ratchet discovers that Swoop's rage was caused by damage in the tar pit. Prime decides that the Autobots must concentrate on bringing in the other Dinobots, who will have suffered the same brain damage.

[This follows on immediately from The Icarus Theory part 1 (UK #45).]

Late January 1986

Flashback: Dinobot Hunt part 1 (UK #47)

At an emergency briefing, Prime tells the Autobots why they must go after the Dinobots.

[This is very soon after the end of The Icarus Theory part 2 (UK #46) - after all, it is an emergency briefing.]

Late January 1986

Flashback: Dinobot Hunt part 2 (UK #48)

Prowl continues the briefing by outlining the Dinobot Hunt teams and the areas to which they will be travelling.

[This is clearly a continuation of the briefing in the previous issue's flashback.]

Late January 1986

Dinobot Hunt part 1 (UK #47)

Dinobot Hunt B-Team track down Snarl, who is rampaging near a "non-existent" army base in Nevada's Black Rock Desert. The base is unable to stop Snarl, so it evacuates and the General in command activates a disintegrator bomb. As Snarl is made of a material unknown to the scientists, he is not destroyed, but instead transformed. He walks away from the blast area, and collapses unconscious in front of B-Team. However, Laserbeak has been observing events and flies away unnoticed to report.

[This begins twenty hours after the flashback and takes at most a few hours.]

Late January 1986

Dinobot Hunt part 2 (UK #48)

TV reporter Joy Meadows films the placid Sludge. Meanwhile, three Decepticons torture humans to find the Dinobot. When they do, they stun him. Elsewhere, Dinobot Hunt A-Team have had a bit of trouble with the swamp and the local police. They see the firing and discover the stunned Sludge before being stunned by the Decepticons.

[This begins thirty two hours after the flashback.]

Late January 1986

Flashback: Dinobot Hunt part 3 (UK #49)

Two humans chase after Slag, who has devastated their cattle ranch. They are saved from the Dinobot by the Dinobot Hunt D-Team, though Jazz is severely injured and Jetfire slightly injured in the attempt. The Autobots take out Slag when Ironhide discovers Laserbeak watching, and stuns him and Jetfire puts him in Slag's mouth to block the Dinobot's flaming breath.

[This is clearly after Dinobot Hunt part 1 (UK #47), because of Laserbeak's appearance. The chances are that this takes place at about the same time as Dinobot Hunt part 2 (UK #48).]

Late January 1986

Dinobot Hunt part 3 (UK #49)

The Decepticons investigate the site of the battle with Slag. They discover the body of Laserbeak, reactivate him, and discover what happened. Several hours later, Prowl and Prime receive a distress call from Dinobot Hunt C-Team which cuts out.

[The first part takes place after D-Team have left with Slag and the second part is shortly before Dinobot Hunt part 4 (UK # 50).]

Late January 1986

Dinobot Hunt part 4 (UK #50)

Prime takes a team to respond to the distress call. He discovers Grimlock and Sludge fighting. He tries to keep them in a nearby lake until Prowl arrives and crashes an electrified shuttle into the lake. This takes out Grimlock. Meanwhile, Bumblebee finds and rescues A-Team and destroys a Decepticon device that is aggravating Sludge.This causes Sludge to collapse. The Autobots gather up all their fallen comrades (2 Dinobots, six Autobots from A and C Teams) and depart whilst the Decepticons have taken the opportunity to plunder a nearby oil well.

[This starts with Sideswipe finishing the message he started sending at the end of the last issue.]

Early February 1986

Wheeljack installs shielding and facsimilie units into the Autobots to hide their insignias and make it look like they have human drivers. He also installs conversion systems that allow Autobots to directly take in petrol. In addition to this, he builds five new Transformer bodies to house five stored Autobot minds.

[All these things Wheeljack has done are first mentioned and seen in Rock and Roll Out (US #14/UK #53-54).]

Early February 1986

Flashback: Robot Buster part 2 (UK #60)

Shockwave uses jets in his feet to escape the swamp.

[At some point between Prime Time (US #12/UK #40) and Rock and Roll Out (US #14/UK #53).]

After Shockwave emerges from the swamp he resumes command of the Decepticons. He assigns Starscream, Skywarp, and Thundercracker to the Blackrock oil rig, where they collect oil for some weeks. Meanwhile, Shockwave builds an energy siphon - capable of converting any form of energy into energon.

[In Rock and Roll Out (US #14/UK #53-54), the seekers have been on the rig collecting oil for weeks. In the UK continuity, they've been doing all sorts of things under Soundwave's command since Prime Time (US #12/UK #39-40), but in the US continuity, they have been out of the action since before Prime Time. This conjecture merely puts things back on the same track as the US storyline. It also gives Shockwave lots of time to build the power siphon.]

Hound and Trailbreaker are injured. However, their injuries are only temporary.

[They were both intact at the end of Dinobot Hunt (UK #46-50), but appear in Ratchet's medical bay in Rock and Roll Out (US #14/UK #53). Anyway, they reappear quite soon. Trailbreaker in Robot Buster part 2 (UK #60), and Hound in Second Generation part 2 (UK #65).]

Mid-March 1986

Rock and Roll Out (US #14/UK # 53-54)

The Autobots perform the rite of Autobrand on Jetfire, making him officially an Autobot. Wheeljack revives five Autobots whose minds had been stored on the Ark in case Prime needed extra warriors. Four of these go on a mission with Bumblebee to introduce them to Earth. Meanwhile, Shockwave takes his new power siphon to the oil rig to turn its oil into energon. He then absorbs some of the sonic energy from a rock concert. Bumblebee and his group have been assigned to observe but not engage the enemy. However, they do sever the audio feed into the siphon, leading to a conflict. They win, the Decepticons flee, and the Autobots head back to the Ark.

[This is 'weeks' after Starscream, Skywarp, and Thundercracker last saw Shockwave. They have been on the rig ever since. In the US continuity, this would place it not long after Prime Time (US #12/UK # 39-40). However, UK storylines require them all to have been off the rig more recently than that - placing it some time later.]

Late March 1986

I, Robot Master (US #15/UK # 55-56)

Megatron attacks a coal mine, seeking fuel. He is unable to digest the coal, and freezes. Meanwhile, Triple-I hires comic-book writer Donny Finkleberg to play his creation Robot Master, to persuade the US public that the Transformers are a perfectly understandable terrorist threat. Triple-I go to film a Robot Master broadcast at the coal mine. The Autobots arrive, wanting to take custody of Megatron - believing the humans are not capable. The humans attack the Autobots. After a while of this, Soundwave and some of the spy cassettes arrive and revive Megatron. The Decepticons attack the humans whilst the Autobots are too weakened by their injuries to help defend. During this. Laserbeak captures Robot Master. To save his life, Robot Master suggests that by continuing the Robot Master pretense, he can persuade the humans to fear the Autobots as much as the Decepticons.

[This happens 'weeks' after the end of Shooting Star (US #15/UK #51-52). It also happens 'days' after Rock and Roll Out (US #14/UK # 53-54). Events since The Worse of Two Evils (US #6/UK #24-25) are all portrayed as a recent escalation of the Transformers' war. Megatron freezes three days before Triple I arrive at the Coal Mine.]

Victory (1986 Annual)

Ratchet repairs the damage to the Dinobots' minds, but they can't wake up.He explains the problem to Optimus Prime.

[This is some time after the end of Dinobot Hunt (UK #50) and before Second Generation (UK #65). This is my best guess placement based on where Ratchet seems to have got to in his repair schedule during Rock and Roll Out (US #15/UK #53), Plight of the Bumblebee (US #16/UK #57-58), and Robot Buster (UK #59-60).]

April 1986

There is a battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons which the Decepticons win [or which is inconclusive]. Wheeljack injures himself by 'arm-wrestling' with the Decepticons. In this battle, Bumblebee does the Autobots relatively little good, which he puts down to his inferior size, strength, and smarts.

[This battle is referred to in Plight of the Bumblebee (US #16/UK #57-58), where a caption says it was "last issue", and a newsreader says that it happened the day before. However, the details of the incident don't fit I, Robot Master (US #15/UK #55-56) - which is last issue by both UK and US reckonings. Therefore, the caption must be wrong and this battle was a different incident.]

April 1986

Plight of the Bumblebee (US #16/UK #57-58)

The Decepticons under Shockwave decide to try capturing Bumblebee and installing a mind-control device in him. They discover him outside the Ark, because he has been moping about being useless. He is injured in the initial attack, and hides in a used car lot, shutting down most of his systems. However, he is reactivated by a couple of joyriders who attempt to steal him. They repair some of his damaged systems, but they soon get pursued by the Decepticons and the police. Meanwhile, the Decepticons are pursued by the US air force. The Decepticons give up when the Autobots arrive, together with reinforcements from the police and air force.

[Recent events (erroneously stated to be the events of I, Robot Master (US #15/UK #55-56) - see the previous notes section for details) are said to have occurred the previous day.]

The Decepticons under Shockwave begin to hear rumours that Megatron has returned. This scares Shockwave, who travels with Frenzy to the original Decepticon base, aiming to empty its useful contents and then destroy it.

[Not long before Robot Buster (UK #59).]

Buster Witwicky visits the Ark, and Ratchet and Wheeljack build a Transformer-sized robotic 'suit' for him.

[Shortly before Robot Buster (UK #59).]

May 1986

Robot Buster (UK #59-60)

Ratchet and Wheeljack show Prime Buster's suit, but he orders it destroyed. Buster decides to sneak out to the original Decepticon base with it and prove its worth by bringing back some useful equipment. He comes across Frenzy and only beats him by accidentally using an echo cell. However, the sound of battle attracts Shockwave. Buster is able to run for a while, but eventually Shockwave catches up with him. Buster then throws sand in Shockwave's eye. This blinds him and buys time for Buster to modify his suit. When Shockwave finds him again, Buster puts all the suit's power into a single blast. Shockwave survives and the suit doesn't. However, the Autobots arrive just in time to save Buster.

[There is no information to date this story, so I'm assuming it's somewhen around the cover date.]

May 1986

Devastation Derby (UK #61-62)

Buster is having nightmares, and drawing then new Transformers he sees in them. He and Jessie go to a Demolition Derby and Sparkplug then decides to take Buster's pictures to the Autobots. Wheeljack notes that the picture appears to be a combined Transformer, and Prime tells Sparkplug about Buster's recent experience with Shockwave. The Autobots send a squad to protect him, just in case. Meanwhile, Shockwave has sent the recently trained Constructicons to capture Buster - seeing him as a potential tool against the Autobots. They attack the Derby and the Autobots engage them. Then the Constructicons combine. Seeing this causes Buster to pass out.

As the battle rages, Sparkplug, who is inside Smokescreen, spots Soundwave, and Smokescreen drives across to him. Soundwave, who has had time to scan Buster's mind, claims that his actions have been a mistake, and orders the Constructicons to retreat. Sparkplug phones an anmbulance, and Ratchet arrives at the same time that the other ambulance was expected. He takes Jessie and the Witwickys back to the Ark. Meanwhile, Soundwave explains his apparent rebllion to Shockwave. He explains what he saw when he scanned Buster - a vision of the future of the Transformer race.

[This is very soon after Robot Buster (UK #60), though there has been enough time for Buster to be back at home.]

May 1986

Second Generation (UK #63-64)

Having arrived at the Ark, Buster is still dreaming of conflict between the "special teams" - new combining Transformers. When he wakes up, Prime tells him that the dreams are a message from the Creation Matrix, and that he might free himself of them by mindlinking with Prime. Buster decides to accept. Meanwhile, Soundwave tells Megatron what he discovered in Buster's mind, and Shockwave prepares to tap into Buster's dreams with the machine that stripped the matrix from Prime. The dreams show four teams of combining Transformers - two Autobot and two Decepticon.

[This follows on from Devastation Derby (UK #62).]

May 1986

Flashback: Second Generation part 3 (UK #65)

Soundwave arranges for Megatron and Shockwave to meet. They are instantly at odds.

[This follows on from the end of Second Generation part 2 (UK #64).]

May 1986

Second Generation (UK #65)

Megatron and Shockwave fight for the Decepticon leadership. They are interupted by Soundwave, who suggests a temporary joint leadership - the one who produces the most Autobot casualties will become permanent leader. Meanwhile at the Ark, the Dinobots have recovered and Wheeljack has designed Superion, though the Autobots don't know how the combination process works. Meanwhile, Soundwave's message to Cybertron is about to arrive.

[In In the National Interest part 1 (UK #74) Slag notes that the Dinobots were under repair for "weeks" - so it's at least that long since Dinobot Hunt (UK #47-50)]

May 1986

The Smelting Pool (US #17/UK #66-67)

On Cybertron, the Autobot Scrounge obtains a copy of the message from Earth. Before he can deliver it to the Autobot resistance, he is captured and thrown into the Smelting Pool. Blaster, a friend inside the resistance, goes to rescue Scrounge. However, Scrounge refuses to be rescued, instead making sure that Blaster takes the information he has obtained to Autobase. Blaster does so, and discovers that the fabled Autobot hero Optimus Prime is still alive, and fighting the Decepticons on planet Earth.

[There is no indication precisely when this takes place. Given the teaser at the end of Second Generation part 3 (UK #65), it probably happens immediately after that. However, it could be some time before The Bridge to Nowhere (US #18/UK #68-69), as the Space Bridge seen then is still under construction in this story.]

Brawn, Hound, Ironhide, Mirage, Prowl, and Trailbreaker are injured.

[All of these Autobots are injured before the events of Command Performances (US #19/UK #70-71). However, Hound was fine in Second Generation part 3 (UK #65), Brawn and Ironhide were fine in Devastation Derby (UK #61-62), Prowl was fine in Robot Buster part 2 (UK #60) and Plight of the Bumblebee (US #16/UK #57-58), Trailbreaker was fine in Robot Buster part 2 (UK #60), and Mirage was fine in Rock and Roll Out (US #14/UK #53-54). However, Hound and Trailbreaker could concievably have been behind the scenes monitoring the Decepticon base in preparation for the attack.]

June 1986

The Bridge to Nowhere (US #18/UK #68-69)

On Cybertron, the Decepticons test their new space bridge, but lose several troopers before discovering the fuel line needs repairing. They contact the Decepticons on Earth and tell them that they can help the conquest of Earth by sending things across the Space Bridge. The Autobot Resistance attacks the Decepticons, blowing up their fortress as a distraction whilst Blaster attempts to mine the Space Bridge. He is distracted from this when the Bridge transforms into Spanner, a captured Neutral Scientist. The battle then spill onto the bridge and, after heavy casualties on both sides, Lord Straxus is blown up by being kicked into interdimensional space, the bridge is damaged again, and seven Autobots end up on Earth.

[This is shortly before Command Performances (US #19/UK #70-71).]

June 1986

Command Performances (US #19/UK #70-71)

Grapple finishes building new Autobot Omega Supreme, and Prime unveils him. Prime then leads the Autobots in an attack on the Decepticon base to get Devastator's combination sequence. They succeed and, in the chaos, Robot Master escapes. Ravage, going after Robot Master, manages to hit Skids with a missile. Prime decides it would endanger the other Autobots to retrieve Skids. Meanwhile, Megatron travels to the site of the Space Bridge and sees that Autobots rather than Decepticons have crossed. Before he can order the attack, Shockwave informs him of the attack on the Coal Mine. He assumes the Ark is unprotected and takes his troops there where Buzzsaw, Frenzy, Rumble, Skywarp, Starscream, and Thrust are defeated and captured. When Megatron returns to the Coal Mine base with only Laserbeak, he is able to convince the Decepticons that Shockwave fell into a trap just as much as he did, and claims primary command of the Decepticons.

[The Cybertron Seven appear to have only just arrived on Earth. Therefore, this is very soon after The Bridge to Nowhere (UK #68-69/US #18).]

June 1986

In the National Interest part 1 (UK #74)

Joy Meadows announces a broadcast that will prove that Robot Master is not real. Triple-I send some masked men to assassinate her. However, she is saved by the Dinobots. Bored of their confinement to the Ark, they have seen her broadcast and gone looking for her. Meanwhile, Triple-I have sent another gang of armed men to kidnap Professor Morris and give him control of a new robot, Centurion.

[The timing of this is uncertain. My best guess is that it's during Command Performances (US #19/UK #70-71) because no-one tries to stop the Dinobots leaving the Ark. Certainly, it can't be earlier than that story because the Dinobots are still there at the start of it.]

June 1986

Showdown (US #20/UK #72-73)

Skids is found by a human called Charlene. She has him repaired, and he decides to be just her car. He is forced to reveal himself as a Transformer when he saves her from a mad driver who's car he had accidentally scratched. For the next few days, Charlene introduces him to some of the tranquility of Earth. Meanwhile, the escaping Donny Finkleberg travels to the town in stolen civvies. He tracks down Skids from rumours just as Ravage catches up with him. Charlene suggests travelling to an old mining village, and Skids is able to trick Ravage into falling down an old mine shaft. Skids decides that he has to return to the Autobots, taking the information Donny has gathered whilst in the Decepticon camp.

[This is fairly soon after Command Performances (US #19/UK #70-71), judging by Ravage's pursuit of Donny.]

June 1986

In the National Interest part 2 (UK #75)

Joy Meadows discovers the truth of the Transformers war by interviewing the Dinobots. Phoning for her film crew, Swoop travels to fly them to her exact location. However, Soundwave has monitored the call, and Megatron - who is looking for Robot Master - intervenes. Swoop is only saved when Centurion intervenes. Professor Morris disobeys orders when he sees Swoop. and attacks Megatron rather than grabbing the humans.

[This cannot be long after Command Performances (US #19/UK #70-71), because Megatron is concerned about losing contact with Ravage and losing Robot Master.]

June 1986

In the National Interest part 3 (UK #76)

Swoop revives and transports the film crew away from the battle. However, a Triple-I agent manages to plant a tracer on him. This prevents Swoop from transforming. The Dinobots, who are busy setting up the interview, find and destroy the tracer just as the Decepticons home in on its signal. Meanwhile, Professor Morris realises that he has to repay his debt to Swoop, and seals Triple-I out of the control centre - sending Centurion to the site of the impending battle.

[This is very soon after the end of part 2, because Megatron and Centurion are still fighting.]

June 1986

In the National Interest part 4 (UK #77)

Centurion's arrival at the battle site turns the battle in the Dinobots' favour. This prompts Soundwave to threaten the film crew whilst everyone else is busy with the battle. The Decepticons destroy all of Joy's Transformer-related footage, before leaving with a threat if Joy attempts to expose Robot Master. Meanwhile, Triple-I frame Morris for criminal offenses and claim to have destroyed all evidence of a link between them and Robot Master or Centurion.

[This is not long after part 3 as the battle started at the end of that issue is still going on.]

June 1986

Flashback: Target: 2006 prologue (UK #78)

Optimus Prime and Prowl discover the Dinobots, Centurion, and Joy Meadows. They are unable to find out what happened at the beach where they are, and all those involved leave instead of answering Prime's questions.

[This is not long after the battle in In the National Interest part 4 (UK #77), as the battle is only recent.]

June 1986

Target: 2006 prologue (UK #78)

On Cybertron, the Resistance are preparing for Operation: Volcano - and the trap is baited. On Earth, Optimus Prime conducts a briefing in the Ark when he, Prowl, and Ratchet are consumed by some kind of anti-matter. This causes the Matrix Flame on Cybertron to extinguish, and happens as three future Decepticons - including Galvatron - arrive in the present.

[The issue begins with Prime and Prowl on their way back from finding the Dinobots.]

Target: 2006 part 1 (UK #79)

Cyclonus and Scourge try out their new forms on the humans. Then the future Decepticons travel to the current Decepticons' base, and ask for the loan of the Constructicons. When Megatron refuses, he and Soundwave are buried under a rockfall.The Autobots send Jazz and Hound to monitor the new arrivals. On Cybertron, Emirate Xaaron decides to put Operation: Volcano at risk by sending Ultra Magnus to Earth.

[This is very soon after the prologue, as everybody is still reacting to events in it.]

Flashback: Target: 2006 part 2 (UK #80)

Impactor tells Xaaron that, if Magnus goes to Earth, he cannot guaruntee the Wreckers' involvement in Operation: Volcano. However, both Xaaron and Magnus decide that finding out what happened to the Matrix takes priority.

[This is a continuation of the conversation at the end of part 1.]

Target: 2006 part 2 (UK #80)

Jazz and Hound's observation is interrupted when Cyclonus attacks just as Ultra Magnus arrives from Cybertron. Magnus saves Hound, but is too late to help Jazz. Magnus and Hound end up at the Ark. However, Jetfire - now in command - doesn't trust Magnus. The argument is interrupted by a broadcast from Galvatron, who is torturing Jazz.

[Magnus' arrival is approximately an hour after the flashback, and Magnus has 119 hours left until Volcano erupts.]

Flashback: Target: 2006 part 3 (UK #81)

Ultra Magnus refuses to join the attack on Galvatron, believing that locating Prime takes priority. When the Autobots attack, they are totally and utterly defeated.

[This probably takes a few hours, starting relatively soon after part 2.]

Target: 2006 part 3 (UK #81)

Following the Autobots' defeat, Ironhide digs out Megatron and Soundwave - desperately seeking allies. A bit later, Starscream breaks out of his life-support capsule, having been repaired.

[Ironhide refers to the flashback as being the events of the last few hours.]

Target: 2006 part 4 (UK #82)

The Wreckers decide to give up on Volcano, without Magnus it's a suicide mission - so it's not their fight. Xaaron convinces Impactor that the Wreckers should be ready in case Magnus does return. The other Wreckers decide to go ahead with it after an incident in an oil house, where they realise that it's always their fight.

[This could happen at any time between Magnus leaving Cybertron in the flashback to part 2 and Impactor's encounter with the Triple Changers in part 6. It's probably earlier rather than later.]

Target: 2006 part 5 - The Devil You Know (UK #83)

Starscream sets Frenzy and Thundercracker to wake up, before eavesdropping on a meeting between the Autobots and Megatron. He resolves to ally with Galvatron. Ultra Magnus is dismayed to hear of the alliance, but it enables the allies to defeat and capture Scourge. Meanwhile, Galvatron tells Jazz that he used to be Megatron.

[Magnus's Chronometer measures 97:18, meaning that it's 21 hours, 42 minutes since his arrival on Earth.]

Target: 2006 part 6 - Trios (UK #84)

On Cybertron, Impactor is roughed up by three Triple-Changers, before discovering that Xaaron intended it to persuade him that they could substitute for Magnus. Meanwhile on Earth, Galvatron explains his origin to Jazz. Frenzy and Thundercracker meet Shockwave at the Decepticons' base, and disappear as Prime did - caused by three future Autobots (controlled by Unicron) travelling back in time.

[This is probably during the defeat of Scourge in part 5, though it could easily be shortly afterwards.]

Flashback: Distant Thunder (UK #100)

Shockwave, Frenzy, and Thundercracker arrive in limbo, see Prime, Prowl, and Ratchet battling some techno-organic apes, and slaughter the apes. Prime explains that the apes are agressors against another race, and that the Autobots refused to allow the apes to invade others in return for a device that can return them home. The Decepticons go to make a deal with Zenag, the ape leader - to destroy the Autobots in return for the device. The Autobots are ready for the attack, and beat the Decepticons. Prime then advocates that this situation is designed to force the Transformers into aggression, and stops fighting. He is wounded before the world they are in fades, and the situation is revealed to be caused by beings that feed on violent emotion.

[This follows on immediately from the Decepticons' disappearance, and is 'concurrent' with the rest of Target: 2006.]

Target: 2006 part 7 (UK #85)

Galvatron tests the weapon he's built on the Decepticons' spaceship. Then the Autobots arrive for an exchange of prisoners - Scourge for Jazz. However, Galvatron remote-controls Jazz to attack the Autobots, and uses Starscream to take out Megatron and Soundwave - who were sneaking around the back. Meanwhile, the future Autobots arrive at the Ark and tell Magnus that Galvatron's appearance is responsible for Prime's disappearance. Magnus arrives to stop Galvatron just as he has defeated everyone and punished Starscream for disobeying orders.

[There are only 22 hours left before Volcano when Magnus meets the future Autobots, so it's 75 hours 18 minutes (over 3 days) since part 5.]

Flashback: Target: 2006 part 8 (UK #86)

Magnus and Galvatron fight, but Magnus gets a radio signal from the future Autobots, who need Magnus to get Galvatron out of the way for a few hours so that they can set things up to send him back to his own time.

[This follows on from the end of part 7.]

Target: 2006 part 8 (UK #86)

Ultra Magnus takes Galvatron to a construction site. In the fierce battle that follows, Magnus is ultimately defeated.

Target: 2006 part 9 (UK #87)

The future Autobots rig the site of Galvatron's weapon. When Galvatron returns with Magnus, he finds his Lieutenants knocked out. He decides that the only person who could have done it was Starscream. At this point, the future Autobots detonate explosives on the weapon. When Galvatron digs himself out, he encounters what he thinks is Starscream and destroys him. He then believes that he has changed his own past - preventing himself from being created and returns home. However, it was actually a repainted Skywarp.

[This happens as soon as Galvatron gets back from the construction site.]

Target: 2006 epilogue (UK #88)

On Earth, Ultra Magnus returns to Cybertron. Meanwhile Operation: Volcano is stopped when Megatron orders the target Decepticons to travel to Earth almost immediately - forcing them to abandon the plan of killing the Autobot resistance movement's leaders. However, one of them carries on with the mission, and attempts to assassinate Xaaron. However, Impactor jumps in front of Xaaron, and is killed instead.

[Magnus's chronometer reads 00:00, so it's 22 hours since he met the future Autobots.]

1st July 1986

The Insecticons arrive on Earth.

[This is three days before Aerialbots Over America (US #21/UK #89) It is implied at the end of Target: 2006 epilgoue (UK #88) that this happens immediately after that story.]

July 1986

Flashback: Heavy Traffic (US #22 / UK #91)

RAAT - led by Circuit Breaker - capture the Cybertron Seven with very little trouble.

[This cannot be that long before the epilogue to Aerialbots over America (US #21/ UK #90) when we see the Cybertron Seven arrive at RAAT's base in New Jersey.]

4th July 1986

Aerialbots Over America (US #21/UK #89-90)

Megatron and his new recruits from Cybertron (the Insecticons, Thrust, Ramjet, Dirge) attempt to drain the water from the Hoover Dam to Cybertron. However, they are stopped by the newly created Aerialbots. The Aerialbots (except Silverbolt) prove reluctant to protect humans because their programming is incomplete. When they return to the Ark, they unknowingly take Bombshell back with them. Meanwhile, Donny Finkleberg and Jetfire investigate the location of the Cybertron Seven. They discover only a trace of Transformer fuel because - unknown to them, the seven have been captured by RAAT.

[A caption on the first page tells us that it is the 4th of July, and there are several more references to this throughout the story. The Insecticons have been on Earth for three days. It can't be long after Command Performances (US #20/ UK #72-73) because of what happens to the Cybertron Seven.]

July 1986

Heavy Traffic (US #22 / UK #91-92)

At RAAT, Walter Barnett offers Circuit Breaker a bonus for capturing the Cybertron Seven. She refuses it because that's not why she fights them. On the Ark, Bombshell - who sneaked in on an Aerialbot's wing - plants a cerebro shell inside Optimus Prime (who is immune to the control - presumably because of the Creation Matrix), and a tracker on Donny Finkleberg. Finkleberg and Skids go to track the Transformer fuel that one of the Cybertron Seven had been leaking, and make the news when Skids saves a female driver from being electrocuted. When Prime uses the Matrix to give the Aerialbots life, Megatron uses the cerebro shell to steal some of the Creation Matrix to give life to the Stunticons.The Stunticons attempt to smear Skids, but the arrival of the Aerialbots means a battle between the two combined forms. Circuit Breaker and RAAT are also involved, and Circuit Breaker takes out Superion before exhausting her energy. Later on, Finkleberg turns Skids in to RAAT.

[This cannot be long after Aerialbots over America (US #21 /UK #89-90) as Bombshell and Donny are still on the Ark. Still, it's been long enough to shut down and reprogram the Aerialbots.]

July 1986

Flashback: The Gift (UK #93)

The Decepticons take control of a NASA space monitoring facility. The Autobots hear of this over the radio, and Prowl and Trailbreaker travel to investigate. They come into conflict with Soundwave, Dirge, and Kickback - who are sending a message to Cybertron. Prowl calls for backup, and Jetfire arrives. However, he disobeys Prowl's orders and so lets the Decepticons escape.

[Jetfire says that this was shortly after Target: 2006 (UK #78-88). Trailbreaker has recovered from the injuries he acquired in Target: 2006.]

Late September / Early October 1986

Decepticon Graffiti (US #23 / UK #94-95)

Megatron sends the Battlechargers - newly arrived from Cybertron - to deliver a message to Optimus Prime - challenging him to a duel. The two observe a human child making graffiti, and follow this child's family on a cross-country holiday - putting graffiti on the various landmarks the family are going to see. Eventually, RAAT catch up with the two Decepticons - but they escape and Circuit Breaker is wounded. She is banned from the next stop - the Statue of Liberty - but arrives and defeats the Decepticons by using the bodies of the Autobots she has captured. She has to let the Autobots free as part of the deal, and both her and Donny Finkleberg are sacked for this.

[This should be fairly soon after Heavy Traffic (US #22 / UK #91-92) judging by Donny's reaction to being in Triple-I, and the fact that they don't appear to have had any contact with Transformers since. On the other hand, Circuit Breaker has done a lot of work examining the captured Transformers - and Donny's comments could just be a reiteration of a long-running argument. The cheque that Donny writes out at the end is dated October 4 1986.]

October 1986

Prey part 1 (UK #96)

Prime reviews recent events (Target: 2006 and the Decepticons beginning to come across the Space Bridge), and decides that the Space Bridge must be destroyed. However, he is reluctant to risk sacrificing his life because the Autobots clearly can't cope without him. Therefore, he asks Wheeljack to construct a facsimilie Optimus Prime and fake his own death so he can concentrate on destroying the Space Bridge and is able to step in if the Autobots are in serious trouble. He sets out for a solo reconnaissance mission near the Decepticons' base. Meanwhile, Megatron is persuaded to summon the Predacons to Earth in order to give him an extra advantage in a fight against Prime. When Prime arrives near the Decepticon base, he is ambushed by Megatron and the Predacons.

[There is no indication when this takes place, and the early scenes might be weeks before the rest of the story. It must be after Decepticon Graffitti (US #23 / UK #94-95), but not that long after because the Cybertron Seven haven't reached the Ark yet, though the Aerialbots have. Furthermore, it ties in to Megatron's challenge to Prime from Decepticon Graffitti.]

October 1986

Flashback: Prey part 2 (UK #97)

Megatron allows Prime ten minutes headstart before the Predacons track him down.

[This immediately follows on from the end of part 1.]

October 1986

Prey part 2 (UK #97)

Prime is finally tracked down by the Predacons and discovers that they combine into Predaking. The Predacons have to decide whether to participate in Shockwave's scheme or whether to just assist Megatron in killing Prime.

[This is about half an hour after Prime left the Ark - according to Wheeljack's count.]

October 1986

Flashback: ...The Harder They Die (UK #98)

The Predacons steal Megatron's fusion cannon and run off. Megatron finally tracks down Prime and, using his concealed emergency gun, destroys him - only to find that it was a facsimilie construct that Prime was carrying with him. Prime jumps out at him, and Megatron in desperation summons the space bridge. Prime throws them both through, and they end up on Cybertron.

[This follows on immediately from the scene where the Predacons jump Prime in Prey part 2 (UK #97).]

October 1986

Prey part 2 (UK #97)

The Autobots arrive at the site of the battle to discover the remains of Optimus Prime.

[They left the Ark about half an hour after Prime did.]

October 1986

...The Harder They Die (UK # 98)

On Cybertron, Megatron spreads the rumour that Optimus Prime is a Decepticon spy designed to infiltrate the Autobot ranks by imitating their greatest hero. Meanwhile, Prime saves the life of an Autobot called Outback, before being captured by the Wreckers - who declare him guilty of the crime of impersonating Prime and sentence him to death.

[This is not long after Prime's apparent death, as both leaders are recent arrivals on Cybertron, and the Autobots on Earth are still collecting The Prime FC's remains.]

October 1986

Under Fire (UK #99)

Outback saves Prime from execution by the Wreckers. The two escape, and Ultra Magnus - still feeling guilty about not being there to save Impactor (in Target: 2006, Epilogue UK #88) - takes three Guardian units to track down Prime. Two of the guardian units find the fugitives, but are killed. However, they have seriously wounded Outback - and Prime laments this and promises to do all he can to save the little Autobot. He is unaware that Magnus has overheard this speech. Meanwhile, tensions between Megatron and Lord Straxus at the Decepticon's command centre in Polyhex escalate.

[This follows on fairly quickly from the end of ...The Harder They Die (UK #98).]

October 1986

Distant Thunder (UK #100)

Optimus Prime tells Outback about his time in Limbo. When the Wreckers catch up with him, he begs for Outback's life. He is overheard by Emirate Xaaron, who realises that he is the real Prime, and the death sentence is revoked.

[This is some time since Outback's wound, and well over 20 breems after Prime's escape.]

October 1986

Fallen Angel part 1 (UK #101)

Skids disappears whilst guiding the Cybertron Seven to the Ark. Meanwhile, Galvatron arrives on Earth again, rips Centurion into pieces, and then discovers the Cybertron Seven. The battle is noticed by the Decepticons at their nearby base, and interrupted by the Dinobots - who want revenge for the death of Centurion.

[This is probably not a huge time after Decepticon Graffiti (US #23/UK #94-95), as the Cybertron Seven still haven't reached the Ark, and it is definitely between the flashback from ...The Harder They Die (UK #98) and Resurrection part 1 (UK #103), because Shockwave is still worried about what happened to Megatron and the Cybertron Seven haven't reached the Ark yet.]

October 1986

Fallen Angel part 2 (UK #102)

The Dinobots and Blaster fight on, and Swoop is offered a deal by Professor Morris - let him take over your mind so you can fight back despite being concussed. The battle is finally won when Shockwave and the Decepticons intervene - Galvatron flees because he doesn't want to destroy his own future troops.

[This is probably only a few minutes after part 1.]

October 1986

Flashback: Resurrection part 1 (UK #103)

Optimus Prime leads an assault on a Decepticon fuel plant, taking the fuel and liberating the slaves. One of the Decepticon survivors is Octane. This is the fifth successful raid in as many days.

[This is clearly not long before Resurrection part 1 (UK #103).]

November 1986

Resurrection part 1 (UK #103)

Lord Straxus summons Megatron, and uses a mind-control device to try swapping his mind with Megatron's. Despite the fact that it is supposed to work on an unconscious subject. The device appears to work and Staxus/Megatron reaches through Straxus' life support bubble, and crushes his head. Meanwhile, Optimus Prime makes a speech to the Autobot Resistance explaining that he must return to Earth, for now and the Cybertron Seven arrive at the Ark, tell the Autobots about their encounter with Galvatron and the Dinobots, and are shocked to be told of Prime's death.

[Blaster says that the events of Fallen Angel (UK #101-102) were yesterday, the events of Distant Thunder (UK #100) have to have been at least five days ago because of how many days Prime has been leading successful raids - though it's probably not much more than that.]

November 1986

Resurrection part 2 (UK #104)

Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus break into the Decepticon fortress in Polyhex whilst the Wreckers distract the Decepticons. They begin fighting Megatron - who now has both Megatron's and Straxus' minds inside his head. Faced with defeat - Megatron/Straxus uses his anti-matter power. Ratbat (who has worked out Megatron/Straxus' mental state) and Octane monitor this battle from the Space Bridge control room. As soon as some arrivals from Earth get clear, they send the Space Bridge to get Megatron and the anti-matter away from Cybertron. Megatron then appears at the Decepticons' coal mine base with no memory of his betrayal by Shockwave and the Predacons, Optimus Prime suddenly appears at his own funeral, and Ultra Magnus appears in a wooded area of the United States. Meanwhile, the new arrivals on Cybertron are the Predacons, who had come to Cybertron looking for the missing Megatron (and Prime).

[This cannot be that long after part one, as nothing has happened to anyone in the meantime.]

December 1986

Flashback: The Gift (UK #93)

Jetfire and Jazz are supervising the latest batch of fuel from Blackrock, when Thrust and Bombshell attack the plant. Jazz is stunned, but Jetfire takes out both Decepticons and puts out a fire the fight has started. Unfortunately, the two Decepticons escape.

[This is the day before the main story. Jazz has only just recovered from his injuries during Target: 2006 (UK #78-88).]

December 1986

The Gift (UK #93)

Jetfire visits Buster at home to talk about a problem he's been having - he reacts really well when humans are in danger, but not so well when the threat is to the Autobots or concerns Cybertron. He's worried about having to make a choice between the two. Buster reassures him.

[This is shortly before Christmas - Buster has Christmas decorations up, is wrapping presents, and has an end of term exam. Oh, and there's snow outside and lights on the tree in the garden.]

January 1987

Prime uses the Matrix to create the Protectobots, and Megatron steals it to create the Combaticons.

[This must have been shortly before Afterdeath (US #24 / UK #105-106) because there's no sign of them before this, and the story appears to be the two groups' first outings.]

January 1987

Afterdeath (US #24 / UK #105-106)

Prime and Wheeljack discover the cerebro shell Bombshell had implanted and turn it into a bugging device. They hear the Decepticons' latest plot to take a human device called a Hydrothermocline - capable of converting energy from the ocean. Megatron and the Combaticons go to seize the device, and Prime and the Protectobots attempt to protect it. Their battle is about to begin when Ethan Zachary, an employee of the plant runs past, and is captured by Bruticus. Ethan suggests the battle be played out in one of the computer games he's been playing after work. The two sides agree - but Megatron insists that the losing leader be destroyed by an explosion inside his head. The Protectobots defeat the Combaticons with help from the game's inhabitants. Then, as Defensor, they sacrifice themselves to destroy Megatron. Megatron uses a cheat that Vortex overheard whilst scouting the plant, comes back to life, and almost destroys Prime in the game. Prime only survives by accidentally killing some of the game inhabitants, killing game Megatron in the process. Back in the real world, Prime insists that, by killing those innocents, he is the one who has lost, and insists that he die. Megatron and the Combaticons leave with the hydrothermocline, whilst the Protectobots leave with Prime's body, and Ethan ejects a floppy disk on which he has stored most of Prime's mind. [This is only possible due to the effects of the Creation Matrix.]

[Prime has only recently begun to suspect the existence of Bombshell's cerebro-shell, even though the appearance of the Stunticons should have given it away instantly. The Protectobots and Combaticons have only recently been created. It must be after The Gift, which is the last story in which Prime is still alive.]

You visited Target: 2006 at 7:52 am GMT on Wednesday 10th March 2010