Transformers UK #3
The Facts
Dated: 18th October - 31st October 1984
Cover: Artist unknown
Story: "Power Play" (11 or 12 pages; part 1)
This reprints the first 11 or 12 pages of US #2 with most of the pages in black and white rather than full colour.
Credits: Bill Mantlo (plotter); Jim Salicrup (scripter); Frank Springer (penciller); Kim Demulder (inker); Janice Chiang (letterer); Nelson Yomtov (colourer); Bob Budiansky (editor); Jim Shooter (editor in chief)
Reprints: Reprinted in full colour in Collected Comics 1, in hardcover format in The Complete Works Volume 1, and currently available in the Titan graphic novel Beginnings.
Features: I don't own a copy, but the cover promises a competition to win Transformers toys, and iron-on transfer, Robot Roundup, and colour wall posters.
Back-Up Strips: Machine Man
In Brief
Which one is this?
The Decepticons steal a nuclear power plant, whilst Bumblebee meets some little pink things who have just repaired him.
Firsts and Lasts
- The first Transformers work of both Jim Salicrup and Janice Chiang
- The first link to the Marvel Universe - The Dazzler (of X-Men fame) is interviewed on "O"'s radio.
Memorable Moments / Dialogue Triumphs
Sparkplug hears Buster's account of the fight at the Drive-in and says: "I don't know what they put in that popcorn at the drive-in, but I hope it's not habit-forming.'
Miserable Moments / Dialogue Disasters
None. The whole issue is quite passable.
The Characters
Autobots
Decepticons
Humans
The Story
Synopsis
The Decepticons discover the construction site of the Harrison Nuclear Power Plant. After Ravage scouts around the site, the Decepticons attack and carry off large chunks of the plant's technology. Meanwhile, at the Witwicky garage, Bumblebee explains to his father exactly what happened at the battle at the drive-in. He convinces Sparkplug to repair Bumblebee and, though Bumblebee is unlike anything Sparkplug's seen before, he succeeds. Bumblebee then transforms and Sparkplug agrees to help the Transformers adapt to be able to run on gasoline. He then takes Buster to inform the Autobots about what has happened. En route, they meet Jesie and "O", but Ravage is listening in to their conversation...
Goofs
- Whilst, for the first time, the cover picture reflects the events of the issue, the caption is just silly. Why? Because Bumblebee isn't going to suddenly become a threat since last issue.
- How does Ravage know that the Autobots have established contact with humans? Or that "O" and Jessie are friends of Buster?
Analysis
'Do all small pink things ask so many questions?' Well, I said it had to get better, and it has. The bulk of the story is taken up with two events. The first, the Decepticons' attack on the power plant is the first chance there's been to highlight individual Decepticons, and all of them get a look-in. The Decepticons here are portrayed as efficient war machines, and you really get the feeling that they could just take whatever they want from Earth if the Autobots weren't there. The second - Bumblebee in the garage - is slightly clunky by comparison. Bumblebee gets some great lines, but there's a lot of unneccesary exposition (the entire plot of the past two issues gets itself into the dialogue). But it serves its purpose well.
Copyright
Transformers and most of the characters that appeared in Transformers stories are both copyrighted and trademarked by Hasbro. A few are copyrighted and trademarked by Marvel Comics. No infringement of copyright or trademarks is intended. All material on this site is my own work unless stated otherwise. The drop-down menus were created from templates on CSS Play.