Transformers UK #4
The Facts
Dated: 1st November - 14th November 1984
Cover: Unknown Artist
Story: "Power Play" (11 or 12 pages; part 2)
This reprints the last 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 a Mandala board (whatever that is).
Back-Up Strips: Machine Man
In Brief
Which one is this?
There's a fight. This one happens in Sparkplug's junkyard.
Firsts and Lasts
- This is the first time that the UK comic's cover has been a reprint of a US cover.
- There's the first of many Optimus Prime vs Megatron fights.
- This is the first UK appearance of Mirage and Sideswipe.
Memorable Moments / Dialogue Triumphs
The Decepticons retreat and Prime says that the Autobots are unable to chase after them because they need immediate refueling, at which point the Autobots all collapse.
Miserable Moments / Dialogue Disasters
Well there's lots of corny dialogue, but nothing stands out as particularly horrendous.
The Characters
Autobots
Autobots (behind the scenes)
Decepticons
Humans
The Story
Synopsis
At the Ark, the Autobots discover that they have very little in the way of fuel reserves. Prime decides that the best solution is to bargain Cybertron's technology for fuel. As Prime decides, they receive a signal from Bumblebee, who has returned to the Witwicky garage due to lack of fuel. Bumblebee reports his deal with Sparkplug, and Prime takes most of the Autobots with him. When they arrive at the garage, the Decepticons attack them. During the battle, the Decepticons snatch Sparkplug and then leave. The Autobots are unable to pursue them because they urgently need to refuel.
Goofs
- There are lots of inconsistencies in which Autobots went to the Witwicky Garage. Most noticably, Ratchet is explicitly said to have stayed behind, yet there's clearly an ambulance in the group that arrives.
- There's a panel in the fight scene where the artist only bothered to draw half of Prime's right leg.
Analysis
'They're turning the scrap in my yard into -- well -- scrap.' After the highlights of the first half, we're back to mediocre. Fortunately the mostly black-and-white early UK format covers up most of Yomtov's colouring errors, but the artwork is still uninspired. The highlight of the issue is the fight scene, which makes good use of its setting and showcases Prime and Megatron as forces to be reckoned with. The rest of the issue consists of the typically clunky dialogue of the early US issues and a journey from the Ark to the Witwicky Garage, both of which are utterly forgettable.
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.