Transformers UK #5
The Facts
Dated: 17th November - 30th November 1984
Cover: Unknown Artist
Story: "Prisoner of War" (11 or 12 pages; part 1)
This reprints the first 11 or 12 pages of US #3 with most of the pages in black and white rather than full colour.
Credits: Jim Salicrup (plotter, scripter); Frank Springer (penciller); Kim Demulder (co-inker); Esporito (co-inker); Janice Chiang (co-letterer); Others (co-letterer); Nelson Yomtov (colourer); Bob Budiansky (editor); Jim Shooter (editor in chief)
Reprints: Reprinted in full colour in Collected Comics 2, in hardcover format in The Complete Works Volume 2, and currently available in the Titan graphic novel Beginnings.
Features: I don't own a copy, but the cover talks about a Four-in-Line competition, where you can pit your wits against a computer. The issue also sees the first installment of the humourous strip Matt and the Cat.
Back-Up Strips: Machine Man
Funnies: Matt and the Cat
In Brief
Which one is this?
Sparkplug makes fuel, and the Marvel Universe appears in cameo.
Firsts and Lasts
- This is the first time issue to feature Matt and the Cat by Matt Kazybird.
- The first mention of the scraplets. Here Rumble uses the word scraplet to insult Sparkplug. The scraplets will appear as characters in their own right a couple of years later.
- First and last appearances of Nick Fury, Timothy "Dum Dum" Duggan, and Joe Robertson from the Marvel Universe.
- First appearance of Spider-Man.
Memorable Moments / Dialogue Triumphs
Nowt, unfortunately.
Miserable Moments / Dialogue Disasters
O describes the Autobots as "rejects from a George Lucas film".
The Characters
Autobots
Autobots (behind the scenes)
Decepticons
Humans
The Story
Synopsis
The Decepticons take Sparkplug to their base and force him to begin work on a fuel conversion formula - stealing equipment for him to work with. Meanwhile, the Autobots return to the Ark, and the US Army and the media surround the Decepticons' fortress base.
Goofs
- Soundwave, Rumble, and Frenzy are seen to return from last issue's battle, even though they weren't actually there.
- Shockwave is clearly present in two scenes at the Decepticon fortress, despite not being introduced for another three issues.
- Inconsistencies on the question of which Autobots went to the Witwicky Garage continue. Trailbreaker's vehicle mode is clearly in the convoy heading back, yet there was no sign of him at the battle (I've counted him as not appearing). Gears forces a cop off the road, and also wasn't anywhere to be seen last issue.
- When the Autobots get back to the Ark, Prime orders that Cliffjumper, Brawn, Sunstreaker, Windcharger, Hound, and Gears be refuelled, but when leaving the garage, Sideswipe was so low on fuel that Prime ordered him to hitch a lift in his trailer. Why doesn't he need refuelling?
Analysis
'You will now devise a conversion process' Functional, and clunkily scripted, this half of the story simply ties up the end of last issue and sets up things for the second half of the story. The artwork is better than it has been, and the human reaction to the Transformers is well-done, though some of it is a simplistic Cold-War stereotype.
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.