Transformers US #3
The Facts
Dated: January 1985
Cover: Artist Unknown
Story: "Prisoner of War" (25 pages)
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 partly in black and white in UK #5 and #6, and 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.
In Brief
Which one is this?
Spider-Man, Spider-Man
Dressed in black, Spider-Man
Teamed with Gears, big surprise.
Catches 'Cons, just like flies.
Look out!
Here comes the Spider-Man
Firsts and Lasts
- 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, Joe Robertson, and Spider-Man from the Marvel Universe.
Memorable Moments / Dialogue Triumphs
Gears on Spider-Man: 'This human reminds me of Bluestreak. They both love the sound of their own voice.'
Gears: 'Do all humans have powers like yours?' Spider-Man: 'Not since I checked last! I'd feel real foolish if they did!'
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. The Decepticons attack the human military forces. Meanwhile, Spider-Man and Gears run into each other whilst scouting around. Gears convinces Spider-Man that they are on the same side when he prevents a tank thrown around by the conflict from landing on some reporters. Spider-Man then comes up with a plan to get the Autobots past the human forces to attack the Decepticons and rescue Sparkplug. The Autobots engage the Decepticon forces whilst Gears and Spider-Man sneak into the fortress and rescue Sparkplug. However, during their escape, Gears falls - apparently to his death. They return to the Ark. Ratchet revives Gears, and he claims that the Decepticons got what they wanted from Sparkplug.
Goofs
- Soundwave, Rumble, and Frenzy are seen to return from last issue's battle, even though they weren't involved in said battle.
- Shockwave is clearly present in two scenes at the Decepticon fortress, despite not being introduced until next issue.
- 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 in the battle.
- 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 low enough on fuel that Prime ordered him to hitch a lift in his trailer. Why doesn't he need refuelling?
- There's a panel where Megatron appears to be thinking Soundwave's thoughts about detecting an intruder.
- How does Gears know that Sparkplug has completed the fuel conversion formula? Did the Decepticons leave a big sign up to tell him?
Analysis
'Don't you know it's be-nice-to-Spider-Man week?' Whilst most of the story is simply functional - essentially wrapping up the previous issue - the presence of Spider-Man lifts it above the mundane. Spidey and gears get some fantastic interaction and Gears' "death" has a lot of emotional impact. There's a nice little twist to the story as well, even if it is revealed by a character who really shouldn't know anything about it.
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.