Category Archives: Buster Witwicky

The 20 Days of Transformers #18-20

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Yeah, so yesterday and Christmas Eve fell to bits, I should have seen that coming when I said I’d post the reviews on those days ;-)

So, here we go with numbers 3, 2, and 1, plus a bonus!

For #3 we have an intro to space, and Cybertron

#3: IDW Transformers Stormbringer Issue 1

Transformers: Stormbringer #1

Open on the maelstrom of hell on Cybertron before cutting to Jetfire and the Technobots who are investigating a power reading on the dead planet Cybertron, a trace of Super Energon. Deciding they need to investigate they head down, making sure they have as much protection against the elements as they can. As they follow the trace to it’s source they discover they’re back to where it all went wrong… Thunderhead Pass!

In a flashback we find Megatron and Optimus Prime working together to stop an unnamed adversary. In the present Optimus Prime can’t shake the feeling that it isn’t over yet. Shaken out of his memories Prime is handed a report from Prowl on Earth, he orders Searchlight to keep him informed before slipping back into his memories of the maelstrom.

Harsh Environment

Back on Cybertron Jetfire and the Technobots are setting up a scanner as Jetfire relates what happened many years earlier, Thunderwing approached the leading Cybertronian scientists regardless of their affiliation his figures point to an inescapable fact… Cybertron is dying. And they need to do something.

In the here and now Jetfire and the Technobots are ambushed by cloaked figures. They attempt to fight back but being unable to see their adversaries they lose and are taken down. Meanwhile their ship is blown out of the sky with missiles.

The Maelstrom

Prime is still lost in his memories of fighting against an apocalyptic creature, he knows that they only contained it, they didn’t destroy it, and that sooner or later everywhere will hear it’s name. On Cybertron Jetfire awakens to see a cult chanting the name of it’s deity… Thunderwing!

As the second arc in the new IDWverse, Stormbringer was our first real intro to the space bound Transformers, and it works so well, but then the story comes from Simon Furman, and that man had a plan all the way back then, couple that with Don Fig’s art and Josh Burcham’s colors, what else could one expect by perfection?

Hail Thunderwing

At #2 we have the end…

#2: Marvel Generation One Issue 80: Ed of the Road

Transformers #80

We open, this the final issue of Marvel’s G1 run, with the death of Getaway at the hands of Dreadwing before we pull back and see that Bludgeon’s ‘Cons have killed a lot of the Autobots, but not all, he has sent out a part to find the remaining ‘Bots and exterminate them for good.

The team in question, Octopunch, Weirdwolf, Fangry and Quake, have gone passed the place where Grimlock hid with the remainder of his troops, as they emerge from hiding Prowl tells Grimlock off for the way he has led them to this point, jumping in as soon as he spotted a ‘Con and leading them right into a text book ambush. As they’re attempting to decide what to do next, Blaster is shot and presumably killed by Quake, it seems Fangry ha led the ‘Cons to double back and ambush the ‘Bots.

Me, Grimlock, Hide Well

Back with Bludgeon and co, they were just wiping out the few remaining living ‘Bots when out of nowhere the human superhero team of The Neo Knights (well, the remaining sane ones), but they’re just the opening act, the main event is above them all… The New Optimus Prime!

Prime explains what happened, how after the last Optimus Prime died, Hi-Q and the Neo Knights sought out the Last Autobot, who, upon seeing the truth behind Hi-Q, that he was a small body, cybernetics wrapped in flesh, with a soul buried deep down, a wise, and noble leader. Taking from their memories The Last Autobot created a new body to house the two souls, making them, finally, one.

We Can Go Home

As The Last Autobot is telling them that the Civil War must end, Bludgeon interrupts, ordering his troops to kill Optimus Prime. As they do so The Last Autobot gets to work, resurrecting the fallen Autobots. Prime is fighting off the ‘Cons when Grimlock’s team returns and wades into the fight, turning the tide with the help of the resurrected ‘Bots.

As the ‘Cons call a retreat they vow that this isn’t the end. Prime then tells the ‘Bots that Cybertron has been reborn, and that it is time for them to return home, that the war is over.

For a finale, this is certainly a good one, it feels almost like the story is too short, that Simon was almost building up to something new and exciting (and maybe now we’ll find out with IDW’s announcement of Transformers Regeneration One). As always with Simon Furman’s writing, this is top notch, Andrew Wildman’s art is, maybe not as good as Don FIg’s, but it’s still way up there with the greats. If that had been the end, it would have been a fitting end, but as we all know, it never ends there…

Well, That's Just Prime

And at #1 we have The Beginning of it all!

#1: Marvel Transformers Generation One Issue 1

Transformers #1

We open this, the first ever Transformers comic with the requisite backstory that tells how the Decepticons came to be and their launching of the first strike in the Civil War that rages to this day. We learn that the war has knocked the planet out of it’s orbit and into deep space. Soon it’s realized that the planet will soon pass through a giant asteroid belt, to clear a path the Autobots build and launch a giant spacecraft, The Ark.

Unbeknown to them Ravage has been spying on them and sees the launch, reporting back to Megatron they decide to go after the ‘Bots. As the Autobots finish clearing a path for Cybertron the ‘Cons attack, taking them by surprise, and quickly gain the upper hand over the weakened ‘Bots, knowing that the only way to stop the secrets of The Ark falling into the Decepticon’s hands Prime sends the ship on a collision course for the nearest planet.

Arise Optimus Prime

The Ark crashes into a volcanic mountain where it lies dormant for four million years until an eruption manages to reactivate the main computers. Knowing it needs to repair the Transformers it launches a probe to scan for life forms to use as templates. The world it encounters is full of vehicles, flying and rolling, and some unidentified organic creatures that seem to work with the lifeforms.

Using the templates from the probe The Ark sets to repairing the Transformers, both Autobot and Decepticon alike. With some of it’s memory banks damaged however The Ark knew nothing of the Great War, but still kept the basic nature of the Transformers the same, so the ‘Bots became vehicles while the ‘Cons become weapons and communications devices.

With the rebuilding complete, the obligatory roll call happens with the Decepticons sounding off before transforming and leaving The Ark, and the Autobots staying behind to observe this new world and it’s inhabitants, and the organic beings that The Ark had dismissed..

We now go to meet one of these beings, Buster Witwicky and his father Sparkplug, after they discuss Buster’s plans for the future, Buster takes a car and heads off to meet his friends. Meanwhile Prime has sent a recon team out into the world, as Prowl, Bumblebee, Hound, Brawn and Cliffjumper come across a drive-in cinema they don’t notice Laserbeak following them, and reporting back to Megatron.

Humans Run The Planet

At the drive-in, the Autobots enter, and Bumblebee decides to go say hi, by crashing into Buster’s car! As Buster finds that no-one’s driving the car the Decepticons attack, damaging Bumblebee in the process. The other Autobots leap into action and fight back, and while they fight the humans run in panic.

As Soundwave and Ravage join the fight Prowl comes to realize that the vehicles are not the inhabitants of the world, the humans are, and that they need to take the fight elsewhere to protect them. As they transform and roll out they draw the ‘Cons with them. Buster meanwhile has come across Bumblebee and manages to jump start him, damaged though he is Buster gets Bumblebee back to his father’s garage where he pleads with him to help fix Bumblebee.

Well, as a start to what would become a major legacy, this was a good story, if a little crude in places, it works, think of the first 4 issues of the series as the pilot story, which it is really. The art is crude too, although I guess it is on par with the art of the times, remember we are talking like 1984, and some of the character colors are off, but then we are talking the very first issue they were still feeling their way.

The Beginning

And lastly as a bonus we got a smoking hot Prima…

Bonus: Optimus Prima: Reformatted

Optimus Prima: Reformatted

Yes, it’s not official, but what can I say, it’s based upon Transformers and it’s just plain awesome.

We open on Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Carly looking out over the Grand Canyon, as they discuss their next destination, Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp ambush them, as Prime and ‘Bee fight back Carly gets away to safety, at least until she gets involved and throws a rock at Starscream.

In anger ‘Screamer orders the destruction of the ledge the ‘Bots are standing on. After falling Prime finds his gun destroyed, so borrowing from Carly, Prime throws boulders at the ‘Cons, damaging Thundercracker and Skywarp. As the ‘Cons retreat Prime calls it in but is interrupted by Bumblebeen who has found Carly, badly injured by the fall.

Reformatted!

As the other Autobots scramble to the rescue Prime resorts to desperate measures and uses The Matrix to heal her. With it’s power The Matrix transforms Carly, granting to her power and the resolve to protect life, oh and some really nifty armor, arise now Optimus Prima! The effort however has drained Prime, as he collapses Megatron arrives with the Seekers.

Without Prime ‘Bee and Carly are sitting ducks until Carly comes up with an idea… She gets Bumblebee to throw her at the ‘Cons. Using her new found power Carly hacks off Skywarp’s arm and Thundercracher’s leg, using the leg as a battering ram she flies it right into Starscream before using her gun to blow off part of his face.

Leg Riding

With no way to stay in the air Carly falls and is caught by Megatron, who promptly fires on her, sending her back into the cliff wall. But not to worry, Carly’s back for round two in no time, as Megatron is about to destroy Prime the other ‘Bots arrive, with his troops badly damaged Megatron calls a retreat.

As the ‘Bots repair their fallen comrades Carly is applauded for her actions, including a decent fist bump from Ironhide, and some innocent flirting between Skyrifre and Carly.

Heavy Armor

Right, this is just plain cool, this comic was done by a fan, an awesomely talented fan, Silas Zee, and I tell you, if you haven’t read this comic, go read it I was lucky enough to get one of the limited run of printed ones, and that is just awesome. The story is as one would expect, different to the standard Transformers story, as is the art, but I feel it benefits from that, amazingly so.

And so, there we have it our top 20 Transformers comics ever, at least as far as I am concerned :) I hope you enjoyed my reviews, I’ll be bringing you more as they come, but from now on no particular order. Also some news on Transformers as it comes to me.

The 20 Days of Transformers #15 & #16

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Well, due to technical difficulties (My scanner wasn’t working and the scheduled text only post didn’t post) yesterday’s review wasn’t posted. So today we’ll give you two reviews, and the scanner is working now (having applied all appropriate brute force (read Hammer) and ignorance…)

At #6 we have a brief introduction…

#14: Dreamwave Generation One Volume 3 Issue 0

Generation One Issue 0

We open on what could be a scene from Transformers The Movie with Unicron devouring Lithone and three voice overs discussing things, including the fact that Unicron, while only at minimal power is still unparallelled and is moving faster than predicted. As we head inside Unicron to the brain chamber where there are cocoons. The voices discuss the ability to take a life form and reshape it to it’s needs. And learning from past errors makes the next wave better. As they note this we see Cyclonus smash his way out of a cocoon.

The focus now shifts to the first wave, Scourge and the Sweeps, we learn that the alpha drone, Scourge, found Cybertron, and reactivated Shockwave. Scourge tailed him for a time before he was forced to save Shockwave from an Extermination Team of Sharkticons. At some point Shockwave turned on Scourge and captured him, and studied him, and learned more about the origins of the Transformers than anyone had previously.

Research Subject

The voices note that a similar figure to Scourge was seen on Earth when Shockwave arrived there, we’re shown Devastator in pieces in a large room somewhere, with Human scientists examining him. Then the voices state that they believe there are still Autobots on Earth, left by Optimus Prime when he left for Cybertron. The voices believe that Prime is still on Cybertron and in a weakened state.

Quick History Lesson

As we’re shown a two page spread of events from the last two years, the voices note that thanks to the chaos their agenda has been kept secret, and they’ve amassed enough data to strike. We switch to the planet Quntessa and as we fly over, showing us the Sharkticons, and the robotic guards before we enter the control room and we learn that the voices were Quntessons! And they want Megatron to stand judgement.

To close we shift to The Planet of Junk and Wreck-Gar singing and dragging a deactivated Transformer behind him. As he reaches another being he dumps the body saying “Lucy, I’m home” The dark voice reminds him eh was asked not to call the other person that. We see now that the body he was dragging was a seeker. The dark voice smiles, and says that the time is near to take revenge on the universe.

Lucy, I'm Home

The last shot shows us the dark voice is in fact a wounded, but fully functional Megatron.

As with all Dreamwave comics this one has awesome art, I always felt that the Dreamwave era art was some of the best, and that’s mostly down to the man Don Figueroa, don’t get me wrong, I love the IDW era stuff, and don’t think I’d go without it no matter what, but some days I wish Dreamwave had kept going, it would have been awesome. The story itself is pretty simple, but then it’s an issue 0 so that’s to be expected. All in all a great comic.

For our #5 we bring you a landmark issue… A half century anyone?

#15: Marvel Generation One Issue 50

Transformers Issue 50

As we open on the Underbase, a construct of unimaginable power and knowledge, a construct that was set free of it’s worldly bounds by Optimus Prime many eons ago. We see it’s power to take life and give power as it destroys a world then powers a sun until it too is destroyed.

Switch to Earth, and in the Arctic where we find Buster Witwicky in bad shape with an Autobot homing beacon. The Aerialbots have been sent to investigate and seeing Buster radio for Fortress Maximus. Not far away we find the Decepticons licking their wounds from their brief civil war when Soundwave alerts them to an incoming Autobot invasion force.

It's A Trap

The Autobots arrive, and Fortress Maximus’ head transforms into Cerebros and then into Spike as he rushes to his brother’s side. Buster is suffering hypothermia and seeing this Spike uses Fortress Maximus to start to slowly raise his temperature. As Optimus Prime arrives they begin to wonder why Buster had a beacon that summoned a full Autobot response team. They don’t have long to wonder as the Decepticons arrive and begin to lay into the Autobots. The Decepticons execute the attack with extreme precision and Autobots fall before them.

Starscream, Tyant of the Universe

Meanwhile we find Scorponok’s ship heading towards The Underbase, it’s sole occupant, Starscream, eager to meet his destiny and to become the most powerful being in existance.

Back on Earth Ratbat has gotten the drop on Fort Max and shakes Buster out of the heating area. Buster lets slip Starscream’s plan to Ratbat who convinces Fort Max to call a cease fire. Soon once all the Transformers are caught up, a plan is devised. The ‘Bots help get the ‘Con ship ready for space and launch headed for Starscream.

Starscream meanwhile has positioned himself in place to receive the “blessings” of The Underbase. As he begins to absorb the power a shot knocks him out of the way, a shot fired by Optimus Prime aboard the ‘Con ship. The combined Transformers believe that Starscream is now history, but unknown to them he still functions, and has more than enough power to pick up Scorponok’s ship and throw it at the ‘Con’s ship, smashing it. As the combined Transformers are thrown out of the smashed ship Starscream transforms and heads towards Earth.

Fortunately Optimus Prime had planned for such a possibility and had the Ark standing by. Soon once all the Transformers are onboard they devise another plan to attack Starscream on Earth. As teams are deployed around the globe, Prime stays behind on The Ark with Buster. As Starscream arrives in New York Ratbat gets his attention long enough for Jetfire and the Aerialbots to get the drop on him, however Starscream is too powerful and knocks the Aerialbots out with one blast. Jetfire knocks Starscream out of the sky onto a bridge where a team of Autobots await, Starscream takes them out too, but is knocked intot eh sea in the process where the Seacons are waiting, they don’t last long, and neither does Blaster when he steps in. Having taken out all the opposition Starscream heads for Tokyo.

On The Ark we see that Prime has built a rocket with reflective panels and with Hi-Q’s help they’re refining it further. As tehy do so a report comes in from Grimlock that Starscream has arrived in Tokyo and he’s taken out the Throttlebots.. As the Dinobots and Scorponok get ready a team of Seekers take on Starscream, and are soon dispatched, As are the Dinobots shortly thereafter, Grimlock however manages to blast Starscream in the direction of the ‘Con Pretenders and the Predacons, who, like all the previous teams don’t last long. As Scorponok prepares to fire Starscream uses Grimlock as a shield.

Growing tired of that Starscream heads for Buenos Aires where the remaining plane ‘Cons are waiting, again they don’t last long, Starscream is becoming more powerful as time passes. The Technobots and Terrorcons are no match, nor is Fortress Maximus. As Starscream pulls a monument up to use as a javelin, Omega Supreme steps in and takes his shot, but ultimately even he falls. As Starscream turns his attention back to Fort Max, Buster radios in from The Ark, causing Starscream to abandon the fight to head off to meet The Underbase.

The Underbase Is Mine

Back on The Ark, Prime launches the missile towards The Underbase just as Ratbat and Scorponok arrive back and accuse Prime of going after The Underbase for himself. As the missile intersects with The Underbase and deflects it Scorponok makes hims move, incapacitating Ratbat and Prime and heading out to get The Underbase for himself. With Buster’s help Prime and Hi-Q are back together and head out to stop Scorponok, getting him out of the way of The Underbase just in time for it fly past and encounter Starscream.

Starscream absorbs the entire power of The Underbase, as he does it mutates him, increasing his size, turning him into a super Transformer. But before he can gloat too much the power overwhelms him, and causes him to explode. Prime notes that Starscream has learned what Prime had learned long ago, that The Underbase is too powerful for any one being to posses.

We end back onboard The Ark where Prime explains the full plan to Scorponok. They make plans to help the wounded Transformers, with Scorponok noting that once that task is ended the truce will be over and their battles will begin anew.

Whew, an awesomely long story this one, but then what would one expect for a 50th issue, similar I expect for IDW’s upcoming 125th issue. The story in fact wraps up a four issue arc called The Underbase Saga. We get to see that combined the Transformers could accomplish almost anything, but sadly the Civil War means that is almost never going to happen. Art wise the art is on par with issues of that era, given the printing limitations, it is better than earlier issues with less coloring mistakes and seemingly smoother lines. All in all a must have for Transformers fans.

The 20 Days of Transformers #1: Marvel G1 #5

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And here goes folks,counting down the 20 Best Transformers comics ever (in my humble opinion of course).

Now please do note that every comic in the first 15 of these came in so very close that it was extremely hard to decide on the order. With that said lets go…

Marvel Transformers Generation One Issue 5

Transformers 5: The New Order

Who can go past such an iconic cover? At the same time it invokes a feeling of fear and excitement.

Essentially this is the start of the original ongoing Transformers series, continuing from where the 4-Issue Limited Series left off, we find all the Autobots deactivated, with the exception of Ratchet who was absent for the final conflict between the ‘Bots and Decepticons that culminated in Shockwave conquering all.

Story wise this comic is run-of-the-mill, but it’s the impact it leaves that makes it worth getting. The shot near the start of Shockwave walking through The Ark and through a room full of hanging deactivated Autobots is, and I hate to keep using the word but it fits, iconic.

We also see the start of the showdown that’s brewing between the disgraced leader Megatron and the new boss Shockwave, it does however make one wonder, if Shockwave is so logical then why does he repair and reactivate Megatron, arguably one of the most dangerous Decepticons ever to roll off the assembly line? Logically one could guess he believed he could control Megatron to the extent that he wouldn’t be a threat.

Megalomania is a galactic trait it seems...

For the benefit of the readers who have yet to read issues 1 through 4, Shockwave gives a very basic recount of what happened to bring them all to this point, which, as one would expect serves also to annoy the incapacitated Megatron.

We have a bit of interaction between Buster and his dad, as well as between Buster and Ratchet. It may be that the past few years of awesome writing that have spoiled me, but Ratchet in this issue seems to be a little wooden at times (yes, I know that seems strange since he’s a metallic lifeform, so sue me). I do however love the part where the EMTs are trying to find where Ratchet’s voice is coming from, so much for secrecy…

Behold, Ratchet... The Original Color Change Transformer...

Ratchet and Buster head back to The Ark, and find it guarded by Decepticons, using logic Buster convinces Ratchet to let him sneak in and find out what happened. It’s at this point I start to have a small problem… Coloring consistency, we all know that Ratchet is mostly white with red highlights, yet here he has a blue chest, now tell me that’s not a little strange…

Lets move past that, and the recklessness of letting a fragile human sneak into a place that, if he’s caught will get him killed, and move on to sanity check errors…

Blaster finds the room that was mentioned before with the deactivated Autobots, now he appears to be standing on some sort of high pedestal, with no visible way of getting up there, or getting down… I’m all for good visuals, but they should make some sense…

We end with yet another iconic image, the decapitated head of Optimus Prime, suspended in machinery, pleading with Buster to help him “Buster Witwicky… You must help me… You are… The Autobots… Last hope…”

The Bodyless Optimus Prime, begging for help...

The Creative Team
Writer: Bob Budiansky
Artist: Alan Kupperberg
Colorist: Nel Yomtov
Letterer: Rick Parker
Editor: James C. Owsley
Editor In Chief: Jim Shooter

Release Date: March 1985
Cover Price: $0.75
Number of Pages: 32

Trivia The iconic cover of Shockwave who burned (The Transformers) “Are All Dead” into the wall is by Mark Bright. The cover is possibly the most well-known of all Transformers comics and has been homaged (or reproduced) in official media at least three times: once in a UK comic mini-poster (which was much later used as an issue cover), once in a panel of Dreamwave’s The War Within #3, once in a panel of The Art of War #2 and again as a cover of IDW’s The Reign of Starscream #1.

My Score: 8/10 Matrixes