This must’ve been an exciting cover for fans of the new Transformers comic from Marvel UK, with that crossover event splashed across it, taken from the American comic and drawn by Mike Zeck. But that’s not why it’s being featured on the blog. Inside, this issue contained information on the first of the seven Christmas issues for the Cybertronians produced between 1984 and 1990.
At this early stage the comic was a very different beast to what most will remember. In its first year it was a 32-page fortnightly comic filled with lots of extra features beyond the two comic strips, all of which were given equal billing to the Transformers themselves. Hence why the Next Issue promo has a preview image for Machine Man and our lead characters are nowhere to be seen!
As regular blog readers will know I’ve read all 332 issues (plus annuals, specials etc.) of this series in real time over on the blog’s Instagram and there’s now a blog post enabling you to check it all out in whatever order you wish. The American Transformers Generation 2 monthly is also in the middle of a full read through on the blog at the time of writing. Now, I’m kicking off a special yearly series of posts for the 40th anniversaries of original comic’s Christmassy editions and books.
Beginning in 14 days and continuing over the next several years, every Christmas I’ll be taking those special issues and annuals already covered briefly on Instagram and giving them the full blown OiNK Blog treatment on each of their 40th birthdays. Some of them are amongst my very favourite issues of the comic’s run and the hardback annuals were festive feasts, often including elements of lore that continue to this day in the likes of the recent Transformers One!
The first Transformers Annual wasn’t released until the comic’s second year so in 2024 we’ve just got #7 of the original fortnightly to have a gander at. It’s got a lowkey Christmas vibe compared to what came later but it’s still a fascinating look at how these yearly treats kicked off, and an interesting look at just how different Transformers was in those first 12 months. So come back on Sunday 15th December 2024 for the latest Cybertronian addition to the blog.
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