It’s been a long wait but finally here we are with month two (of 89) of our photographic journey through every single issue of Marvel UK’s Transformers comic. We’ve doubled up for October 1984 with two fortnightly comics filled not only with classic Transformers strip action, but also some of the finest retro goodness. Prepare to take a trip back to the 80s and come away feeling very, very old.
iSSUE TWO – 4th OCTOBER 1984
#2: Marvel UK’s sophomore Transformers release begins with a simply beautiful John Ridgway cover. It’s not linked to the story but then again neither was last issue’s and that’s not the point, it’s just a gorgeous piece of art and shows the toy models off in a great light, all while perfectly summing up children’s wonder at these new playthings. The cover would also be used for a future Collected Comics special where it better suited the story, albeit by coincidence. It would’ve made for a great free gift poster.
Inside, right from the off the nostalgia hits hard! Who else had one of these transforming watches? I did, although I can’t remember wearing it much so maybe it didn’t last too long. Then, in the main story (which is now partly black and white) there’s plenty of wonderful transforming images. In hindsight these could not have been easy to draw and some artists would end up not showing them mid-transformation like this. Lovely stuff.
The Autobots’ introductory spread was edited out of the strip itself to make a great poster in the middle of the comic, replacing some panels with the franchise’s title logo. Given how huge and epic this comic’s tale would become I love the quaint feeling of this, with its awkward poses to make sure everyone can be seen, the toy-accurate Ironhide and Ratchet, and the stilted introductory dialogue for the young readers to learn all of their details.
There are two prose features on robots this issue. The regular Robot Round-up takes a look at some of the most 80s-futuristic inventions imaginable, back when human-like robots were more fun and less terrifying. There’s also a special Doctor Who page on the robot props of the show at the time. Where are the Daleks, I hear you cry? Well, if you’re a fan you’d know why they’re not included. Glad to see the comic got that right. That just about rounds up our look at the second issue.
Cover by John Ridgway
The Transformers: Part Two plot by Bill Mantlo,
script by Ralph Macchio,
pencils by Frank Springer, inks by Kim DeMulder,
lettering by Michael Higgins & Rick Parker,
colours by Nel Yomtov
iSSUE THREE – 18th OCTOBER 1984
#3: Another fortnight, another Transformers UK comic from 42 years ago! Jerry Paris returns as cover artist for issue three and it’s another gorgeous piece of art with a big, chunky Bumblebee complete with toy-accurate limbs. Such a shame Jerry wasn’t a regular contributor, his work was perfect for this comic. He would return in the end much to readers’ delight, but not for another 164 issues!
Inside, we kick things off with our first fact file. Not the A-Z we all remember so fondly, instead it’s a tiny entry on the editorial pages for Autobot Hound using information from the toy box. It would actually take a surprisingly long time for the A-Z format to appear. In the meantime, the main strip happily trundles along with both small and simply gigantic scale scenes. Seamlessly complementing each other, this successful juxtaposition of huge far-fetched sci-fi coupled with human storylines continues in the movies to this day.
There’s a yellow Cliffjumper in the competition! Well, in this promo shot anyway. Speaking of the toys, the next Hasbro advert features more of the first wave of Autobots to hit the UK market. If you had to choose, which one would you go for? I think I’d have picked Hound, he looks the most intricate from the teeny, tiny drawings. Yep, that’s right, no such thing as actual photographs of the toys to choose from back then.
Robot Round-up details a somewhat familiar toy range. Who remembers coveting these in the Argos catalogue, only to be let down by them when you actually got to play with one at a friend’s house? There are also another couple of stills from the TV adverts masquerading as pin ups before the issue is rounded off with the 1985 Christmas annuals, one of which I’ve actually covered on the blog. You can check it out via the link at the bottom of this post along with a link to a post featuring all of Marvel UK’s annuals adverts during the comic’s lifetime.
Cover by Jerry Paris
Power Play: Part One plot by Bill Mantlo,
script by Jim Salicrup, pencils by Frank Springer,
inks by Kim DeMulder,
lettering by Janice Chiang & Rick Parker,
colours by Nel Yomtov
If your memory of the Transformers comic is of a full-colour, 24-page weekly with one main Transformers strip and an Action Force back up, you’re not alone. What do you make of these early issues? They’re a bit different, aren’t they? As always, the blog’s comments section and its social media accounts are ready for you. We’re only at the beginning of our journey, let’s make it an interactive one!
Our next round up on Friday 20th November (one day before my decorations go up at OiNK Blog Towers!) will contain the first American cover, the first battle between Optimus Prime and Megatron, Robby the Robot (yes, him), the comic’s first humour strip and I’ll be wondering who on Earth is Sieve-Head?!
PHOTOGRAPHiNG TRANSFORMERS UK MENU
ALSO ON THE OiNK BLOG:
Kim DeMulder in Havoc
Rick Parker in G.I. Joe
Nel Yomtov in The Sleeze Brothers
Jim Salicrup in Visionaries and Jurassic Park
Janice Chiang in Visionaries
