You Came in Like a Wrecking Ball.
Issue 172: Wrecking Havoc Part 1. 25th June 1988.
Nevertheless, very shortly we're going to drop in right on top of Galvatron. Then the fun starts!
So I'm freshly back from the final Auto Assembly, where an emotional time was had by all. I'm not going to go into it huge depth as I've already waxed lyrical upon it in several places, but watch the entire closing ceremony HERE (which has a stunningly emotional moment starting at the 8 minute mark) and my thoughts on the convention as a whole can be seen HERE.
Back in 1988, we have a prime example of how narrow the line is between a mediocre story and a classic one. As with Deadly Games!, Wrecking Havoc (which really feels as if it should have an exclamation mark) gives over half of its first part to a standalone action scene that would appear to be largely devoid from the rest of the plot and which focuses on the death of character/s we have no investment in whatsoever.
The difference is execution though is staggering. Most obviously, whilst the action itself is largely unconnected to what follows, it's the character moments for Cyclonus and Scourge (who of course are far more important to the book than Chameleon and Hooligan) and how they inform not just this story but much of what will follow which is significant.
Nevertheless, very shortly we're going to drop in right on top of Galvatron. Then the fun starts!
So I'm freshly back from the final Auto Assembly, where an emotional time was had by all. I'm not going to go into it huge depth as I've already waxed lyrical upon it in several places, but watch the entire closing ceremony HERE (which has a stunningly emotional moment starting at the 8 minute mark) and my thoughts on the convention as a whole can be seen HERE.
Back in 1988, we have a prime example of how narrow the line is between a mediocre story and a classic one. As with Deadly Games!, Wrecking Havoc (which really feels as if it should have an exclamation mark) gives over half of its first part to a standalone action scene that would appear to be largely devoid from the rest of the plot and which focuses on the death of character/s we have no investment in whatsoever.
The difference is execution though is staggering. Most obviously, whilst the action itself is largely unconnected to what follows, it's the character moments for Cyclonus and Scourge (who of course are far more important to the book than Chameleon and Hooligan) and how they inform not just this story but much of what will follow which is significant.
The key thing to remember is that we really haven't seen Cyclonus and Scourge as a credible threat since Target:2006, in the last two years they've mainly been comedy stooges who have bravely run away from both Rodimus Prime and Death's Head. For the confrontation with both Galvatron and the Wreckers that this issue heads towards to seem plausible they need to be given their balls back.
So the issue opens with them getting some training in for their meeting with Galvatron by blasting the hell out of five USAF F14 Tomcats. This means we get to see their sheer firepower and bravado as one jet after another is taken down, with Furman being very careful to show the Americans aren't pushovers so that this isn't just a walk in the park for the Decepticons but a genuine showing of power.
This isn't just about revealing their strengths though, but also their weaknesses. The main way the USAF is able to hold their own is by playing on Cyclonus' impetuous nature as his overconfidence causes him to be nearly tricked into crashing into a rock and then barely destroys a sidewinder missile before it hits him. This inability to think through actions is going to be key to Dry Run! later in the year, so this opening isn't just establishing important information for this story but for the arc as a whole. The fact two of the jets survive as a result of this miscalculation is very telling.
In amidst all this it would be easy to overlook the fact the story properly takes the time to establish the Targetmaster Nebulons for the first time since the Headmasters miniseries. Or, let's face it, at all. In particular it showcases Nightstick--who is just as prone to jump in without thinking as his partner--and to give him a touch of personality so as to make sure his forthcoming, bone-crushing, fate in Dry Run! will have that little bit of extra impact.
On top of all of that, it's just a beautiful sequence with Bryan Hitch on glorious form, revelling in the destruction of the jets and the snazzy aerial manoeuvres. Furman also throws in a clever bait and switch as the first pilot manages to eject safely, luring the reader into expecting a stock safe (and very Action Force) sequence before the following pilots die in horrible fireballs.
So the issue opens with them getting some training in for their meeting with Galvatron by blasting the hell out of five USAF F14 Tomcats. This means we get to see their sheer firepower and bravado as one jet after another is taken down, with Furman being very careful to show the Americans aren't pushovers so that this isn't just a walk in the park for the Decepticons but a genuine showing of power.
This isn't just about revealing their strengths though, but also their weaknesses. The main way the USAF is able to hold their own is by playing on Cyclonus' impetuous nature as his overconfidence causes him to be nearly tricked into crashing into a rock and then barely destroys a sidewinder missile before it hits him. This inability to think through actions is going to be key to Dry Run! later in the year, so this opening isn't just establishing important information for this story but for the arc as a whole. The fact two of the jets survive as a result of this miscalculation is very telling.
In amidst all this it would be easy to overlook the fact the story properly takes the time to establish the Targetmaster Nebulons for the first time since the Headmasters miniseries. Or, let's face it, at all. In particular it showcases Nightstick--who is just as prone to jump in without thinking as his partner--and to give him a touch of personality so as to make sure his forthcoming, bone-crushing, fate in Dry Run! will have that little bit of extra impact.
On top of all of that, it's just a beautiful sequence with Bryan Hitch on glorious form, revelling in the destruction of the jets and the snazzy aerial manoeuvres. Furman also throws in a clever bait and switch as the first pilot manages to eject safely, luring the reader into expecting a stock safe (and very Action Force) sequence before the following pilots die in horrible fireballs.
This is then followed by two pages of set up, but well handled set up. The first sees the Wreckers prepare for their jump to Earth. It's mainly about reminding readers of things we were told in the last story, but the sight of the Twin Twist acting as a drill sergeant putting the team through their paces on Galvatron's abilities is rather fun and the way the exposition is covered through Springer and Xaaron admitting without really admitting how flawed the plan is means it's not too chunky.
Over at Shockwave's base we get another bit of set up for Dry Run! (amusingly for a story Furman won't write he's laying an awful lot of pipe for it) as Shockwave muses to himself as to how Cyclonus and Scourge came to him asking for sanctuary as new troops of his if their confrontation with Galvatron fails. As well as the irony considering their last meeting with Shockwave in the future, Shockwave's clear smugness at either getting a dead Galvatron or two new troops is delightful.
Interestingly, as this page also serves to remind readers of the time trigger switch device and why they'd want it back so they can go home, Shockwave has what looks like a fairly solid design for the switch on his big TV. Will this be one of his inventions?
Over at Shockwave's base we get another bit of set up for Dry Run! (amusingly for a story Furman won't write he's laying an awful lot of pipe for it) as Shockwave muses to himself as to how Cyclonus and Scourge came to him asking for sanctuary as new troops of his if their confrontation with Galvatron fails. As well as the irony considering their last meeting with Shockwave in the future, Shockwave's clear smugness at either getting a dead Galvatron or two new troops is delightful.
Interestingly, as this page also serves to remind readers of the time trigger switch device and why they'd want it back so they can go home, Shockwave has what looks like a fairly solid design for the switch on his big TV. Will this be one of his inventions?
For a story promising a massive three-way fight, the issues actually closes out on a comedy sequence. Cyclonus and Scourge have come to meet Galvatron (and it’s never explained how they got back in touch. An ad in the Portland Examiner personal column?) only to find the agreed location is slap bang on the high street of a human town. It is of course another sign of how they tend not to think things through that they never even bothered to do some early aerial reconnaissance or even look at a map beforehand, but Galvatron’s reason for meeting there is it’s hard for them to not have come alone as agreed in a crowd of midgets.
Galvatron of course can pass unnoticed in a crowd as Furman unleashes CONTINUITY and has a terrified Patrick Stewart lookalike (not the first one we’ll be seeing this year) in his oft forgotten and clearly only invented for the toy to give it some play value handgun mode. Frankly I’d be willing to read an entire comic about this poor scared man being forced to carry Galvatron around and obey his every whim. He’d be Joey Slick but played straight.
However, this isn’t about a gritty rerun of Shooting Star!, it’s about the first on-page meeting between the three Movie Decepticons—characters whose relationship has been constantly reaffirmed by Cyclonus and Scourge repeatedly being called his “Ex-Lieutenants” by various characters—since the tail end of 1986. This quickly turns into a very British comedy of errors as Galvatron mistakes Fracas (Fact: I learnt from Ryan Frost over this weekend that Rebirth has taught me how to pronounce that word in the wrong, American, way. He also cheerfully told me I keep spelling “Segway” wrong) and Nightstick for humans—though why he doesn’t assume they’re little robots is anyone’s guess—and equally assumes Cyclonus and Scourge are unarmed.
On their part, his two Ex-Lieutenants don’t know the time trigger device no longer exists, making the entire exercise pointless as far as they’re concerned. Hitch perfectly captures Galvatron’s incredulous face as he decides the two are idiots and that he won’t tell them the truth so as to instead get the chance for a lesson teaching fight.
This leads to the biggest error of all, and both the funniest moment of the issue and a good solid cliffhanger, as the Wreckers drop out of the sky with Springer about to deliver a Big Damn Hero speech, only to realise his team is all doomed as they can’t fight in the middle of all the humans.
Despite the similar structure to part one of Deadly Games!, this feels like a far more packed and relevant issue with great moment piled on top of great moment, helped by some deft character work to add a bit of depth so as to stop it being just action and comedy. If the last two weeks felt as if Furman had his foot off the pedal here he stomps it through the floor and onto your face and shows how it’s possible to do a lot with a very flimsy set up. Coupled with a magnificent Hitch and it’s an issue that’s hard not to love.
Galvatron of course can pass unnoticed in a crowd as Furman unleashes CONTINUITY and has a terrified Patrick Stewart lookalike (not the first one we’ll be seeing this year) in his oft forgotten and clearly only invented for the toy to give it some play value handgun mode. Frankly I’d be willing to read an entire comic about this poor scared man being forced to carry Galvatron around and obey his every whim. He’d be Joey Slick but played straight.
However, this isn’t about a gritty rerun of Shooting Star!, it’s about the first on-page meeting between the three Movie Decepticons—characters whose relationship has been constantly reaffirmed by Cyclonus and Scourge repeatedly being called his “Ex-Lieutenants” by various characters—since the tail end of 1986. This quickly turns into a very British comedy of errors as Galvatron mistakes Fracas (Fact: I learnt from Ryan Frost over this weekend that Rebirth has taught me how to pronounce that word in the wrong, American, way. He also cheerfully told me I keep spelling “Segway” wrong) and Nightstick for humans—though why he doesn’t assume they’re little robots is anyone’s guess—and equally assumes Cyclonus and Scourge are unarmed.
On their part, his two Ex-Lieutenants don’t know the time trigger device no longer exists, making the entire exercise pointless as far as they’re concerned. Hitch perfectly captures Galvatron’s incredulous face as he decides the two are idiots and that he won’t tell them the truth so as to instead get the chance for a lesson teaching fight.
This leads to the biggest error of all, and both the funniest moment of the issue and a good solid cliffhanger, as the Wreckers drop out of the sky with Springer about to deliver a Big Damn Hero speech, only to realise his team is all doomed as they can’t fight in the middle of all the humans.
Despite the similar structure to part one of Deadly Games!, this feels like a far more packed and relevant issue with great moment piled on top of great moment, helped by some deft character work to add a bit of depth so as to stop it being just action and comedy. If the last two weeks felt as if Furman had his foot off the pedal here he stomps it through the floor and onto your face and shows how it’s possible to do a lot with a very flimsy set up. Coupled with a magnificent Hitch and it’s an issue that’s hard not to love.
What Furman, in his capacity as editor, clearly doesn’t love though is Action Force. The presence of a jet on the cover means the first thing Transformation does to greet the readers is to desperately reassure them it’s not an Action Force airplane and no, dear God no, they’re definitely never ever going to get their own cover on the title. For a more cheerful bit of promotion you have to look at the sidebar, where the build up to the return of Optimus Prime in the comic is well underway and he’ll be hear by issue 177! Considering the lack of space this fluff piece actually manages to pack in a lot: Recapping how Prime died; reassuring readers this won’t be a “Trick” like being in Megatron’s mind or on a computer screen and hints at there being some trouble in his resurrection as he might not have come back the same. It’s actually a very neat piece of writing.
On Grimgrams you get the sense that Furman wasn’t just thinking of Dry Run, as a question from Andrew Pancheri of Milton Keynes about why Rodimus didn’t turn back into Hot Rod when he gave Death’s Head the Matrix because that’s what happens in the cartoon (season 3 now on “the Sky channel”!) has a response that feels like it’s pulled back from saying at the last second that the cartoon is completely wrong. Instead Grimlock reveals Rodimus would need to be separated from it by some distance before the change would reverse. Was Furman already thinking of how he was going to deal with The Big Broadcast of 2006? If so, it’s amusing that Space Pirates will portray the Prime/Hot Rod/Matrix relationship in exactly the same way as the cartoon.
Another letter from Robert Bartlett of Auto Assembly’s former home of Birmingham asks two pertinent questions: Is Straxus really gone from Megatron’s mind, and when will Magnus have his final fight with Galvatron? In reply, Grimlock hints you can never be sure with Straxus (which will turn out to be true in ways no one could have guessed) and that the final fight is coming, just be patient (27 years later we’re still patiently waiting for it).
On Grimgrams you get the sense that Furman wasn’t just thinking of Dry Run, as a question from Andrew Pancheri of Milton Keynes about why Rodimus didn’t turn back into Hot Rod when he gave Death’s Head the Matrix because that’s what happens in the cartoon (season 3 now on “the Sky channel”!) has a response that feels like it’s pulled back from saying at the last second that the cartoon is completely wrong. Instead Grimlock reveals Rodimus would need to be separated from it by some distance before the change would reverse. Was Furman already thinking of how he was going to deal with The Big Broadcast of 2006? If so, it’s amusing that Space Pirates will portray the Prime/Hot Rod/Matrix relationship in exactly the same way as the cartoon.
Another letter from Robert Bartlett of Auto Assembly’s former home of Birmingham asks two pertinent questions: Is Straxus really gone from Megatron’s mind, and when will Magnus have his final fight with Galvatron? In reply, Grimlock hints you can never be sure with Straxus (which will turn out to be true in ways no one could have guessed) and that the final fight is coming, just be patient (27 years later we’re still patiently waiting for it).
Non-cover stars Action Force have something of a nothing issue this week in the third part of Snap Decisions. Cobra Commander sorts out something sneaky with the returning Zartan and Snake Eyes gives Storm Shadow the keys to his holiday cabin. If not for a memorable nightmare panel as Storm Shadow remembers being dead it’d be fairly empty.
Combat Colin sees his bath captured by Mister Magno, a man who literally has a giant magnet. Colin vows to stop him once he’s dealt with the whole nudity thing, but the best gag is Semi-Automatic Steve sticking his head around the panel to hope he’s going to be in next week’s issue.
The most amazing thing about the whole issue however is that Kraft weren’t just happy forcing an American Football themed competition on us two weeks ago, they’ve now gone and taken out a full page comic advert! Thrill as Tom and Tracy stop the manager of the evil Mashers team, called Evil Eric, from stealing the good Titan team’s “Energy giving beefballs”. I believe a desire to share their energy giving beefballs is the excuse many a premiership football has used as well; maybe the two sports aren’t so different after all?
There’s so much to say about this strip I may just start an entire website devoted to it. First up: Tom and Tracy learn Evil Eric has stolen the energy giving beefballs because the TV news tells them so. Not only would I say it’s very unlikely he’d get away with it, but this makes the news as he’s committing the crime. He hasn’t even left the room as Tom and Tracy turn up to stop him (why they do this when his guilt is already on TV and he’ll be easy to find as he’s about to coach an EVIL football team is uncertain), which seems unlikely unless they live right outside the stadium.
Then it turns out Tom (Tracy actually contributes nothing to solving the case. She’s probably being spit roasted by two Titan’s) carries energy giving beefballs in his pocket at all times, so he uses the reflective wrapper to blind Evil Eric. Or something. Then the Titan’s get their teeth into their energy giving beefballs (and presumably spit-roast Tom as well as a reward) before playing the game which for some reason hasn’t been cancelled despite the manager of the other team having been arrested for being EVIL.
It was mentioned by Mark Stevenson in the comments two weeks ago that there was a bit of a push in the mid-80’s to try and make American football cool to British kids and this odd choice by Kraft to promote their energy giving beefballs via that sport may be the fag end of it. I’m not sure that explains any of the above though.
So next week...
I’ve no idea after that. Energy giving beefballs probably.
Look at my restraint for not doing a book (complete with five star review on Amazon UK) plug this week.
ISSUE 171
1988
COMMENT
Combat Colin sees his bath captured by Mister Magno, a man who literally has a giant magnet. Colin vows to stop him once he’s dealt with the whole nudity thing, but the best gag is Semi-Automatic Steve sticking his head around the panel to hope he’s going to be in next week’s issue.
The most amazing thing about the whole issue however is that Kraft weren’t just happy forcing an American Football themed competition on us two weeks ago, they’ve now gone and taken out a full page comic advert! Thrill as Tom and Tracy stop the manager of the evil Mashers team, called Evil Eric, from stealing the good Titan team’s “Energy giving beefballs”. I believe a desire to share their energy giving beefballs is the excuse many a premiership football has used as well; maybe the two sports aren’t so different after all?
There’s so much to say about this strip I may just start an entire website devoted to it. First up: Tom and Tracy learn Evil Eric has stolen the energy giving beefballs because the TV news tells them so. Not only would I say it’s very unlikely he’d get away with it, but this makes the news as he’s committing the crime. He hasn’t even left the room as Tom and Tracy turn up to stop him (why they do this when his guilt is already on TV and he’ll be easy to find as he’s about to coach an EVIL football team is uncertain), which seems unlikely unless they live right outside the stadium.
Then it turns out Tom (Tracy actually contributes nothing to solving the case. She’s probably being spit roasted by two Titan’s) carries energy giving beefballs in his pocket at all times, so he uses the reflective wrapper to blind Evil Eric. Or something. Then the Titan’s get their teeth into their energy giving beefballs (and presumably spit-roast Tom as well as a reward) before playing the game which for some reason hasn’t been cancelled despite the manager of the other team having been arrested for being EVIL.
It was mentioned by Mark Stevenson in the comments two weeks ago that there was a bit of a push in the mid-80’s to try and make American football cool to British kids and this odd choice by Kraft to promote their energy giving beefballs via that sport may be the fag end of it. I’m not sure that explains any of the above though.
So next week...
I’ve no idea after that. Energy giving beefballs probably.
Look at my restraint for not doing a book (complete with five star review on Amazon UK) plug this week.
ISSUE 171
1988
COMMENT