For Those About to Die, We Salute You.
Issue 208: Dark Star Part 1. 4th March 1989.
A transparently self-serving theory fleshling. Unfortunately it makes perfect sense.
Because the British series knocked out so many more issues (indeed, we reached the half century almost exactly three years ago) it’s easy to forget that hitting number 50 is a genuinely impressive milestone for a book like Transformers to have achieved. And indeed one it very nearly didn’t, the main “Good news/Bad news” given to Furman when he landed the American gig (the first issues of which he’d have been well under-way on when this issue came out) was that no one expected it to last much longer. The British title is in a similar position despite Transformers maintaining more of its momentum in Europe. This is effectively a spent past its best franchise in terms of public perception, so managing to hang on in there is no mean feat.
From Budiansky’s point of view as writer, he was expecting this to be the end even if the book didn’t get cancelled here. As he had been for some time, he was expecting to finally be allowed to move on. And—not unlike the same situation John Nathan-Turner was constantly undergoing on Doctor Who at this time—he would instead be Persuaded To Stay. It’s hardly surprising that he wound up taking the situation into his own hands just prior to the original American publication of this issue and sounded out his own replacement. It’s equally unsurprising the following five issues before the transition can be affected feel as if they were written in a state of mild surprise.
But that’s the future, here and now (and has been evident throughout the whole Underbase Saga) Uncle Bob is knuckling down and determined to provide a double length (officially for the special numbering, though tellingly the only other two times Marvel US would double the page count--G2 1 doesn’t count as it’s actually less than twice as many pages-would be for an intended final issue) spectacle that would see him go out with a bang.
The fact Bob is perhaps being a bit more thoughtful than in some of his more burnt out writing is evident right from the off with the title; naming your story after a relatively obscure (certainly none of the target audience would have heard of it) John Carpenter film feels more like the sort of thing Furman would do and makes for a nice gag for parents—or indeed the original target audience now grown up and all genre smart—looking over their kid’s shoulder.
A transparently self-serving theory fleshling. Unfortunately it makes perfect sense.
Because the British series knocked out so many more issues (indeed, we reached the half century almost exactly three years ago) it’s easy to forget that hitting number 50 is a genuinely impressive milestone for a book like Transformers to have achieved. And indeed one it very nearly didn’t, the main “Good news/Bad news” given to Furman when he landed the American gig (the first issues of which he’d have been well under-way on when this issue came out) was that no one expected it to last much longer. The British title is in a similar position despite Transformers maintaining more of its momentum in Europe. This is effectively a spent past its best franchise in terms of public perception, so managing to hang on in there is no mean feat.
From Budiansky’s point of view as writer, he was expecting this to be the end even if the book didn’t get cancelled here. As he had been for some time, he was expecting to finally be allowed to move on. And—not unlike the same situation John Nathan-Turner was constantly undergoing on Doctor Who at this time—he would instead be Persuaded To Stay. It’s hardly surprising that he wound up taking the situation into his own hands just prior to the original American publication of this issue and sounded out his own replacement. It’s equally unsurprising the following five issues before the transition can be affected feel as if they were written in a state of mild surprise.
But that’s the future, here and now (and has been evident throughout the whole Underbase Saga) Uncle Bob is knuckling down and determined to provide a double length (officially for the special numbering, though tellingly the only other two times Marvel US would double the page count--G2 1 doesn’t count as it’s actually less than twice as many pages-would be for an intended final issue) spectacle that would see him go out with a bang.
The fact Bob is perhaps being a bit more thoughtful than in some of his more burnt out writing is evident right from the off with the title; naming your story after a relatively obscure (certainly none of the target audience would have heard of it) John Carpenter film feels more like the sort of thing Furman would do and makes for a nice gag for parents—or indeed the original target audience now grown up and all genre smart—looking over their kid’s shoulder.
"I'd have tried leeches"
The original issue is split into a prologue and four chapters, but with the former having been reprinted last week and the main story being presented over three weeks these original dividers have been removed. That means as far as the UK is concerned we jump straight into the pay-off to a very long running story—he was kidnapped at the end of Toy Soldiers!, again almost exactly a year ago—as Buster is finally rescued by his brother. It’s fitting that that the Autobot’s original human ally plays a part in the big celebration, something even Air Raid points out when they find the frozen human.
This is also really the last chance for Fortress Maximus to shine as a major Autobot, though he’ll survive this story his toy is still two years old and has been supplanted as the main Big Autobot toy by Powermaster Prime. Starting with the very next story Maximus is going to be relegated to a relic stuck in a cupboard who will only ever get the one story repeated for his last three Marvel appearances. Here though he’s still in a position of authority and respect, shown saving Buster’s life with Maximus’ handy giant microwave and even impressing Ratchet (and it’s a nice subtle thing that one of Uncle Bob’s best characters gets a moment here) with his improvised medicine. He also gets to be Ratbat’s main target and order the ceasefire during the Decepticon attack—two actions that only Optimus would handle in the rest of the series.
In addition, the reunion between the Witwicky brothers is also well handled and rather sweet, this has been a very drawn out storyline (as has been the case with most of Bob’s recent arcs), but at least it ends well here.
This is also really the last chance for Fortress Maximus to shine as a major Autobot, though he’ll survive this story his toy is still two years old and has been supplanted as the main Big Autobot toy by Powermaster Prime. Starting with the very next story Maximus is going to be relegated to a relic stuck in a cupboard who will only ever get the one story repeated for his last three Marvel appearances. Here though he’s still in a position of authority and respect, shown saving Buster’s life with Maximus’ handy giant microwave and even impressing Ratchet (and it’s a nice subtle thing that one of Uncle Bob’s best characters gets a moment here) with his improvised medicine. He also gets to be Ratbat’s main target and order the ceasefire during the Decepticon attack—two actions that only Optimus would handle in the rest of the series.
In addition, the reunion between the Witwicky brothers is also well handled and rather sweet, this has been a very drawn out storyline (as has been the case with most of Bob’s recent arcs), but at least it ends well here.
What is Mirage made of?
With old business taken care of, it’s right back into the new. The two groups of Decepticons have teamed up (it sadly gets a bit lost amidst the block colouring, but there’s a great background detail of a box full of Tantrum parts being pushed along) and are trying to get the SPACE island ready to go chase after Starscream when Soundwave adds to Ratbat’s continued bad day by revealing the Autobots have arrived; setting Starscream’s trap into play.
I mentioned last week that this issue had more insane moments in its fight than the Decepticon Vs Decepticon scuffle, but I was mildly surprised that this isn’t really the case. In fact, the main bonkers moment I remembered best where Ratbat single-handedly took down Fortress Maximus wasn’t as lopsided as I thought. Instead Apeface and Snapdragon do the groundwork for him, which still seems unlikely (though having to protect Buster does handicap him) but isn’t as overtly ludicrous. Thankfully Buzzsaw still takes out Omega Supreme or my entire life would be a lie.
Other than that though, Budiansky is clearly trying to make this feel different to the Arctic battle he’s just concluded and as such this is a much more serious affair. Whilst the last issue was full of humour and banter, here everything up until Ratbat getting his teeth into Maximus is played seriously. It’s a laudable effort, but the net result is the previous fight was actually a lot more fun.
Amidst all this we get a very oddly written page showing Starscream approaching the Underbase in space. The first part of the issue features dialogue between the various different groups of characters that successfully—if occasionally awkwardly—recapped the events of the last few weeks to bring new readers up to speed. For some reason though Budiansky felt this wasn’t enough as he now has Starscream deliver a lengthy monologue to himself covering the same information that is both painful to read and completely redundant.
Back at the fight though things are much more engaging. Ratbat—in probably the last true moment of genius for his leadership—has been smart enough to realise Buster is telling him the truth about Starscream when he knocks the human out of his microwave and forces a ceasefire at the point of his fangs. With everyone suitably pissed off at being played the three sides now become one as the rush to get the SPACE Island into...well space.
I mentioned last week that this issue had more insane moments in its fight than the Decepticon Vs Decepticon scuffle, but I was mildly surprised that this isn’t really the case. In fact, the main bonkers moment I remembered best where Ratbat single-handedly took down Fortress Maximus wasn’t as lopsided as I thought. Instead Apeface and Snapdragon do the groundwork for him, which still seems unlikely (though having to protect Buster does handicap him) but isn’t as overtly ludicrous. Thankfully Buzzsaw still takes out Omega Supreme or my entire life would be a lie.
Other than that though, Budiansky is clearly trying to make this feel different to the Arctic battle he’s just concluded and as such this is a much more serious affair. Whilst the last issue was full of humour and banter, here everything up until Ratbat getting his teeth into Maximus is played seriously. It’s a laudable effort, but the net result is the previous fight was actually a lot more fun.
Amidst all this we get a very oddly written page showing Starscream approaching the Underbase in space. The first part of the issue features dialogue between the various different groups of characters that successfully—if occasionally awkwardly—recapped the events of the last few weeks to bring new readers up to speed. For some reason though Budiansky felt this wasn’t enough as he now has Starscream deliver a lengthy monologue to himself covering the same information that is both painful to read and completely redundant.
Back at the fight though things are much more engaging. Ratbat—in probably the last true moment of genius for his leadership—has been smart enough to realise Buster is telling him the truth about Starscream when he knocks the human out of his microwave and forces a ceasefire at the point of his fangs. With everyone suitably pissed off at being played the three sides now become one as the rush to get the SPACE Island into...well space.
Everyone remembers the Ratbat/Max panel, but not Apeface bunching Maximus through the head beforehand.
Here we’re also introduced to the idea that Optimus might be scared of the Underbase as he warns he once chased its power (he didn’t, he didn’t even know what the Underbase was when he went to visit Boltax, but it has been four million years) and knows it leads to only death. Which makes Scorponok think he might be up to something. This is only a minor thread at this point, but it sets up what will be a key character development moment for Scorponok (who has the advantage that Overlord—the toy counterpart to Powermaster Prime—won’t be released in the West, meaning he can stay a major player for a lot longer than poor old Fortress Maximus) we’ll see play out over the next fortnight.
In space the SPACE Island is almost too late as Starscream gets to bathe in the light of the Underbase, but Optimus Prime successfully shoots him down, even earning the respect of the present Decepticons for his sharp shooting. Though how good an aim you have to be to hit a giant glowing golden robot is open to question.
However, it turns out they were indeed slightly too slow, and though Starscream didn’t get a full hit, he did absorb enough to still be a force to be reckoned with as he starts to attack the SPACE Island.
Though perhaps slightly to serious to be a completely successful joyride, this is still a solid opening with lots of strong memorable moments that even manages to fit some nice character beats amidst the action. The only real shame is the big fight is much more uneven than the one last issue, it’s very much the old toys being blasted aside here with characters like Hound turning up for the first time in ages just to go “ARRRGGHHHHHHH”.
In space the SPACE Island is almost too late as Starscream gets to bathe in the light of the Underbase, but Optimus Prime successfully shoots him down, even earning the respect of the present Decepticons for his sharp shooting. Though how good an aim you have to be to hit a giant glowing golden robot is open to question.
However, it turns out they were indeed slightly too slow, and though Starscream didn’t get a full hit, he did absorb enough to still be a force to be reckoned with as he starts to attack the SPACE Island.
Though perhaps slightly to serious to be a completely successful joyride, this is still a solid opening with lots of strong memorable moments that even manages to fit some nice character beats amidst the action. The only real shame is the big fight is much more uneven than the one last issue, it’s very much the old toys being blasted aside here with characters like Hound turning up for the first time in ages just to go “ARRRGGHHHHHHH”.
Who is he talking at?
On art, Delbo veers between the awful (Mirage just falls into a pile of neat parts when exploding) and the brilliant, with Super Starscream in the Underbase glow probably being a highlight of his work on the book to date.
Transformation once again tries to get us excited for the Sleeze Brothers, and once again fails. The most interesting thing though comes from the small print, this is the first issue to credit Euan Peters as editor. Indeed, it’s the first issue to credit an editor since Ian Rimmer left (as part of the attempt to not make it overt that Furman was pulling double duty as writer and employer of the writer). This may well destroy my previous arguments on when the transition occurred, though in fairness this is also the first issue to credit the designer (Chris Matthews) so this might have been a slow sea change that took a few weeks to implement. No longer credited though is the cover artist, which must have annoyed Andy Wildman and isn’t a state of affairs that will last beyond this issue.
Not mentioned by Transformation is the new Classics Calendar for March, again a few days into the month. I’m not sure why it would be so hard to do these things a week earlier. More frustrating though is that this reproduction of the cover to issue 138 (sating reader demand for a Susan Hoffman poster no doubt) has a page of the actual comic on one of the sides. Meaning you can’t hang it up without ruining the story (previous calendars might have been the same and this is just the first I noticed).
On the back of the other half of the calendar is Dread Tidings, which will no doubt get Dreadwind’s wrath in a few weeks. There’s actually an unusually serious letter though as Ralph Moore from Burgess Hill warns that the Mexican Transformers overstock that’s made its way to the UK (and is allowing kids to grab some previously unreleased toys) contain more lead paint than is legal under British law.
Action Force begins a new story with Desperate Moves from issue 58 of G.I. Joe. Most of the opening is taken up with Dusty and Mainframe helping troops in a Middle Eastern country in exchange for a ride and a guide to a mysterious Objective. Though it’s trying to set up a plot where the guide will learn the true worth of Mainframe’s work it’s oddly skewed to trying to justify why it’s OK for American soldiers to go into battle with children fighting on their side (apparently it’s fine because there were drummer boys at Gettysburg and in Funnyforeignerland you’re a man at 13. Hmm). Of more interest is the very end of the issue where the still in disguise Cobra Commander makes what will be one of his great mistakes of going to see one of his Fred’s (the Crimson Guard soldiers who all look the same thanks to plastic surgery and live incognito in various parts of America under the same name) who is a mechanic. We’re about to embark on the run of Action Force I remember best from the time.
Transformation once again tries to get us excited for the Sleeze Brothers, and once again fails. The most interesting thing though comes from the small print, this is the first issue to credit Euan Peters as editor. Indeed, it’s the first issue to credit an editor since Ian Rimmer left (as part of the attempt to not make it overt that Furman was pulling double duty as writer and employer of the writer). This may well destroy my previous arguments on when the transition occurred, though in fairness this is also the first issue to credit the designer (Chris Matthews) so this might have been a slow sea change that took a few weeks to implement. No longer credited though is the cover artist, which must have annoyed Andy Wildman and isn’t a state of affairs that will last beyond this issue.
Not mentioned by Transformation is the new Classics Calendar for March, again a few days into the month. I’m not sure why it would be so hard to do these things a week earlier. More frustrating though is that this reproduction of the cover to issue 138 (sating reader demand for a Susan Hoffman poster no doubt) has a page of the actual comic on one of the sides. Meaning you can’t hang it up without ruining the story (previous calendars might have been the same and this is just the first I noticed).
On the back of the other half of the calendar is Dread Tidings, which will no doubt get Dreadwind’s wrath in a few weeks. There’s actually an unusually serious letter though as Ralph Moore from Burgess Hill warns that the Mexican Transformers overstock that’s made its way to the UK (and is allowing kids to grab some previously unreleased toys) contain more lead paint than is legal under British law.
Action Force begins a new story with Desperate Moves from issue 58 of G.I. Joe. Most of the opening is taken up with Dusty and Mainframe helping troops in a Middle Eastern country in exchange for a ride and a guide to a mysterious Objective. Though it’s trying to set up a plot where the guide will learn the true worth of Mainframe’s work it’s oddly skewed to trying to justify why it’s OK for American soldiers to go into battle with children fighting on their side (apparently it’s fine because there were drummer boys at Gettysburg and in Funnyforeignerland you’re a man at 13. Hmm). Of more interest is the very end of the issue where the still in disguise Cobra Commander makes what will be one of his great mistakes of going to see one of his Fred’s (the Crimson Guard soldiers who all look the same thanks to plastic surgery and live incognito in various parts of America under the same name) who is a mechanic. We’re about to embark on the run of Action Force I remember best from the time.
Just who is Euan Peters?
Combat Colin sees the Crusher Tank—which has a massive hand—invade Wallytown and start grabbing and...well crushing things. Including the Combat Tank. This leads to a glorious parade of hand puns an a To Be Continued as we’re left wondering who is in the tank.
Next week, give an equally big hand to Geoff Senior as he’s back with a cover!
ISSUE 207
1989
COMMENT
Next week, give an equally big hand to Geoff Senior as he’s back with a cover!
ISSUE 207
1989
COMMENT
