I'm in a New York State of Mind.
Issue 209: Dark Star Part 2. 11th March 1989.
And then no one—neither Transformer nor human—shall ever defy Starscream ever again!
As much as the new artists we’ve had come aboard the book in the last year have mostly made a good impression, it’s fair to say we’ve been missing Geoff Senior. So it’s lovely to have him back on a cover (even if it is as a result of the death of Dragon’s Claws) showing the full majesty and power of Starscream. And considering the named characters (Fort Max, blue Soundwave and pals) being knocked about I wonder if it’s a deliberate attempt to avoid spoilers that the robot being crushed to death by Starscream is a generic? If so it’s a nice touch.
Unfortunately, going from Senior at full strength to Delbo at the point where fatigue must have been setting in does little favours to the latter. The opening page is a full spread of Starscream throwing Scorponok’s ship into the SPACE Island, destroying it but...somehow throwing the occupants safely into the vacuum of space. It looks awkward, especially as even when in the midst of an explosion most of the characters are still doing the patented Delbo “Lean Back And Point” Pose (tm), most notably Perceptor.
It’s worth noting though that we’re into the part of the issue that would have been a struggle for any artist, with lots of quick sharp action scenes—some only lasting a panel—featuring the death’s of numerous characters. It rather overwhelms him, which is unfortunate as this is a story that depends on its visuals for its shock value and—odd moment of brilliance aside—there’s going to be a lot of characters lining up to be zapped in an oddly undramatic way.
In terms of plot though, the loss of the SPACE island is another sign that Bob is using this story to wrap up every single plot thread he can in time for the theoretical new author/cancellation. We therefore bid it a fond farewell after a year of sterling service to a terrible running joke (though one I see James Roberts has picked up on in recent More Than Meets the Eye with the whole SPACE scooter thing. Has the man no shame?), you will be missed.
And then no one—neither Transformer nor human—shall ever defy Starscream ever again!
As much as the new artists we’ve had come aboard the book in the last year have mostly made a good impression, it’s fair to say we’ve been missing Geoff Senior. So it’s lovely to have him back on a cover (even if it is as a result of the death of Dragon’s Claws) showing the full majesty and power of Starscream. And considering the named characters (Fort Max, blue Soundwave and pals) being knocked about I wonder if it’s a deliberate attempt to avoid spoilers that the robot being crushed to death by Starscream is a generic? If so it’s a nice touch.
Unfortunately, going from Senior at full strength to Delbo at the point where fatigue must have been setting in does little favours to the latter. The opening page is a full spread of Starscream throwing Scorponok’s ship into the SPACE Island, destroying it but...somehow throwing the occupants safely into the vacuum of space. It looks awkward, especially as even when in the midst of an explosion most of the characters are still doing the patented Delbo “Lean Back And Point” Pose (tm), most notably Perceptor.
It’s worth noting though that we’re into the part of the issue that would have been a struggle for any artist, with lots of quick sharp action scenes—some only lasting a panel—featuring the death’s of numerous characters. It rather overwhelms him, which is unfortunate as this is a story that depends on its visuals for its shock value and—odd moment of brilliance aside—there’s going to be a lot of characters lining up to be zapped in an oddly undramatic way.
In terms of plot though, the loss of the SPACE island is another sign that Bob is using this story to wrap up every single plot thread he can in time for the theoretical new author/cancellation. We therefore bid it a fond farewell after a year of sterling service to a terrible running joke (though one I see James Roberts has picked up on in recent More Than Meets the Eye with the whole SPACE scooter thing. Has the man no shame?), you will be missed.
Look at the colour drain from their faces.
Having seen his targets (...somehow) survive being in an exploding SPACE Island (one last time) Starscream naturally... declares he’s going to leave them floating in space forever whilst he goes and conquers Earth via its three greatest cities—New York, Tokyo and, by strange coincidence home of Jose Delbo, Buenos Aires. Did Maggie Thatcher pick that one for him? Obviously this is a very clever plan as everyone isn’t equipped with radio and the Autobots don’t have a famous spaceship that’s currently in Earth orbit.
Following Starscream’s departure the three leaders have a conference via their radios (nicely Ratbat clarifies no one present has the energy to reach Earth, explaining why they don’t use the presumably running on empty Astrotrain to get out of this pickle) and Optimus calls the Ark in. Who could have predicted that?
Aboard the Ark, the main non-violent death plot really kicks in. Whilst Scorponok and Ratbat take the initiative splitting the group into teams led jointly by Autobots and Decepticons (luckily the Ark is faster than Starscream), Optimus instead chooses to stay aboard claiming he needs to protect Buster. Which surprises/annoying Fort Max as much as anyone. I talked in the Eugenesis piece about the strange perception of PM Prime as less effective than his predecessor, and this is the story that probably most helps to create that. Which is odd as it’s very clearly a bluff as part of a bigger plan, even if everyone else thinks he’s being a coward. It might seem counter-intuitive to not simply say “I’m working on a plan”, but Scorponok and Ratbat are going to prove not to be trusted so playing his cards close to his chest makes sense. And it leads to an oddly sweet scene of Buster being introduce to and getting to hang out with HiQ as he and Prime start working on something mysterious.
On Earth though, it’s into what everyone remembers about this story, and the part of the plot that basically creates the template for Furman’s two double length Marvel US issues. This begins in New York, with Starscream obeying the rule of location set disaster movies by basing himself on the Brooklyn Bridge. The first deaths set the form: The Aerialbots simply fly into a hand blast from Starscream, but Jetfire as a more prominently featured character (if not for ages) gets to doge this to survive a little longer before meeting his end. So the rule is: Favourite and lead characters get something resembling a dignified death, everyone else is in the chorus. Which makes sense in terms of trying to get readers to care (how many would even remember Brawn at this point?) and shows at least some thought has been put into this. Though amusingly Ratchet is on the bridge but doesn't get zapped because his Ratchet.
Following Starscream’s departure the three leaders have a conference via their radios (nicely Ratbat clarifies no one present has the energy to reach Earth, explaining why they don’t use the presumably running on empty Astrotrain to get out of this pickle) and Optimus calls the Ark in. Who could have predicted that?
Aboard the Ark, the main non-violent death plot really kicks in. Whilst Scorponok and Ratbat take the initiative splitting the group into teams led jointly by Autobots and Decepticons (luckily the Ark is faster than Starscream), Optimus instead chooses to stay aboard claiming he needs to protect Buster. Which surprises/annoying Fort Max as much as anyone. I talked in the Eugenesis piece about the strange perception of PM Prime as less effective than his predecessor, and this is the story that probably most helps to create that. Which is odd as it’s very clearly a bluff as part of a bigger plan, even if everyone else thinks he’s being a coward. It might seem counter-intuitive to not simply say “I’m working on a plan”, but Scorponok and Ratbat are going to prove not to be trusted so playing his cards close to his chest makes sense. And it leads to an oddly sweet scene of Buster being introduce to and getting to hang out with HiQ as he and Prime start working on something mysterious.
On Earth though, it’s into what everyone remembers about this story, and the part of the plot that basically creates the template for Furman’s two double length Marvel US issues. This begins in New York, with Starscream obeying the rule of location set disaster movies by basing himself on the Brooklyn Bridge. The first deaths set the form: The Aerialbots simply fly into a hand blast from Starscream, but Jetfire as a more prominently featured character (if not for ages) gets to doge this to survive a little longer before meeting his end. So the rule is: Favourite and lead characters get something resembling a dignified death, everyone else is in the chorus. Which makes sense in terms of trying to get readers to care (how many would even remember Brawn at this point?) and shows at least some thought has been put into this. Though amusingly Ratchet is on the bridge but doesn't get zapped because his Ratchet.
But the UK comic will try and convince you he got better for Time Wars.
It’s worth pointing out that Budiansky’s official reason for doing this is that there were too many characters in the book. This doesn’t feel like it holds much weight though, many of the characters haven’t been seen in years bar the odd crowd scene, Hound hasn’t been taking up space in the title, he’s just not been in it. Plus, giving the Throttlebots new bodies just to blow them up in the same panel seems oddly self defeating. It feels much more like, expecting the book to end, Bob is taking great pleasure in destroying the characters as he heads out the door. Tellingly there’s no attempt to quantify what’s happening as just damage or something non lethal as has often been the case in the past. Characters explode with gay abandon and are clearly supposed to be Very Dead Indeed, it’s only when Uncle Bob realises he’s stuck with the job in the next story that there’s some hasty retconning about how permanent that damage is.
One odd yet nice touch is that, amidst a load of car based Autobots that get zapped on the bridge without any chance to speak, Bluestreak gets a little moment with Starscream even remembering he likes to talk a lot. Otherwise though, the focus continues to be on the notable characters. Goldbug and Blaster were basically the book’s leads prior to the return of Prime, so the former gets a one on one duel with Starscream that results in him being hugged to death (look at the panel of him exploding and try and claim Time Wars happens after this) whilst Blaster looks on in horror. Blaster himself is betrayed by his co-team leader Ratbat when the cassette decides checking in on what Prime is doing is more important, leading to one of the best panels in the issue as the dead Blaster lays in the river with his chest a smoking hole.
During all this we get the one attempt to create some tension for readers who may have noticed only the old characters are dying as the Seacons become the token “Look, dead new toys!” sacrificial lambs. You have to wonder what they did to annoy Budiansky that they get so violently destroyed a mere three American issues after their introduction. You could argue there were no sea based stories that could have allowed their introduction sooner, but that seems to ignore how a toy based book normally works, which is “Here are some sea based toys, put them in a sea based story”, not “Here are some sea based toys, when you get a chance sweetie”. Either way, despite the toys basically being the same age as the Pretenders (who are shown to be immune to being Underbased, along with the Headmasters this is apparently down to their fleshy bits, which makes no sense but hey ho...) they’re fish food.
One odd yet nice touch is that, amidst a load of car based Autobots that get zapped on the bridge without any chance to speak, Bluestreak gets a little moment with Starscream even remembering he likes to talk a lot. Otherwise though, the focus continues to be on the notable characters. Goldbug and Blaster were basically the book’s leads prior to the return of Prime, so the former gets a one on one duel with Starscream that results in him being hugged to death (look at the panel of him exploding and try and claim Time Wars happens after this) whilst Blaster looks on in horror. Blaster himself is betrayed by his co-team leader Ratbat when the cassette decides checking in on what Prime is doing is more important, leading to one of the best panels in the issue as the dead Blaster lays in the river with his chest a smoking hole.
During all this we get the one attempt to create some tension for readers who may have noticed only the old characters are dying as the Seacons become the token “Look, dead new toys!” sacrificial lambs. You have to wonder what they did to annoy Budiansky that they get so violently destroyed a mere three American issues after their introduction. You could argue there were no sea based stories that could have allowed their introduction sooner, but that seems to ignore how a toy based book normally works, which is “Here are some sea based toys, put them in a sea based story”, not “Here are some sea based toys, when you get a chance sweetie”. Either way, despite the toys basically being the same age as the Pretenders (who are shown to be immune to being Underbased, along with the Headmasters this is apparently down to their fleshy bits, which makes no sense but hey ho...) they’re fish food.
The full and total appearance of the Throttlebots for the first time in a year.
Over in Tokyo, the cliché of location based porn is actually avoided as the famous tower is actually not shown despite a gag about the locals mistaking the Dinobots as props from a monster movie. Which also makes no sense as the Transformers have been terrorising Earth for five years and I think most Japanese people would know the effects in Godzilla are not achieved with life sized props. Still, it makes more sense than when the same joke was used in All Hail Megatron after CGI had completely taken over movies and everyone in-fiction thinks the giant robots are terrorist weapons.
Indeed, bar some Japanese writing slapped on the walls Tokyo looks so generic as to be just about anywhere, adding to the feeling of artist burnout. The colouring doesn't help either, Tokyo is a vibrant neon city which isn't well represented by the dull block colours from Yomtov.
It’s here the Throttlebots return and die in just one panel, much to Grimlock’s surprise as he presumably had never expected to see them again anyway. It’s a nice touch that Starscream acknowledges his old working relationship with Skywarp and Thundercracker before zapping them as well, but otherwise as the Dinobots also fall in the same way fatigue is rather starting to set in.
Thankfully Grimlock, as a former lead character, gets a more memorable exit as Starscream simply throws him in the path of lasers from the Decepticon Pretenders meant for him (not unlike how Scorponok is thrust into Magnus’ blasts back in Time Wars, not the last possible influence on that story we’ll be seeing in Dark Star), causing the issue to end on another memorable close up of a burnt out corpse.
The problem here is that moments that should be shocking are made pedestrian by the repetitive execution. The great lesson Furman will take from this in his own big massacres is to throw some variety in and give the doomed more character focus, this feels too much like a checklist of “Which of these bastards will Hasbro let me kill?” to be as entertaining as it should be. Delbo, as noted, also struggles despite a few grizzly moments of glory. For the first time The Underbase Saga falters, let’s just hope the finale will salvage it.
Indeed, bar some Japanese writing slapped on the walls Tokyo looks so generic as to be just about anywhere, adding to the feeling of artist burnout. The colouring doesn't help either, Tokyo is a vibrant neon city which isn't well represented by the dull block colours from Yomtov.
It’s here the Throttlebots return and die in just one panel, much to Grimlock’s surprise as he presumably had never expected to see them again anyway. It’s a nice touch that Starscream acknowledges his old working relationship with Skywarp and Thundercracker before zapping them as well, but otherwise as the Dinobots also fall in the same way fatigue is rather starting to set in.
Thankfully Grimlock, as a former lead character, gets a more memorable exit as Starscream simply throws him in the path of lasers from the Decepticon Pretenders meant for him (not unlike how Scorponok is thrust into Magnus’ blasts back in Time Wars, not the last possible influence on that story we’ll be seeing in Dark Star), causing the issue to end on another memorable close up of a burnt out corpse.
The problem here is that moments that should be shocking are made pedestrian by the repetitive execution. The great lesson Furman will take from this in his own big massacres is to throw some variety in and give the doomed more character focus, this feels too much like a checklist of “Which of these bastards will Hasbro let me kill?” to be as entertaining as it should be. Delbo, as noted, also struggles despite a few grizzly moments of glory. For the first time The Underbase Saga falters, let’s just hope the finale will salvage it.
Because of the extra length of the original issue we get 12 pages this week, something that excites Transformation even if it means no Dreadwind. Transformation also has sadder news as it announces the end of Dragon’s Claws with the new issue. Death’s Head still has another five months, but the writing is on the wall for this brave new era for Marvel UK. The credit for the editor and designer is gone again this week, but this is a good thing for Geoff Senior as the cover credit returns.
Action Force reveals Cobra Commander has come to see Fred VII (oddly the changed “See Issue” box claims the Freds’ have appeared in previous issues, but I don’t think they ever have been in Transformers, a sign of the uncertain new editor?) because he’s a mechanical genius who might be able to build new limbs for Billy. He’s also made a new suit for Cobra Commander...
The big thing here though is the super mutant hawks hanging around the garage that belong to Fred’s accountant. The most insane idea ever for a member of Cobra is about to be introduced.
Oh, and Dusty and Mainframe do some stuff in Funnyforeignerland.
Combat Colin isn’t a man to let a crushing defeat get in his way, and so builds a new Combat Tank so large he can’t get it through the doors of the Combat Shed, forcing him to destroy it. This sacrifice might be for naught though as the Crusher Tank grabs it again. Is this the end?
Next week, the bodies pile up and will Optimus Prime act before it is too late?
SPOILER: Yes he will.
ISSUE 208
1989
COMMENT
Action Force reveals Cobra Commander has come to see Fred VII (oddly the changed “See Issue” box claims the Freds’ have appeared in previous issues, but I don’t think they ever have been in Transformers, a sign of the uncertain new editor?) because he’s a mechanical genius who might be able to build new limbs for Billy. He’s also made a new suit for Cobra Commander...
The big thing here though is the super mutant hawks hanging around the garage that belong to Fred’s accountant. The most insane idea ever for a member of Cobra is about to be introduced.
Oh, and Dusty and Mainframe do some stuff in Funnyforeignerland.
Combat Colin isn’t a man to let a crushing defeat get in his way, and so builds a new Combat Tank so large he can’t get it through the doors of the Combat Shed, forcing him to destroy it. This sacrifice might be for naught though as the Crusher Tank grabs it again. Is this the end?
Next week, the bodies pile up and will Optimus Prime act before it is too late?
SPOILER: Yes he will.
ISSUE 208
1989
COMMENT
