Comic Review

[Commander Megatron]

Around a year ago my good friend and future self Al/Galvatron did a review of all the U.S. G1 transformer cartoons. He watched one everday and posted his thoughts on it. A task he stuck to until the very end, including the G1 cartoon movie. I am going to venture on with his idea and do the comic review. It will be a bit more spaced out than Al's, anyone who wants to take part can do so and the review will be done every time I get a minute to do it. Just to give everyone time who wants to take part. I am hoping that these reviews won't turn out to be spoilers, more appetite wetters!! So without further ado first up is the U.S. storyline. The issues 1-6/or the graphic novel called Beginnings.

[Commander Megatron]

Every story has a start....

Issue 1-6

Issue 1 Tells of the Transformers war on Cybertron, a war that was started by Megatron and forced upon the peace loving Autobots. Then came the assault on the Ark, that wound up with us buried in Mount St Hilary for 4 million years. The Decepticon jets, Soundwave and Ravage first battled the Autobots on Earth.

Issue 2 The Decepticons stripped the Harrison Nuclear powerplant to make their HQ. As Sparkplug put it "They are like modern man trying to hack it in the cavemen days" Prime and Megatron clashed for the first time and the Decepticons abducted Sparkplug Witwicky to make their fuel.

Issue 3 Sparkplug makes the fuel and the Decepticons are as powerful as ever!! Spiderman enters the fray and helps the Autobot Gears rescue him. They manage to KO, Davage, Soundwave, Rumble and Fenzy. Then come face to face with Megatron. Gears realises that the proverbial has hit the fan and they try to escape. they do, when Megatron blasts a hole in the floor and they fall. Spiderman catches Gears and Sparkplug, but the web holding Gears snaps and he falls. To what the webslinging flesh creature thinks is his death. They return to Autobase and gears is restored to minimum operating level and tells the astounded Autobots that Sparkplug Witwicky gave Megatron what he wanted.


Issue 4 The Autobots argue over what to do next as Buster and Sparkplug try to run away from them. Jazz shoots a flame from his flame thrower to block his path and he suffers a mild heartattack.
Meanwhile back at Decepticon HQ Starscream begins to question Megatron for allowing Sparkplug to escape and return to the Autobots. Megatron shoots Starscream for his tone. Shockwave is seen for the first time in the comics as are the Dinobots, albeit only briefly. The Autobots and Decepticons clash again, the winner of this battle was Shockwave!!! Sparkplug had poisoned the fuel he made the 'cons and when the battle was all but over they collapsed. Shockwave arrives and levels the reamining Autobots.

Issue 5 Shockwave assumes command of the Decepticons while Megatron is being repaired. The Autobots are strung up like sides of beef in a butchers fridge while Shockwave has optimus head removed from his body as he seeks to extract the Matrix. (The matrix was stored in Primes mind at this point and was not the Matrix we have come to know.) Buster finds him and is shocked to see the Autobot leader in such a bad way.

Issue 6 Shockwave attacks an oil rig belonging to GB blackrock and inadvertently creates Circuit Breaker. She was known as josie beller and a massive electrical feedback left the computer genius paralysed, except for her right arm. She came to hate robots, Autobot and Decepticon alike.As for Shockwave he spout his logic tripe at Megatron and it begins to irk the former commander. Megatron tries to relieve him of command and fails. They fight and Shockwave beats him in battle because Megatron had not fully recovered from his injuries. To rub it in, Megatron had to swear allegiance to Shockwave in front of the rest of his Decepticons....

These first issues were a means of "introducing" the characters to the general (paying) public. When they awaken on Earth the characters give account of themselves and mention a little bit of their personality/weaponry in their intro's. Throughout the first 6 issues there were a lot of references to personality traits, weaponry and little personal storylines such as Megatron and Starscream. All in all, an enjoyable read and a good "Beginning" for anyone interested in gathering up the comics.

On Thursday the U.S. issues 7-12, graphic novel New Order will be reviewed.

[Commander Megatron]

Issue 7 Ratchet finds himself as the last Autobot. He wanders around a forest with buster until he decides to return to the ark to see for himself what has happened to his comrades. He finds the hung up Autobots and Optimus Prime. Prime speaks to him and tells him he must find a way to defeat the Decepticons and Megatron. Soundwave has per Shockwaves orders has taken G.B. Blackrocks jet assembly plant, in the name of the Decepticon cause.

Back at the Ark Ratchet is looking for Megatron, he didn't have to look hard Megatron found him. Megatron tosses him around for a while and then Shockwave appears on a transmission screen and tells him to stop whatevr he is doing and prepare Primes head for transport. Megatron rages and Ratchet takes full advantage of the flaw he has found. He tells Megatron he can help him defeat Shockwave. Megatron proceeds to share his thoughts on Shockwave (I won't spoil it by going into detail) and what happened. Megatron agrees and himself and the Autobot Doctor perform the rite of oneness a sacred Cybertronian ritual that states that whomever breaks the bond must give their life in forfeit. Megatron is in a win win situation.....

Issue 8 Ratchet finds the Dinobots buried in a tar pit and digs them out. He then contacts Megatron and tells him to meet him at the prearranged place. They meet and Ratchet has the Dinobots laying in wait as he knows that Megatron is not going to fulfill his part of the bargain. The Dinobots attack and Megatron disposes of the five of them, onlt to be bettered by a freak accident after Ratchet attacks him.

At the newly aquired powerplant Shockwave make s reference to the 6 new Decepticons that Primes creation Matrix will give life to. Josie Beller is about ready to unveil Circuit breaker...

Issue 9 With Shockwave gone from the Ark and Megatron defeated Ratchet resumed control of it and restored all the Autobots to operational status, except Sunstreaker. (Sorry Charis!) G.B. Blackrock claims to have a weapon that can destroy Transformers, Shockwave sends |Frenzy and Starscream to destroy the weapon. Jazz and Wheeljack make contact with Blackrock and he agrees to a deal with the Autobots in return for protection.

At the race track where he is planning to unveil his weapon Jazz and Wheeljack get into a fight with Starscream and Frenzy. Circuit Breaker shows up and blasts Wheeljack and Starscream. The "cons escape and Circuit Breaker destroys Blackrocks weapon.

Issue 10 The birth of the Constructicons and Devastator. They are created using the last of the Matrix that is in Primes mind.The Decepticons send a message to Cybertron and the Autobots try and stop them. They fail, most of the message is sent when Huffer dithers over the destruction of the transdimensional radiowave scrambler. In later issues it becomes clear that his homesickness was a grave error of judgement on his part. Shockwave tries to infuse life into Jetfire, nothing happens. Prime has no Matrix left so Shockwave threatens to erase his existence...

Issue 11 Shockwave realises that Prime must have hidden the Matrix somewhere and finds out that Buster has it. Needless to say Optimus is distraught when he realises wht he has done, namely putting a human life in danger. Jetfire is preprogrammed and sent to retrieve Buster, the Autobots have sent Bluestreak and Bumblebee to protect him. Jetfire attacks and KO's Bluestreak but Bumblebee tells Buster that he can stop Jetfire, which he does. Stripping him down to his component parts. Shockwave realises that there is an eavesdropping device in the Aerospace assembly plant and proceeds to set a trap for the Autobots. He tells Prime that "We shall proceed with your execution immediately"

Issue 12 Buster takes Jetfire to the Aerospace plant to carryu out a plan devised by Bumblebee. Jetfire comes under attack from human jets and due to the G forces Buster passes out. Jetfire delivers Buster to Shockwave. the Autobot go to the co-ordinates that Shockwave had said he was going to dispose of Prime's head at. A putrid swamp. The Autobots get the head before it sinks and reconnect it to his body. It's a fake head, Prime shoots Prowl, Windcharger, Trailbreaker and Cliffjumper. Who looks up and sees Prime standing with Soundwave and his cassettes.

Buster regains consiousness and realises what is going on. He orders Jetfire to KO Shockwave and take the true Prime head to his body. He does and the true Optimus Prime tears through the ranks of the Decepticons like a tornado. Shockwave recovers and goes after Prime. They battle and Prime throws him into the swamp where he is sucked down and vanishes. Prime rushes back to the plant and retrieves the Matrix from Buster's mind. Prime vows never to endanger human life again.

Next up will be isuues 13-18/ Graphic Novel:Cybertron Redux.

[Commander Megatron]

issue 13A story of what would happen if a 2-bit crook got control of Megatron!! After his fall in his battle with Ratchet, he is found by "Joey Slick" a small time crook. It isnt long before he tries to become a living legend, because with Megatron in his hands nothing is beyond his reach!!! After tossing Megatron aside his motor relays connect and he is back to himself again. He learns that humans are a lot more complex than he imagined...

Issue 14Bumblebee takes 4 new reactivated Autobots, Tracks,Skids,Hoist and Smokescreen on a tour. They end up at a rock concert of all places! They soon discover that Shockwave and the jets are sapping thoe sound energy and using it to make energon cubes. The 5 Autobots manage to defeat the 4 Decepticons and the show goes on.

Issue 15A government agency uses the media to put out a story that the Transformers are actually a remarkable terrorist threat!! Megatron wanders across wyoming looking for fuel. He stumbles into a coal pit and then freezes having run out of energon. The humans use a comic book writer to pose as his own creation "Robot Master" and they take pics of him beside Megatron. Soundwave, Ravage and Laserbeak arrive and free him. That is after Optimus Prime shows up and gets blasted by the army!! The Autobots retreat because they are in a bad way after the attack by the humans. Robot Master also tries to escape and is captured by Laserbeak and brought to Megatron...

Issue 16Bumblebee decides that the Autobots don't need him and decides to go it alone. Meanwhile Shockwave has decided that Bumblebee would be a perfect agent to capture and reprogramme to use against the Autobots. The Decepticons attack him, he manages to escape and shuts himself down. Two car thieves steal him and the Decepticons attack again. The Autobots however rescue him and he returns to the Ark with them.

Issue 17takes us back to Cybertron where we meet Blaster,Perceptor,Seaspray,Cosmos,Warpath,Powerglide and Beachcomber. They are a small group of Autobots against the powers of Lord Straxus and the Tyrannial Decepticons at Darkmount. Blaster gets tossed into the smelting pool on purpose to look for a friend. The friend,Scrounge, dies but is able to give Blaster information. Namely the transmission Soundwave sent back in issue 10. Blaster laments the loss of his friend and vows to avenge his death.

Issue 18the signal that Soundwave sent is responded to by Straxus to Megatron, just as Shockwave arrives and the two "Leaders" are ready to obliterate each other.They set aside their differences and work together to give Straxus what he needs to activate the Spacebridge. the Autobots on Cybertron attack Darkmount and plan to destroy the Spacebridge. the 'bridge turns out to be a neutral Transformers scintist called Spanner. They not only kidnapped him and forced him to make the bridge, but they also made him the bridge!! The Decepticons realise what is happening and go to the Spacebridge to stop Blaster. Straxus himself attacks the Autobots and goes one-on-one with Blaster in a duel between two worlds. Blaster destroys Straxus ' body and they are transported to Earth via the interdimensional spacebridge....

Next up issues 19-24/Graphic novel Showdown

[Commander Megatron]

Issue 19Behold, Omega Supreme! the last line of defence for the Autobots is created to protect the Ark from Decepticon attack. With this in mind OPtimus Prime orders an attack against the Decepticons at their coal mine base to learn the secrets of Devastator. At the base Megatron and Shockwave sharing the leadership duties are bickering. Megatron decides to go and meet the "Decepticons" that he thinks will be coming across the spacebridge.

He leaves and finds Autobots there. As he is about to attack news filters through from Soundwave that the Ark is unprotected. Megatron diverts the attack to the Ark. He barely escapes with his life... Starscream,Thundercracker,Skywarp,Buzzsaw,Rumble and Frenzy get destroyed by Omega Supreme. The Autobots learn the secret of combining technology from watching the Constructicons form Devastator. Megatron and Shockwave argue again and Shockwave concedes defeat and Megatron is leader once more.

Issue 20A human called Charlene finds Skids wreck after he was blasted by ravage in issue 19 as Ravage searched for Robot Master. Charlene gets him repaired and he lives as her car for a while, even revealing his true identity. Robot Master turns up and realises that he is an Autobot and then Ravage attacks!! Skids and ravage battle in an old mining town and Skids tricks Ravage into falling down an old mine shaft. Skids agrees that he should return to the Autobots and takes Robot Master with him to the Ark.

Issue 21The Decepticons led by Megatron try and take over Hoover Dam. the Decepticons in question Kickback,Bombshell and Shrapnel use a human who is Brainwashed to gain access to the Dam and the control room. The Aerialbots who are not fully programmed are sent to sort it out. Ramjet,Thrust and Dirge arrive to help the insecticons and Megatron via the space bridge. They battle the Aerialbots with the Insecticons and are defeated after the Human breaks Bombshell's control over him and blasts the Space bridge and the giant drill that was on it boring through the dam. The space bridge returns to Cybertron and Megatron and the Insecticons leave.

Issue 22 Circuit Breaker captures Blaster,Perceptor,Warpath,Cosmos,Seaspray,Powerglide and Beachcomber. She mounts their heads on a wall like hunting trophies!! Megatron is connected to optimus Prime via Soundwave as he uses the Matrix to give life to the Aerialbots. Megatron gives life to the Stunticons at the same time. Megatron sends the Stunticons after Skids and robot master, the Aerialbot arrive and with help from Circuit Breaker Menasor defeats Superion. Skids and Robot Master leave and Donny Finkleberg as he is better known turns Skids over to the authorities for $50,000.

Issue 23Megatron summons Runabout and Runamuck to deliver a challenge to Optimus Prime. They decide that they would be better out on their own and tour across America spraying all the national monuments as they go. Circuit Breaker sees them and using parts of the captured Autobots destroys the two battlechargers. the deal was that she had to release them when the job was done. She did and the eight Autobots went free.

Issue 24the Combaticons and Megatron arrive at complex housing the Hydrothermocline and plan to steal it. Prime and the Protectobots show up and before the battle destroys the place a human computer programmer called ethan Zachary shows up and convinces the two sides that perhaps a computergenerated battle would be better. The two leaders agree and the game is set with the losing sides leader giving life in forfeit!! The Combaticons are defeated by the Protectobots and Megatron is confronted by Prime and Defensor! He cheats and defeats Defensor and places himself behind Prime and blasts him. Prime clings on to a ledge and pulls out a support pipe and Megatron falls to his doom. Prime realises that the inhabitants of Metropipe were also harmed by him toopling the tower Megatron was standing on, something he would never have done in real life. He concedes defeat and Ethan Zachary destroys him using the button on the joypad in front of him. Megatron mocks him and takes the Hydrothermocline and leaves. The Protectobots gather upi Prime and leave to. No-one notices Ethan Zachary place a floppy disk in a drawer labelled "Optimus Prime."

Next up issues 25 through 30, graphic novel Breakdown.

[Commander Megatron]

Issue 25 After the Death of Prime Megatron starts to slip into insanity, believing him to still be alive. Shockwave takes full advantage of this and contacts the Predacons on Cybertron. They use Autobot insignias and attack Megatron, who believes that Prime has sent them. They give Megatron all they've got and form Predaking. It isn't enough Megatron defeats the combined Predacons. Shockwave arrives and tricks Megatron into blowing himself up on the space bridge. Shockwave assumes command of the Deceptions once more.

Issue 26A small time thief stumbles on Ratchet in a junkyard while running from the police. The Autobot Doctor was looking in a junkyard for spare parts for his fellow Autobots. The Mechanic steals some of Ratchets surgical equipment and uses them against him to escape the police. Omega Supreme and the other Autobots are away at Optimus Primes funeral as they blast his body into space. The Mechanic follows Ratchet to the Ark and Ambushes him. The returning Autobots are met by the Arks defenses when they come back and are badly damaged. the Mechanic switched them on when he seen them coming. Prowl, in police car mode chases him away and Ratchet and First Aid start on the repairs.

Issue 27 The Dinobots return to the Ark just as Trypticon is attacking. The Autobots inside where deciding on a new leader when the towering Decepticon showed up. He levels a load of Autobots then the Dinobots enter the fray. It was a good battle and both Trypticon and the Dinobots are badly damaged, more so Trypticon. Ratbat summons Trypticon back to Cybertron and Grimlock is named Autobot leader!

Issue 28 The Mechanic returns. Armed with the power booster rod he stole from the ark he steals important equipment and machinery. Grimlock sends Blaster and Goldbug to catch him and return the power booster rod. They don't and head out on their own away from the the Ark and away from Grimlocks leadership....

Issue 29 The scraplets arrive on earth! A nasty little disease that is a plague to robot life. Blaster and the Decepticon Triple changers are infected by it first. It arrived here by a freight liner from Cybertron, the pilot was infected by it and crashed the feight into Earth, he was eventually killed by it. Blaster and the Triple changers do battle, Goldbug abandons Blaster to search for a cure. But not before he is infected first.

Issue 30 Ratbat captures the Throttlebots and sends them to earth to kill the Scraplets and anyone infected by them. Goldbug and his human friend Charlie Fong find a cure. They get 2 tankers of water (the cure) and spray those infected an the crater. They inadvertently save Blitzwing, Astrotrain and Octane as well as Blaster. Having recovered the triple changers take the cargo from the freight liner and head to Decepticon HQ. Blaster and Goldbug still don't return to the Ark.

Next up issues 30-36 Graphic novel Treason.

[Commander Megatron]

Issue 31Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom. A bubble gum story this one. Ratbat come to earth from Cybertron to oversee the Decepticon operation here, including its costly fuel expenditure. He uses a brainwashed G.B. BLackrock to install "Wash and Rolls" at all his gas station outlets. They hypnotize the user into filling their tanks and emptying them into massive gas drums that the Decepticons can use. Buster Witwicky realises what is going on and thwarts Ratbats grand scheme...

Issue 32 The Throttlebots and Blaster hide in a used car lot while trying to escape from a RAAT squadron. (RAAT Rapid Anti-robot Assault Team) The owner of the lot realises who they are and fills their tanks with soda!! RAAT, The Combaticon and Protectobots arrive and a battle ensues over who gets them. The RAAT take the Autobots and leave, The Protectobots and Blaster defeat the Combaticons and they retreat. Blaster begins to to thank Hotspot for the help and how they should get after RAAT to rescue th Throttlebots. The Protectobots surround Blaster and tell him he is under arrest for betraying Grimlocks orders, he is to be taken back to the Ark for trial and execution!!

Issue 33The Protectobots meet up again with the Combaticons. Groove puts blaster in a pipe in tape deck mode so he is out of the way. He has a mode lock on him so he can't escape. A battle ensues between Bruticus and Defensor, near 4 human kids. Blaster tells the Kids they need help and one of thm takes the mode lock of him. Meanwhile, Bruticus beats Defensor and turns his attention to Blaster. The Autobot outsmarts and defeats him, Hotspot realeases him and Blaster takes teh Kids into space inside Blast Off as a thankyou for helping him. Grimlock has made the Ark space travel ready and chases after him...

Issue 34One of the humans throws Blaster out of the Airlock and Blast Off is captured by the Ark. Wheeljack had contacted Sky Lynx and he arrives to help. Grimlock has the humans at trial and sentences them to death!!!!

Issue 35 They are wearing space-suits that Wheeljack fitted them with and Grimlock knows that Blaster will try and save them. He doesn't, but Sky Lynx does. He vanishes into an Asteroid fiels and the Dinobots give chase. They trap him in the field and to ensure the humans can go free Blaster surrenders.

Issue 36The Throttlebots bodies are detsroyed, but Walter Barnett of I.I.I. (Intelligence and Information Institute, a U.S. government agency charged with destroying all Transformers.) saves their brain modules in his sons toy cars!! Ratbat and the Predacons go hunting for then after they attack the I.I.I. offices and Ratbat realises that the brains aren't there!!

Issue 37 They find them at the shopping mall and Ratbat recognises Buster from the Carwash fiasco. So, as any Decepticon would do he heads out to kill him in revenge. Buster escapes the mall with Goldbug and head to Mount ST. Hilary in search of the Autobots. Of course they aren't there as they are in space. Ratbat arrives and destroys the toy car housing Goldbug and turns his attention to Buster.....

Next up Issues 38 through to 39 and the headmaster mini series!!!!

[Commander Megatron]

The Headmaster mini-series.

The mini series was published to introduce the Headmasters and Targetmasters. Transformers were in full swing by this point so the comic had to stop the previous storyline and tie in the headmasters to fit into the ongoing feature...

Issue 1Fortress Maximus attacks a group of decepticons and saves a lot of his Autobot comrades a painful death in the smelting pools. Big 'Max has had enough of war and decides to leave and try again on the planet Nebulos. He does so, taking a large group of Autobot warriors with him to try for peace elsewhere. The Nebulans believe the Autobots are going to attack them and attack the Autobots damaging many. Fortress Maximus, Highbrow, Chromedome, Hardhead and Brainstorm in a last ditch effort to let the oyhers live in peace sacrifice their heads.A certain Lord Zarak is not happy that Galen is believing it.

Issue 2 There is outtrage on Nebulos about teh Autobots being there. Lord Zarak decides to contact the Decepticons and Scorponok and the rest arrive. They attack the city of Koraja to get their hands/claws on Fortress Maximus and the rest. They do get them, but as headmasters!!! Fortress Maximus who is Binary bonded to Galen give the Decepticons a pounding and they retreat to regroup.

Issue 3 The Terrorcons and the Horrocons are attacking the Nebulan city of Splendora. The Technobots, Hardhead and Brainstorm arrive and chase them away. They return to Decepticon HQ and Scorponok levels Snapdragon in a fit of rage. Zarak makes a comment about joining forces and Scorponok agrees, thus the Decepticon headmasters are born. Zarak tricks them into coming to them and the Decepticons beat them in battle.

Issue 4 The Decepticon and Autobot Targetmasters are created and amid the smoke and carnage of battle Zarak realises that he and Galen are destroying Nebulos. They decide that it would be best to leave Nebulos and head away to pastures new. They head in the direction of Earth.

Now we pick up with issue 38 The Autobot make Fortress Maximus bigger and stronger for the battles he faces on Earth. Meanwhile on theat planet, Spike has arrived looking for his dad. He finds the garage wrecked by Ratbat and the Predacons but Sparkplug is OK. Spike goes to Mount St Hilary looking for Buster, he finds the Autobot headmaster who have arrived looking for Goldbug, who sent a distress signal before Ratbat showed up. They find the toy car and Goldbug tells them all the details. The Autobots leave and the Decepticon Headmasters arrive and find Spike. The Autobot Headmasters return and in the battle Galen is killed, he gives the helmet of Fortress Maximus to Spike who takes control of him and sends the 'Cons running for cover.

Issue 39 Spike is on the Decepticons new Island base flanked by Shockwave and Ratbat. He is there to stop a human naval armada attacking the island. Walter Barnett phones Sparkplug and Spike traces the call. Sparkplug nearly has another heartattack when he realises Spike is now a Transformer. They go and attack the Decepticon base and get pounded. The Decepticon base blast's off into space and Fortress Maximus grabs on to try and save Spike. Shockwave realises that the base is not moving fast enough and blasts Fortress Maximus with a massive spear. Cerebros seperates and Shockwave blasts him to in his space gun mode. Spike deals with Shockwave who falls to Earth. Ratbat doesn't save him and puts the shuttle into escape velocity, leaving spike with a wrecked Fortress Maximus and no Buster. The Autobots give him a heroes welcome when they get him back and tell him that they will not rest until Buster is safe.

Next up to be trawled through, issues 40-45/ Graphic novel Maximum Force.

[Galvatron]

WOW CM, this thread must have been hiding from me all this time!!!
I will be more than willing to help you out.
Give me a comic (or several) you would like me to review.

Keep up the good work!

[Commander Megatron]

Issue 40 First page...Optimus Prime.A computer generated Optimus Prime who thinks his whole life was a computer game and can't tell the difference between fantasy and reality. Ethan Zachary tries to jog Prime's memory and Spike hears about someone calling his dad on behalf of Optimus. Goldbug hears about this and goes to investigate, he nearly turns back into Bumblebee in shock when he sees it is Optimus.

They send Optimus on a spying mission and he clashes with Scorponok in the computer world. The Decepticon leader ( ) has just created the Pretenders and realises that he needs to erase the bug in his computer system. The Autobots retaliate by creating their own pretenders and the both sets clash outside the lab where Optimus is. He leads the Pretenders against the Decepticons watching through the eyes of Goldbug. It is one last ditch attempt to make him realise he is not a computer game character. The Autobots defeat the Decepticons and Prime defeats Scorponok. The last words Prime said to Goldbug and the Autobot Pretenders..."So--when do we start the next game, Ethan Zachary? The plan had failed, he still didn't realise he was more that just a computer game character.

Issue 41 Grimlock challenges Fortress Maximus to a battle for supremacy of the Autobots. Blaster takes Fortress Maximus's place and battles Grimlock. The earth bound Decepticons under the command of Ratbat trace Fortress Maximus to his ship. Which is on the moon, beside the Ark where Grimlock and Blaster will do battle. As they clash the Decepticons sneak attack and lay waste to loads of unprepared Autobots. The Constructicons land on top of the Ark and retrieve the captured Decepticon that were defeated by Omega Supreme.

Fortress Maximus orders Goldbug to Nebulos to restore Optimus Prime. Blaster and Grimlock arrive and turn the tide of the battle against the Decepticons. The Decepticons take their leave and the Autobots have taken a massive hit. Fortress Maximus explains that he sent Goldbug to Nebulos to restore Optimus Prime.

Issue 42 Arrival of the Powermasters... The Nebulans have poisoned there atmosphere against Transformers. Dreadwind and darkwing arrive and are poisoned when they consume Nebulan fuel resources, Throttle and Hi-Test save them. Goldbug, Getaway, Joyride and Slapdash arrive looking for HiQ to help build the new body for Optimus Prime. HiQ tells them that they will die but they stay and work on the body. The Autobots fight the 2 Decepticon powermasters and are badly damaged. The Nebulans rebuild Optimus and he is poisoned by the fuel, tho he realises now that he was "more than a pattern of magnetized bits on a disc"

HiQ undergoes the powermaster process to save him and Lube, Hotwire and Rev do the same to save Slapdash, Joyride and Getaway. The 4 Autobot powermasters battle the 2 Decepticons and beat them. They are banished from Nebulos and head off to parts unknown. Prime and the Autobots leave Nebulos and head to Earth.

Issue 43 This was simply the comic version of the cartoon "Big Broadcast 2006" No sense me reviewing it when you can and all probably have watched it.

Issue 44 The cosmic carnival is in town and Sky Lynx and the kids are the main attractions!!! On the way to Earth the carnival attracts Prime's attention when Sky Lynx is advertised. They go to investigate and find the children locked upike animals at a zoo. Priem tries to get them released but fails. The boss of the side show, Berko< takes Prime and Goldbug to see the carnival owner a Mr Big Top. He shows Prime and Goldbug the contract that Sky Lynx and the kids have signed and tells Berko that he is in the deep end if the Autobots cause anymore trouble. Priem speaks to Berko and he agrees to help if Prime helps him get back to Earth. They free Sky Lynx and the kids and head back to Earth aboard the Steelhaven.

Issue 45 This is one of my least favorite comic stories.... Decepticon Pretender Skullgrin becomes a movie star. He is in a forest and a film director goes to him and makes a deal whereby he pays him in fuel. Scorponok allows him to do this because of the method of payment. Circuit Breaker spies on him and when she realises he is a robot she attacks him. They battle and one of Skullgrins co-stars is about to fall to her death and he saves her. Circuit Breaker is about to destroy Skullgrin and the Director is barking orders at her, so she destroys his camera and the film. Then flies off and tells him "Don't call me babe!"

Next up issues 46-50 Graphic novel Dark Star

[Commander Megatron]

Issue 46 The Roadjammers are in town and they work for the Z Foundation. They are mercenaries for hire who hunt down and disable Transformers with the help of a jamming device. They hunt down both Autobot and Decepticon, though tey only come across Autobots. They disable Sizzle, Fizzle and Backstreet and take them to the basement of the Z Foundation Heaadquarters. They meet up with Fangry, Squeezeplay and Horri-bull who attemt to attck them but can't. One of the roadjammers altered the tranceiver and all 6 Transformers, not forgetting the 3 Autobots were immobilised.

Scorponok advances on them and the Roadjammers use the six transformers and give him a hiding!! To save himself, head of the Z foundation, Lord Zarak (Hands up if you guessed right) uses an anti-jammer and frees the Autobots as well. The 'bots escape and release the Roadjammers, afetr all they hadn't done anything wrong.

Issue 47 The Decepticons set up their base a tourist attraction, after all it is a tropical island on top, while they search for a sunken treasure ship containing info on the Underbase. The Seacons find it and present the tapes to Commander Ratbat. Busters girlfriend Jessie goes to Club con to find him and makes it into the Deceticon base and steals the tapes!! She has Blaster with her disguised in his tape deck mode. The Seacons head to the beach to find the tapes and battle Blaster who spits the tapes back into the water. As him and Jessie are leaving he vows to return.

Issue 48 They refind and play the tapes, Ratbat and Starscream watch the story unfold of how Prime launched it into space to keep it out of Megatron's hands. SOundwave tells Ratbat and Starscream that the Underbase will arrive in our solar system that week. Buster had been spying and Starscream caught him, Ratbat threatens him with execution for eavesdropping.

Issue 49 Starscream introduces Scorponok and his Decepticons to Ratbat and the Earth bound Decepticons. Ratbat is furious that he has done so because he is on the verge of possessing the Underbase and doesn't want anyone else to know about it. Starscream tell Buster he is to be terminated and he mentions the Underbase in front of Scorponok, just as Starscream had planned. As Scorponok heads back to his ship the Predacons stop him and tell him he isn't going anywhere. The Decepticons battle each other as Starscream leaves Buster with a signal box. The box will put out an Autobot code one alert signal. Luring the Autobots to the battle ready Decepticons. Scorponok and Ratbat realise what is happening as Starscream leaves in Scorponoks starscruiser to claim the underbase for himself.

Issue 50 Starscreams plan worked perfectly, the Autobots arrive and the two Decepticon factions unite in attacking them. Ratbat attacks Fortress Maximus only to find Buster in his chest compartment. Buster quickly explains to Ratbat what happened and all about Starscreams plan. Fort Max and Ratbat call a ceasefire and the two warring factions unite to stop Starscream. They go after him as he is just about to absorb the underbase, tho it did shine on him long enough to give him phenomenal power. He throws Scorponoks starcruiser at the Decepticons spaceship!

Prime had the Ark close by in case of an emergency. They race to Earth and Starscream lays waste to a total of 55 transformers, Autobot and Decepticon alike. It seemed he was unstoppable. Prime however set him up, after Scorponok kills Ratbat he heads out for the Underbase himself, but Prime moves him from its path and Atarscream absorbs it all.... When Optimus Prime was bathing in its glow millions of years ago he learned that possession of it can lead to madness and even death. In Starscream's case it brought both.

Next up for review, Issue 51-55, Graphic Novel Last Stand.

[Commander Megatron]

Issue 51 Spike has left the Autobots and is taking a skiing holiday with his friend Cliff. He has been having nightmares, recurring nightmares regarding Fortress Maximus, tho he doesn't realise it yet. He clashes with Carnivac and Snarler who want to destroy him!! Spike realises that he can still control Fortress Maximus without his helmet that he threw away and Snarler got. He gets the helmet back and bond's with Fortress Maximus and thrashes the Pretender Beasts. Cliff promises not to say anything about who he really is. Tho Spike then has to tell him all about his adventures with the Autobots.

Issue 52 The Autobots need Microchips to repair the Autobots that were damaged in the battle with Starscream. Prime sends Cloudburst and Landmine to Grand Central Space Station to buy micochips. Problem is mechanical life is not welcome there. The two Autobots meet Hi-Test and Throttle who are robot spotters working for the Mechannibals. basically these thinga are mouths on legs, like the Sharkticons. When noegotiating the deal for the 'chips teh Mechannibals wheel out Sky Lynx for the main course!!! The two Autobots free him and end up getting caught when they return to GCSS. They are sent back to the Mechannibals who tell them they are going to re
place Sky Lynx...as dinner!

Issue 53 Cloudburst bargains his way out of getting eaten and the Mechannibals agree to let him and Landmine got to a planet called Femax to get Lead Sulfide Crystals. They are to be used as a flavoring on Landmine!! They have to come back or the Mechannibals will use Berko, who they found at Grand Central Space Station as lube for their joints. They go and meet the Femaxians, a race of Transformer sized female warriors who put Cloudburst to the test. He passes them all and the female queen wants him to be her mate. When he reveals himself she takes his head with one swipe of her sword!! Tho, she sees the error of her ways and repairs him. Dreadwind and Drakwing show up, as does Skylynx who K.O's the two 'cons. They return to the mechannibals who release Berko. Cloudburst tells them taht they are Decepticons and the Mechannibals chase them looking for theur dinner. THEM!!

Issue 54 The Micromaster sports car and Off Road patrols arrive from Cybertron and immediately go to work disrupting a Decepticon energy draining process. They battle Skullgrin and Iguanus who heads of to the top of the Empire state building to place the lightening rod conductor so it can channel the energy to the Turbines that Scorponok had made. Iguanus climbs to the top and as he places it Roadhandler knocks it off the top. Iguanys tries to grab it just as the lightening hits and it fries the Decepticon Pretender. Roadhandler and the rest refuse to go with Prime and stay with a human called Cecilia.

Issue 55 Roadhandler takes on a human in a wrestling match, as he fights more humans his popularity begins to grow and he has a fan club. The Decepticon Air Strike Patrol arrive and Roadhandler agrees to "Wrestle" Stormcloud in fron of a live audience. Two members of the fan club are kidnapped, but returned and Roadhandler gives Stormcloud a whipping. At the outcome of the match Roadhandler makes a speech saying how the humans don't appreciate him. The fan club hear him talking and he tells them to believe in themselves, they don't need heroes.

Next up Issues 56 through to 62 Graphic Novel Primal Scream.

[Commander Megatron]

Issue 56 Megatron returns and kidnaps Ratchet, much to the despair of the Autobot Doctor. Megatron has a genius plan that will eliminate all his enemies and he will be triumphant in ruler of the universe. The manipulation of the Air Strike Patrol, the destruction of the Autobots and Decepticons that stand in his way. The Air Strike Patrol lured Prime away from Autobase allowing the Sports car Patrol to kidnap him.

Issue 57 Megatron wants Ratchet to bring Starscream back to life as a pretender as he has no medic under his command that is capable of doing it. On Earth Scorponok arrives and the Decepticons and Autobots battle and Prime realises that there is a far deadlier scheme set in motion. Ratchet is shocked at Megatron for wanting to restore Starscream. To ensure his co-operation, Megatron has Blackjack laying explosives around the ark....


Issue 58 Prime orders the Autobots back to the Ark to stop whatever has been set in motion there. He reasons with Scorponok telling him that he is a pawn in a much bigger game. Scorponok agrees, just as Pretender Starscream shows up to obliterate them all. Back on the Ark the timer is counting down as Blackjack set it off by an accident. On Cybertron 3 prototype pretender shells have been restored to Grimlock, Jazz and Bumblebee.

Issue 59 They attack and Megatron disposes of them. He then goes in search of Ratchet, who has contacted the Ark and opened a portal to send the explosives that were on the Ark to Megatron's base. Megatron tries to escape through the portal and Ratchet stops him, the base explodes with the two bitter enemies inside.

On Earth the tide of battle is turning against Starscream, he begs Scorponok to take him back, which he does. Optimus Prime and Hotrod watch as the Decepticons leave with Starscream, who is possibly the greatest weapon the Autobots have. At least that is what Optimus said to Hotrod.

Issue 60 Optimus Prime is distraught at the loss of his good friend ratchet, he decides to stop fighting altogether!! Hotrod tries to lure him back, which he does but not as cleanly as he had planned. Using a Mark 5 droid he hoped to radio control it backfired and the droid levelled 5 Autobots before Prime came back and destroyed it.

On Cybertron, Thunderwing has ordered Bludgeon, Stranglehold and Octopunch to kill Grimlock, Jazz and Bumblebee. They attack them at Autobase they are teleported away from Autobase and they all come face to face with PRIMUS!

Issue 61 A being known only as Keeper tells Grimlock, Jazz, Bumblebee and the Rescue Patrol of their origins, the origins of the Transformers. He goes onto explain that Primus must slumber until the day when the Transformers are ready to unite and face the chaos Bringer Unicron. Bludgeon and they gang show up but the Autobots dispatch them without waking Primus. Octopunch fires a shot at Grimlock before passing out and wakens Primus screaming into consciousness. Unicron hears it and turns towards Cybertron....

The repairs to the transdimensional portal that was damaged when Bludgeon swiped it with his sword (Issue 61's attack at Autobase) are complete. The Autobots and Decepticons are sent to Earth. Where Scorponok is under pressure from his warriors for allowing Starscream back. He manages to ease them, but the listening Starscreamis pleased with the dissention he has caused. Ever the opportunist...

Issue 62 Teams of Autobots are sent out all over space to find Prime's old body and the Creation matrix within. Nightbeat, Siren and Hosehead are the first team and they look for it on the planet PZ-ZAZZ. They don't find it, but Thunderwing is also looking for the Matrix himself to claim its power as his own. He captures the three Autobot's and takes them hostage....

Next up Issues 63-68 Graphic Novel Matrix Quest

[Commander Megatron]

Issue 63 The Matrix quest is still on, Backstreet, Override and Dogfight are on the plains of Cheyne looking for it. They get into a fight with the locals and later learn that they were trying to protect them. The 3 Autobots are staying with a family of Vrobians, Psychic Vampires who were feeding of their emotions. They kill the Vampires after Dogfight has a run in with Thunderwing and the locals tell them what they are.

Thunderwing has the 3 hostages tied to a mind leech machine and Nightbeat has filled Thunderwing in on what they are looking for. He wants the Matrix for himself, to possess its power. thunderwing believing that Dogfight has lost his mind laughs and leaves him to his cruel and torturous fate. This is where the locals step in and tell him the truth.

issue 64 The Autobots are getting closer to it now, Longtooth, Pincher and Doubleheader arrive at Gottlieb where a mysterious creature is trashing boats. The Klud, as its called was believed to be extinct. Xaaron had told the 3 of them to watch for miraculous resurrections that could be the Matrix at work. The Klud had bitten of one of Longtooths legs and now he wanted revenge!!

Thunderwing saves the creature from its death because he too believes that the Klud had been in contact with the Matrix. He is right, Thunderwing was created with an affinity with the Matrix and he links minds with the creature and learns where it is. He calls Needlenose and Windsweeper back from their attack on the Autobots as they go in search of the missing Creation Matrix.

Issue 65 The Classic Pretnders, Grimlock, Jazz and Bumblebee are on Camerons moon. They are at a base on there and find records that a science team found the Matrix. Thunderwing finds them and he disposes of Grimlock and Bumblebee. While battling Jazz a creature attacks Windsweeper and Thunderwing realises it has the Matrix. He battles athe creature and the 3 Autobots grab the Matrix and scarper.

Prime stands on the Ark and senses the Matrix aboardHotrod is beside him and Prime is excited that the matrix is being returned to him. He and Hotrod go to the shuttle to welcome Grimlock and the others. To quote the comic. "We are Primus, we are Prima. We are Prime Nova, we are Sentinel Prime. We are Optimus Prime we are THUNDERWING!"

Issue 66 Starts with Unicron, he creates three servants to go through the veils of time and bring him an agent that he can send before him to weaken Primus children. The 3 servants are Hook, Line and Sinker. Unicron senses that the Matrix has been turned to the ways of evil.

Thunderwing decimates the ranks of the Autobots and batters oprimus Prime. Nothing can stop him while he is in possession of the Matrix. He has Optimus on the ground and Prime asks what happened to Grimlock and the others? Thunderwing tells him that he let them live expecting them to go into stasis lock on Camerons moon. Nightbeat save sthe Autobots by harpooning Thunderwing and getting the shutlle he harpooned him with dragged out into space where it self destructs!!

On Earth Shockwave is spying on Scorponoks base and see's Starscream leaving and follows him...

Issue 67 It is the year 2009 the war is over, a handful of Autobots remain and the Decepticons have won. Galvatron and the Pretender Beasts arrive at New York were Rodimus is tied up between two buildings, dead. Galvatron blasts him in a fit of Rage anyway. The Autobots that are left fight to save the earth and reclaim it. Hook, Line and Sinker arrive and take Galvatron back to the past where he will serve Unicron once more. Jazz, Inferno and Prowl take the fight to the Decepticons in the absence of Galvatron. Cyclonus and Scourge are dead, Scourge killed by Chainclaw and Getaway and Cyclonus killed by Galvatron for allowing himself to be bettered by Chainclaw. Galvatron killed the Autobot then told Cyclonus he only saved him so he couls kill him himself!!

Issue 68 The human factor... The neo-Knights, Circuot Breaker, Rapture, Thunderpunch and Hector Dialonzo join forces to combat the Transformer Menace on Earth. Starscream also wants Hector Dialonzo because he is a human battery that can draw power from the Earth and Sun. In the end as stated above he joins the Neo-Knights and they attach Starscream leaving him unconscious and then leave. When he recovers he spouts revengeand Shockwave tells him that he shouldn't bother with petty revenge. Starscream is shocked to see Shockwave still alive and the two join force, to rule the Decepticons and then two Worlds.

Next up issues 69-74 Graphic novel All Fall Down.

[Commander Megatron]

Issue 69 Grimlock is not happy that Prime won't let him use Nucleon on his fellow Dinobots. So he does it anyway and loads them onto an M.A.R.B. (Mobile Autobot Repair Bay) Nightbeat tells Prime that Ratchet may still be alive as no body was found in the debris of Megatrons base. There was 2 explosions and it is possible that Ratchet was blown into the portal with the first smaller explosion....

Triggerhappy and Mindwipe team up with Shockwave group of 'Cons: Starscream, Runamuck, Runabout and Ravage. They declare war on Scorponok. To restore the Decepticon name to its former glory. Hook,Line and Sinker capture Galvatron and take him to Unicron, he agrees to play Unicrons game, but with his rules.

On the Ark Grimlock has commandeered a shuttle to go to Hydrus four and the Nucleon. Optimus Prime has informed the Autobots that in order to unite the two factions against Unicron he will surrender in the name of the Autobots to Scorponok. Nightbeat finds Ratchet in *unspace* he and Megatron are fused together.

Issue 70 Optimus Prime won't allow the Autobots to kill Megatron/Ratchet in case he can save Ratchet. Grimlock arrives at Hydrus four and goes in search of the Nucleon, a small mechanoid tells him that it is dangerous. Grimlock tests it on himself and then begins to revive the Dinobots. On the Ark Fixit tells Prime that he can seperate Ratchet and Megatron and possibly save Ratchets life, but he cannot gaurantee the state of Ratchets mind or save him without saving Megatron. He asks Prime will he proceed, Prime says.......do it.

Issue 71 The Autobots surrender to Scorponok, re-enforcing his position as Decepticon leader. They are locked away in cells, until Prime decides he can wait no longer, KO's Soundwave and goes looking for Scorponok. Just as they are about to shake hands Shockwave and his little group attack.

On Cybertron Galvatron and the three stoogies, Hook, Line and Sinker are running amok amongst the Autobots. Galvatron is not happy at being plucked from his own time just to be a lackey for Unicron...

Issue 72 On Cybertron Galvatron captures Emirate Xaaron and tells him the Matrix is gone, destroyed. Xaaron says they need to find Primus and waken him so he can return the Autobots and Decepticons to Cybertron. The revived Dinobots load a containment unit with Nucleon and head back to the Ark with it. Grimlocks leg frezzes and remembers the warning that the little mechanoid told him about the Nucleon effects. Scorponok takes on Shockwaves group on his own and gets the better of them, he goes one-on-one with Shockwave and Prime tries to stop him. The Neo-Knights arrive and enter the fray.

Issue 73 galvatron rages at xaaron that he should be working faster to waken Primus. Unicron realises that Galvatron is up to something and sends the three stoogies to investigate. They battle Galvatron and he Kills LIne and Sinker. Hook snares him but Primus who possesses Xaaron's body, kills hook. On Earth Circuit Breaker blasts Shockwave with everything she has it drains her completely. Primus summons the Transformers back to Cybertron, the Matrix and Thunderwing still live.....

Issue 74 Primus tells the transformers of life and existence. He tells Prime that he will lead the Transformers against Unicron. The hordes of Unicron attack Prime and he and Scorponok battle them. They are about to be overwhelmed when the rest of the transformers destroy them. In the previous few issues Prime had been in pain, to do with HiQ but he isn't sure what is happening. Unicron arrives at Cybertron and Kup nearly passes out when he sees him...

Next up the close of the U.S. Issues. 75-80. Graphic novel, End Of The Road

[Commander Megatron]

Issue 75 Unicron arrives and begins the dismemberment of Cybertron.The Transformers flee in panic because of his sheer size. Primus confronts him and almost fools Unicron who in turn destroys Primus/Xaaron. Galvatron attacks Unicron and is swatted away like a fly. The rest of the Transformers attack Unicron and the battle begins in earnest.

Scorponok attacks Unicron and is killed, Prime is still in pain with HiQ. As he regains his composure Thunderwing and the Matrix entity attack Unicron. He destroys the Matrix entity and Prime grabs the Matrix and plunges it into Unicrons maw. Before he does this he realeses HiQ and the little Nebulan begs to come and Prime says no. In the void that is Unicron the Matrix with all its purity after prime has cleansed it destroys Unicron. After the battle is over, Runabout spots something and is eaten!!!

Issue 76 Optimus Prime clings to life long enough to tell Prowl that Grimlock is leader. HiQ is running for his life away from the monsters that ate Runabout. Prowl and Grimlock have words as Prowl tells him he is the new leader. The Autobots and Decepticons are forging an alliance and Prowl is angry that Grimlock isn't making more of an effort. He tells Prowl Ark is missing and he is off to look for it. As they look for it they clash with the monsters that are chasing HiQ, Grimlocks whole body freezes and the Dinobots protect him.

Grimlock is changing into his action master form. He attacks the monsters and lays waste to them. HiQ stops him and tells him the ideals and Autobot code. Slag says to HiQ,

"Y'know little fella back then when you was talkin' to Grimlock you sounded just like ol' Optimus Prime!

HiQ Replies; "What do you mean "like" Slag? I AM Optimus Prime.

Issue 77 Prowl is holding court to explain why Cybertron is tearing itself apart and how they must get off planet. Starscream and Shockwave are the two responsible for stealing the Ark, they repair it and use it to head back to Earth. Prowl allows the Decepticons to take their forces off planet first and they will follow. Bludgeon, the new Decepticon leader tells his gathered warriors that they're plan is weak and the Decepticons will conquer new worlds. On the Ark, were Galvatron is hitching a ride he comes face to face with Megatron...

Issue 78 Galvatron attacks Megatron, but Megatron has lost his mind and he see's Galvatron as Ratchet and the two battle. Galvatron stops short of killing him, instead they form an alliance as Megatron realises what has happened and they attack Shockwave. Ratchet battles Starscream and he blasts the Nucleon container, the Ark spirals out of control and into the Earth as the tale comes full circle.

Bludgeon had sabotaged the Autobots shuttles, but Grimlock had a few Decepticon battle cruisers hidden away for just such an occasion. They go after the Decepticons, the Neo-Knghts stay on Cybertron and search, with HiQ for the "Last Autobot".

Issue 79 Galvatron survives the crash and battles Fortress Maximus. the two transformers collide and the battle is intense. Galvatron is badly damaged after the crash and Fortress Maximus and Spike are arguing with themselves. they decide to do it together and defeat him. On Klo, the Decepticons have almost total control of teh planet when Krok tells Bludgeon that he found a tracer and that the Autobots will come to stop them. The Neo-Knights and HiQ find the last Autobot....

Issue 80 The Decepticons ambush the Autobots and kill them all except for Grimlock, Prowl, Blaster, Kup and Slag. They hide and are found by Quake, Octopunch, Fangry and Weirdwolf. The Neo-Knights and Optimus Prime who has been recreated arrive at Klo with the Last Autobot. They battle the Decepticons and Grimlock and the rest show up to help.

The last Autobot explains that Prime's mind had transferred into HiQ's body, the two became one. He created a body to house both minds and Action Master prime is created. The Last Autobot revives and repairs the fallen Autobots and the Decepticons retreat. Cybertron was not in fact destroying itself but repairing itself. Under the guidance of The Last Autobot Cybertron is reborn. The war is over, Bludgeon takes the Decepticons into solitary exile . Prime says at the close of the US run of comics...

"We will help the Klozians rebuild, take the Neo-Knights back to Earth and then, my brave warriors, finally......we can go home!!"

[Time Traveller]

I love this story every time I hear it! Going to do G2?

[Commander Megatron]

Im am but first I have to do the U.K. stories, up next tho is the G.I. Joe Transformers crossover that fits in around issue 25 of the U.S. Storyline, then I will do the G2 reviews.

[Commander Megatron]

The G.I Joe/Transformers crossover. This is set around issue 25 of the U.S. TF storyline....

Issue 1 The humans have created a powerstation called "Power Station Alpha" that will serve the Eraths energy needs for years to come. Megatron orders Bombshell to plant a cerebro shell in the station to control it. Bombshell sees Bumblebee at the launch site as well and injects a Cerebro shell in a young boy and commands him to walk in front of the rolling space station. Bumblebee saves the boy and reveals himself, the Joes destroy him under the command of Hawk....

Issue 2Superion arrives and the Joes attack him too! To no avail of course, he is summoned back to the Ark when Perceptor tells him that Optimus Prime is dead. (US Issue 24) Megatron slips further into the insanity and Shockwave realises that he has to assume command of the Decepticons. (US Issue 25) The station, under command of Bombshells Cerebro shell moves and takes off in the Direction of the Decepticon Island base.

Dr Mindbender (what a great name ) overrides the shell and turns PowerStation Alpha in the Direction of Cobra's base. The Cobra and the Joes battle over the Ocean, the Joes have no choice but to let them go when they attack a cruise ship. Dirge and Bomshell follow them and talk of a possible alliance between the Decepticons and Cobra. Dr Mindbender places a homing device on Dirge and learns that the Decepticons plan to destroy the Earth with it.

Issue 3 Sockwave explains to Dirge, Bombshell and Ravage how the ststion will power Cybertron and Decepticon domination for Millenia to come. Ravage interrupts him and tells him that Cobra have arrived with Power station Alpha. Dr Mindbender stays with the Decepticons and Dirge goes with Cobra to attack the Autobot at the Ark. Serpentor destroys Dirge and contacts the Autobots explaining to them what has happened to power station alpha. The Joes, Cobra and teh Autobots join forces to stop the Decepticons.

Issue 4 The Joes rebuild Bumblebee into Goldbug, although Ratchet has to finish him off.The allies all attack the Decepticons Island base and a massive battle ensues, the Cobra pull out once the Battle Station has been rendered inoperative. Goldbug, the Baroness and Scarlett set up explosive on the station and blast it into space. The boy who Bomshell planted a cerebro shell in has surgery and recover fine. The shell ends up with teh Joes and they poke it and probe it and it causes bombshell to have weird transformations. The battle ends when the Decepticons retreat and Blaster tells the Joes that they are free to go and leave the war the Autobots and Decepticons are fighting to the Transformers.

Next up the start of the U.K. Graphic Novels. First under scrutiny Target 2006

[Commander Megatron]

Just a little disclaimer and a few notes of worth. If you have not read any of the U.K. issues and are planning on getting some do not read these if you think it will spoil it for you. The U.K. comic storylines were a little less "Bubblegum" than the U.S. story lines with Transformers getting killed quite graphically and hard hitting storylines.

Theses following U.K. reviews are done in no particuklar order and I will review thm as one story, there may be little * for footnotes to watch out for at the bottom. With the Marvel rules that the U.S. issues had to be published in the U.K. the U.K. storyline arced a lot of the time. However, I will do my best to review them and trying make it as sensible as possible. (As Rodimus Prime will tell you I tend to get over excited when i am talking to him about them at work!!)

Enjoy, and thanks for reading these reviews,

C.M.