transformers classics vol. 5 preview

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Original Series Edited by Don Daley

Cover Art by Guido GuidiDigitally Re-mastered by Digikore Studios Limited

Collection Edits by Justin Eisinger & Alonzo Simon

Editorial Notes and Assistance by Mark W. Bellomo

Collection Design by Shawn Lee

THE TRANSFORMERS CLASSICS VOL. 5. JULY 2013. FIRST PRINTING. HASBRO and its logo, TRANSFORMERS, and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro and are used with permission. 2013 Hasbro. The IDWlogo is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. IDW Publishing, a division of Idea and Design Works, LLC. Editorial offices: 5080 Santa Fe St., San Diego, CA 92109. Any similarities to persons living or dead arepurely coincidental. With the exception of artwork used for review purposes, none of the contents of this publication may be reprinted without the permission of Idea and Design Works, LLC. Printed in Korea.IDW Publishing does not read or accept unsolicited submissions of ideas, stories, or artwork.

Originally published by Marvel Comics as THE TRANSFORMERS Issues #5164.

Ted Adams, CEO & PublisherGreg Goldstein, President & COORobbie Robbins, EVP/Sr. Graphic ArtistChris Ryall, Chief Creative Officer/Editor-in-ChiefMatthew Ruzicka, CPA, Chief Financial OfficerAlan Payne, VP of SalesDirk Wood, VP of MarketingLorelei Bunjes, VP of Digital Services

IDW founded by Ted Adams, Alex Garner, Kris Oprisko, and Robbie Robbins

ISBN: 978-1-61377-633-9 16 15 14 13 1 2 3 4

Special thanks to Hasbros Aaron Archer, Jerry Jivoin, Michael Verret, Ed Lane, Joe Furfaro, Jos Huxley, Andy Schmidt, Heather Hopkins and Michael Kelly for their invaluable assistance.

www.IDWPUBLISHING.com

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I s s u e #5 1 , A p r I l 1 9 8 9 , T h e MA n I n T h e MA c h I n e ! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 6

Written by Bob Budiansky, Pencils by Jos Delbo, Inks by Dave Hunt, Letters by Bill Oakley, Colors by Nel Yomtov

I s s u e #52 , MAy 1 9 8 9 , G u e s s W h o T h e

M e c A n n I b A l s A r e hAv I n G f o r D I n n e r ? . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .

Page 30

Written by Bob Budiansky, Pencils by Jos Delbo, Inks by Dave Hunt, Letters by Manny Manos, Colors by Nel Yomtov

I s s u e #53 , J u n e 1 9 8 9 , r e c I p e f o r D I s A s T e r ! . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 53

Written by Bob Budiansky, Pencils by Jos Delbo, Inks by Dave Hunt, Letters by Jade Moede, Colors by Nel Yomtov

I s s u e #54 , J u ly 1 9 8 9 , K I n G c o n ? . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .Page 77

Written by Bob Budiansky, Pencils by Jos Delbo, Inks by Danny Bulandi, Letters by Jim Massara, Colors by Nel Yomtov

I s s u e #55 , A u G u s T 1 9 8 9 , T h e I n T e r p l A n e T A r y

W r e s T l I n G c h A M p I o n s h I p ! . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 101

Written by Bob Budiansky, Layouts by Bob Budiansky (pages 1-10) & Jim Fern (pages 11-22), [finished] Pencils by Jim Fern,

Inks by Mike Gustovich, Letters by Jim Massara, Colors by Nel Yomtov

I s s u e #56 , s e p T e M b e r 1 9 8 9 , bA c K f r o M T h e D e A D ! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 125

Written by Simon Furman, Pencils by Jos Delbo, Inks by Dave Hunt, Letters by Jim Massara, Colors by Nel Yomtov

I s s u e #57 , o c T o b e r 1 9 8 9 , T h e r e s u r r e c T I o n GA M b I T ! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 143


I s s u e #58 , n o v e M b e r 1 9 8 9 , A l l T h e fA M I l I A r fA c e s ! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 161


I s s u e #59 , M I D - n o v e M b e r 1 9 8 9 , s K I n D e e p . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. .Page 179


I s s u e #60 , D e c e M be r 1 989 , y e s T e r DAy s h e r o e s ! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 197


I s s u e #6 1 , M I D - D e c e M b e r 1 9 8 9 , p r I M Al s c r e A M ! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 217

Written by Simon Furman, Pencils & Inks by Geoff Senior, Letters by Jim Massara, Colors by Nel Yomtov

Issue #62, JAnuAry 1990, MATrIx QuesT , pArT 1 of 5: b IrD of prey! . . . . . . . . .Page 237

Written by Simon Furman, Pencils & Inks by Geoff Senior, Letters by Jim Massara, Colors by Nel Yomtov

I s s u e #63 , f e b r u A r y 1 9 9 0 , MAT r I x Qu e s T , pA r T 2 o f 5 :

K I n G s o f T h e W I l D f r o n T I e r ! . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .Page 257


Issue #64, MArch 1990, MATr Ix QuesT, pArT 3 of 5: DeADly obsessIon! . . . . . . . . .Page 279

Written by Simon Furman, Pencils by Jos Delbo, Inks by Al Williamson (pages 1-4) & Dan Reed (pages 5-22),

Letters by Jim Massara, Colors by Nel Yomtov


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A few weeks back as I was reviewing the individual issues contained within this volume of Transformers: Classics, I dugout my Transformers action figures particularly those characters represented within the years of comicsencapsulated in this book. So then, I posed and played with those Hasbro toys introduced between 1989 and 1990(Series 6 & 7), including a few select members from the ranks of the Autobots and Decepticons from 1988 (SeriesFive) as well.

As I was manipulating these magnificent toys, changing them from robot to vehicle then back again, opening andclosing the Pretenders shells, making sure I still possessed all of their appropriate weapons, accessories, andextraneous kibble, trying to recall if I remembered how to combine Darkwing and Dreadwind into Dreadwing(grrr ), I referenced the toys succinct Tech Spec (technical specification) biographies those succinct dossiers thataccompanied each and every individual character (except for Micromaster teams) since the line began production in1984. These magnificent profiles have since become industry standard on toy packaging a feat that Hasbros

Transformers and G.I. JOE lines helped to entrench. It was The Transformerscomic books original scribe, Bob

Budiansky (the author whose final issue of The Transformersis memorialized in these pages), who thought to constructthese myriad Tech Specs for Hasbro, and who strived to define these characters as three-dimensional, dynamic, techno-organic beings within one lone, terse paragraph with a bunch of numbers assigned to their respective ability scores.

These wonderfully descriptive Tech Specs inspired me to display my Transformers toys so that I could review them froma distance.

After setting up the standard 1988 Pretenders releases in one long row on the mantelshelf above the fireplace in myliving room, I regarded the awesome majesty of Bomb-Burst, Bugly, Cloudburst, Finback, Groundbreaker, Iguanus,Landmine, Skullgrin, Sky High, Splashdown, Submarauder, and Waverider. Yet it wasnt enough I wanted to seemore. So then I added the Pretender Beasts to enhance the lineup: Carnivac, Catilla, Chainclaw, and Snarler. Next intothe mix I stirred the two Pretender Vehicles, Gunrunner and Roadgrabber; I approached satisfaction. However, afterreminding myself of the narratives contained within the fourteen tales collected in this volume, I quickly delved intothe slew of 1989 Pretender toys which featured the rise of a set of smallerPretenders (six characters who were no lessimportant to the comic book narrative): Bludgeon, Doubleheader, Longtooth, Octopunch, Pincher, and Stranglehold. Aquartet of Classic Pretenders also augmented this sub-line four popular canonical characters who also adopted thePretenders organic shells: Bumblebee, Grimlock, Jazz, and Starscream. And finally, on my mantle I exhibited themore deluxe toys to round out this motif: Mega Pretenders Crossblades, Thunderwing, and Vroom; and the highly-prized (and ber-fragile due to their suffering from gold-plastic syndrome) Ultra Pretenders Roadblock andSkyhammer.

I looked at my mantle, and then re-read the toys Tech Specs. I again looked at a toy, then regarded his biography.Over and over; rinse and repeat. During this repetitive process, an epiphany happened: it occurred to me that withinthe Transformers universe, names have a certain power. The name Bludgeon means something. The appellation

Thunderwing implies something. The moniker Stranglehold alludes to something. Right?

For instance, lets review the names of the original lineup of Autobots and Decepticons while seriously considering theirappellations. Optimus Prime. Brawn. Windcharger. Bluestreak. Ironhide. Mirage. Megatron. Laserbeak. Skywarp.

Thudercracker. Rumble. The proper name of nearly every single Transformers character exists as an appellation thatfunctions as a charactonym that is, an evocative or symbolic name given to a character that conveys his innerpsychology or allegorical [emblematic] nature. These names represent their respective characters philosophy of life,and (perhaps) symbolize their underlying ideology.

A charactonym therefore is the name of a fictional character which suggests a distinctive trait ofthat character.

To that end, the impulsive Cliffjumper implies a character who leaps before he looks (i.e. one who jumpsoff ofcliffs ) in order to obtain vengeance against the Decepticons; he leaps into danger before anticipating the scenario orresulting impact his actions may have upon others. When questioned about the use of charactonyms when heconstructed the Tech Spec biographies for Hasbros Transformers characters, Bob Budiansky (again, the manresponsible for conceiving and writing most of the original Transformers names, characteristics, foibles, andeccentricities) stated:

I n T r o D u c T I o n


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I would say that many, if not most, of the names I came up with can be categorized as charactonyms.For example, [take] Ravage a Decepticon that transforms from a cassette into a jaguar-likecreature. The word ravage suggested to me mindless, predatory violence, which I thought was agood fit for a character that looks like a bestial predator and was one of the bad guys.

The same can be said for Grimlock:

I came up with the name Grimlock, and heres how I did it: I wanted a name that had the ring ofauthority, that sounded dangerous, and that suggested powerful jaws with teeth. Hence, Grimlock[grim + lock]. Also, since Grimlock was to be the name of the Dinobot leader, I wanted thatname to stand apart from the other Dinobots, which all begin with the letter s Swoop, Snarl,Sludge, and Slag the name has nothing to do with Morlocks.

So then, according to Budiansky, in many cases a Transformers name may actually designate a concept larger thanthe character itself. As the writer himself states: Basically, this was my process for naming many of the characters Iplayed mental word association games to come up with a name that suggested what the character was all about.Sometimes I bestowed a particular personality quirk on the character, and came up with a name for a character basedon that quirk. Music-loving Jazz is a good example of that. However, oftentimes Budiansky took the comparisonmuch further; many times, these appellations figuratively represented a larger concept: for example, lets reviewMegatron.

If we do some digging into the etymology of the name Megatron, the Decepticon Leaders, well discover that thisword represents the combining form of the Greek megas(meaning large, great) combined with the Greek suffix -tron(from the verb plow; to tear up, to cut into). So then, the name Megatron initially suggests a great [device,object] used for tearing up or cutting into providing us with a fairly accurate description of the fierce antagonist.However, when we consider Megatrons awesome particle beam cannon (his primary assault weapon) which canlink up interdimensionally to a black hole and draw anti-matter from it for use as a weapon (from his original TechSpec bio), the suffix -tronmay take on an entirely different meaning: this suffix also represents an extraction ashortened form of the word electron. In this case, - tronmight refer to the devices used for accelerating subatomicparticles (e.g. cosmotron; cyclotron). And guess what? By definition, the anti-matter that Megatrons cannon projectsis a substance composed of subatomic particlesthat have the mass, electric charge, and magnetic moment of theelectrons, protons, and neutrons of ordinary matter but for which the electric charge and magnetic moment areopposite in sign [italics mine]. What does this mean? It suggests that Megatron means: a great device used toaccelerate/project subatomic particles: a fairly accurate appraisal of the character (via charactonym) that essentiallybrands the Decepticon Leader as a living weapon.

Maybe Budianskys engineering background influenced his rendering of character to a degree thats been largelyunexplored? What might this process yield when reviewing character designations of other prominent Transformerssuch as Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Omega Supreme, Galvatron, or a host of other names weve never seriouslygiven a second thought about until now? The possibilities are boundless

Mark W. Bellomo

For the past fifteen years, Mark W. Bellomo has written hundreds of articles and a number of bestselling books on the topic of action figures,where he has cemented his reputation as one of the worlds foremost experts. Most recently, Bellomo provided forewords to IDW PublishingsTransformers: Classics(the latest volume of which youre holding in your hands) and G.I. Joe: Special Missionstrades, and he is currently presidingover the fifteen-volume hardcover project, G.I. Joe: The Complete Collection. Readers may view him as the subject of the 18-part YouTube

documentary The Collectable Spectacle, or witness the fruits of his labors as a consultant for Syfys Collection Intervention. His latest books,IDWs The Art of Transformers: Fall of Cybertron(Autumn, 2012), and Krause Publications Toys & Prices: The Worlds Best Toy Guide, (Spring, 2013)will be available at fine bookstores everywhere.


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