Transformers A-Z versus Transformers Universe

[Grand Moff Muffin]

The majority of A-Z entries in the UK comic (with a few exceptions such as Rodimus Prime) were apparently adapted from Bob Budiansky's Transformers Universe profiles - and used the same artwork. But the A-Z profiles printed in the UK annuals used box art, and in some cases appear not to use TFU as a source.

1. NAUTILATOR

Tech-specs:

A stumbling, bumbling amphibious foul-up. Often gets caught in the undertow and has to be hauled out by his fellow Seacons. Quick to blame others for his mistakes. Equipped with geological sensors that register underwater fuel deposits. Armed with triple crusher cannon that shoots energon bands which trap their target and then tighten until the target has been reduced to rubble. Nautilator transforms to heat-seaking torpedo cannon in weapons mode. Combines with fellow Seacons to form Piranacon.

Transformers A-Z:

Profile: Nautilator is a stumbling, bumbling amphibious foul up. He'll often get his orders totally wrong, mess up a whole mission, and then try and find someone else to pin the blame on. If it weren't for his ability to search out pockets of underwater oil, Snap Trap would happily leave him behind when embarking on a mission. There's also a feeling of resentment among his fellow Seacons, because they know Nautilator will happily blame any or all of them, rather than accept the blame himself.

Abilities: In undersea mode, Nautilator's geographical sensors can register underwater fuel deposits. He's armed with a triple crusher cannon that shoot energon bands which trap their target and then tighten until that target is just so much mechanical rubble. Nautilator also possesses a heat-seeking torpedo cannon. He combines with his fellow Seacons to form Pirranacon [sic].

Weaknesses: There's a general air of reluctance to work with Nautilator among the other Seacons, as they know that he will happily stitch them up.

Transformers Universe:

Profile: Despite his fierce appearance and formidable weaponry, Nautilator is actually a stumbling, bumbling amphibious foul-up. Originally a land-based warrior, he underwent adaptive reconstructive surgery for oceanic combat on Cybertron without ever being tested to see if he had an aptitude for the undersea environment. Once he joined the Seacons, it became apparent to everyone that he liked that environment - he just wasn't very capable within it. His fellow Seacons have had to haul his chassis out of tidal undertows more times than they care to admit. Some of them secretly whisper, "Let him drown," whenever he calls them for help nowadays. They're also fed up with having to retrieve him - almost every time he goes on one of his underwater exploratory excavation missions, he usually gets lost. And to make relations with his comrades even worse, he's always quick to blame them for his mistakes. But there are very good reasons why the Seacons usually come to Nautilator's aid, as Snaptrap explains, "If he didn't bring back an occasional lost nuclear bomb from the ocean bottom, we'd have left him down there to rust a long time ago."

Abilities: In his lobster mode, Nautilator uses chemical, thermal, electrical, magnetic, seismic and sonic sensors located in his legs and tail to search for and detect underwater fuel deposits and other materials useful to the Decepticon cause. His claws have an unbreakable grip and can pierce the thickest of ship hulls with minimal effort. He wields a triple crusher cannon, a weapon that shoots energon bands that encircle and trap their target, tightening around it until only rubble remains. He can mount the cannon on his mouth, convert to weapons mode and use it in a stationary position, or use it on land in robot mode. In weapons mode, he can also convert it to a torpedo cannon. He combines with his fellow Seacons to form the super-robot Piranacon.

Weaknesses: Nautilator suffers from a defective gyroscopic circuit center, which accounts for his poor navigational skills. He also rusts relatively easily, and can stay underwater for no longer than 4 hours without suffering damage.

Martin

[Grand Moff Muffin]

2. SEAWING

The A-Z makes Seawing an explorer who is fascinated by the things he finds on Earth's ocean beds. By contrast, TFU makes him one who loves to be feared, possibly with ambitions of leadership, and his weakness is sensitivity to bright light.

Tech-specs:

Glides through the seas like a sinister steel spector. Enjoys surprising and then destroying his targets. Nothing escapes his notice... or his grasp. Equipped with electrical, chemical, and infrared sensors, long range sonar. Converts to dual proton blaster in weapons mode. Underwater, can detect and home in on anything living or moving within a 20 mile radius. Maximum speed: 110mph. Armed with double venom lasers that paralyze on contact. Combines with fellow Seacons to form Piranacon.

Transformers A-Z:

Profile: Seawing glides effortlessly and silently through the water like a sinister steel spectre. He enjoys surprising and then destroying his targets. Nothing escapes his notice or his grasp. Sophisticated sensors reach out through the murky ocean depths, analysing and identifying. Seawing loves to explore, and finds the floor of the Earth's oceans a treasure trove of delights - much more interesting than the mechanical wreckage littering the beds of Cybertron's rust seas.

Abilities: Seawing is equipped with electrical, chemical, and infra-red sensors and a long range sonar. If anything moves underwater, he'll know about it instantly. He can detect and home in on anything within a 20 mile radius. His maximum speed in stingray mode is 110mph. He is armed with double venom lasers that paralyse on contact. In robot mode he carries a dual proton blaster. Seawing combines with his fellow Seacons to form Pirranacon.

Weaknesses: Seawing's fascination with the junk that accumulates on the ocean bed sometimes distracts him in mid-battle.

Transformers Universe:

Profile: Seawing is the eeriest, most ominous Seacon - and he knows it. He glides through the ocean depths like a sinister steel specter, spreading fear among all who see him. This pleases him greatly. "Who better to rule than he to whom all bow," he reasons immodestly. Some Decepticons speculate that Seawing's ambitions go beyond the Seacons and reach to Decepticon Command itself. Not denying this, Seawing does much more to achieve his goals than merely frighten some tin-scaled robo-fish. He is an expert at his job, and he enjoys every moment of it. Once he zeroes in on a target, he uses his wits to surprise and then his armaments to destroy. And underwater, nothing escapes his notice... or his grasp.

Abilities: In manta ray mode, Seawing employs a battery of sensors - electrical, chemical, infrared - and long-range sonar in his reconnaissance missions. His sensitivity is such that he can locate a screwhead on the ocean bottom up to 20,000 feet below him. He can detect and home in on anything living or moving in the water within a 20-mile radius. His maximum speed is 110 mph. In manta and robot modes, he is equipped with two venom lasers which shoot beams that paralyze on contact. In weapons station mode, he combines with the lasers to become a powerful dual proton blaster. He combines with his fellow Seacons to form the super-robot, Piranacon.

Weaknesses: In manta ray mode, Seawing's optical modules are adjusted to pick up the very dim light that reaches the ocean depths. As a result, he is very sensitive to bright light, and is easily blinded by sudden flashes underwater.

[Pinwig]

I would imagine that's because the Annual the A-Z entries appeared in was published in August 1988, but Nautilator's Universe entry didn't appear until issue #59 of the US comic, which went on sale August 1989. I expect when the annual was put together the Universe entry didn't exist as a source to take from. Or if Budianski had written it (which is likely as the tech specs seem to have been derived from Bob's longer biographies used for Universe entries), it hadn't actually been printed or used anywhere that the UK team could get at.

It's interesting that the UK team would want to go to the trouble of coming up with bios when they had access to loads that hadn't been printed yet, but I guess they were trying to keep things relevant by doing current toys.

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Whoever fleshed the tech-specs out to make the A-Zs favoured personality-based weaknesses, whereas TFU went with technology-based weaknesses.

Martin

[Grand Moff Muffin]

3. SKALOR

Tech-specs:

A merciless, polluting parasite. So foul even his fellow Seacons avoid him. Leaves a trail of grease and toxic chemicals wherever he goes. Able to absorb fuel through the hull of any ship. In robot mode, equipped with dual crustation rifles that encase and immobilize the enemy with hard, sticky scales. Serrated, razor-sharp jaws are able to cut through any substance. In weapons mode, transforms into twin-barreled corrosive slime-shooter. Combines with fellow Seacons to form Piranacon.

Transformers A-Z:

Skalor is a merciless, polluting parasite. He leaves a trail of grease and toxic chemicals wherever he goes. He's so foul, even his fellow Seacons go out of their way to avoid him. Skalor doesn't mind this rejection, he's more happy with his own company anyway. If anything, Skalor relishes the knowledge that few can bear to be near him. He knows that his lack of personal hygiene gives him a psychological edge over friend and foe alike.

Abilities: In robot mode, Skalor wields dual crustation rifles that encase and immobilise his foes with hard, sticky scales. In sub-aqua mode, Skalor carries a twin-barrelled, corrosive slime shooter. His serrated, razor sharp jaws are able to cut through any substance. He can absorb fuel through the hull of a ship without breaching it. Skalor combines with his fellow Seacons to form Pirranacon.

Weaknesses: Because of his unpleasant condition, Skalor's fellow Seacons are often unwilling to combine with him into Pirranacon, giving enemies a chance to escape.

Transformers Universe:

Profile: This merciless, polluting parasite is so foul that even his fellow Seacons do their best to avoid him. A peculiarity of his circulatory system permits small amounts of lubricant and other chemicals to bubble to his surface through joints and welds, making Skalor the malodorous menace that he is. As a result, he leaves a disgusting trail of grease and toxic chemicals wherever he goes. Although often advised that this condition can be easily corrected with a few minor adjustments, (particularly by those who have to work with him), Skalor chooses to continue just the way he is. The smell doesn't bother him. He feels that if the smell bothers others, that's their problem, not his. But this argument obscures the real reason for Skalor's foul scent: He just doesn't care about personal hygiene. And the fact that his odor occasionally keeps his enemies at bay is a bonus that he uses to defend his slovenly lifestyle.

Abilities: In creature mode, Skalor operates equally well on land or at sea. He can clamp his vacuum-suction mouth onto most ships and, by piercing their hulls with his diamond-tipped teeth, suck the fuel from them. A snap of his turbo-powered jaws can cut through any substance. His maximum swimming speed is 35 knots. His underwater range is 4,000 miles. His heavy armor allows him to function at any depth. In creature and robot modes he wields two crustation rifles, which encase and immobilize anything they hit with a stream of hard, sticky scales. One rifle shoots the scales, the other shoots a viscous adhesive that glues the scales to their target. In weapons mode, Skalor transforms into a twin-barrelled corrosive slime-shooter. He combines with his fellow Seacons to form the super-robot Piranacon.

Weaknesses: As a result of his leakage problems and generally poor self-maintenance, Skalor is prone to minor but frequent breakdowns. All are the result of low internal fluid levels. He sometimes overheats, suffers from locked joints and strips his own gears, for example. Occasionally he becomes immobilized at the bottom of a deep ocean and must be fished out by his fellow Seacons.

[Grand Moff Muffin]

The tech-specs say Skalor is "able to absorb fuel through the hull of any ship." The A-Z expands this to "He can absorb fuel through the hull of a ship without breaching it," while according to the Universe entry, "He can clamp his vacuum-suction mouth onto most ships and, by piercing their hulls with his diamond-tipped teeth, suck the fuel from them."

Martin

[Pinwig]

Certainly with TFU, at least to begin with, it was the other way round. Bob wrote the full biographies Universe eventually used first; he showed his pencil written originals at TFN. The tech specs were cut down from the longer ones. I suspect TFU only came into being as the four part comic because someone realised all that extra info wasn't being used. It may have changed somewhere along the line, perhaps if Bob realised he was writing these well crafted bios and all that was appearing on the box was a snippet from them - depends if he saw them as being his own reference for use in writing the comics. The Movie character TFU entries suggest the process was different because they just refer to the film, whereas the tech specs are much simpler and don't (Galavtron being a goods example).

[Grand Moff Muffin]

There's reason to believe Volume 2 may not have been written before the tech-specs, as Skullgrin's TFU entry refers to his stint as a movie star, Fort Max's refers to the death of Galen prior to Spike taking over, etc.

Martin

[Grand Moff Muffin]

4. SNAPTRAP (TFU) / SNAP TRAP (A-Z)

Tech-specs:

Nicknamed "Butcher of the Bogs" after he singlehandedly scrapped an entire regiment of Autobots in the Toxic Sludge Swamps of Cybertron. Creates havoc and chaos wherever he goes. Calculating and malicious. As cold-hearted and cruel as any machine ever made. His battle tactics are smooth, methodical, and extremely effective. Armed with two rapid-fire, retractable, sonic-shell cannons, 8 turreted photon beam ports, semi-automatic atom-smasher rifle, incendiary sword. Combines with fellow Seacons to form Piranacon.

Transformers A-Z:

Profile: Snap Trap was nicknamed 'the Butcher of the Bogs' after he single-handedly scrapped an entire regiment of Autobots in the Toxic Sludge Swamps of Cybertron. He's as cold hearted and cruel as any machine ever made. His battle tactics are smooth, methodical and extremely effective. He demands absolute loyalty and obedience from his fellow Seacons. Snap Trap has been known to destroy fellow Decepticons for not following his orders to the letter. His sole aim is to create havoc and chaos wherever he goes.

Abilities: In robot mode, Snap Trap carries a semi-automatic atom smasher rifle and an incendiary sword, which can cut through solid titanium steel like butter. He is strong, fast and agile. In sub-aqua mode Snap Trap is armed with two rapid-fire retractable sonic shell cannons, which can blast the audio sensors of any human or robot within a three hundred yard radius. He also has eight turreted photon beam ports. Snap Trap combines with his fellow Seacons to form Pirranacon.

Weaknesses: In marine mode, Snap Trap is slow and awkward, and has to assume a solely tactical role.

Transformers Universe:

Profile: Snaptrap was nicknamed "The Butcher of the Bogs" after he singlehandedly scrapped an entire regiment of Autobots in the Toxic Sludge Swamps of Cybertron. He's a one robot wrecking crew whose programming seemingly consists of one command: "Destroy!" And he does just that, creating havoc and chaos wherever he goes. Both admirers and enemies agree: He is as cold hearted and cruel as any machine ever manufactured, Megatron included. Snaptrap's battle tactics are brutal confirmation of this observation. With lethal efficiency, he methodically advances against the enemy, swaying his head right and left and picking off anyone he sees. He's unconcerned about counterattack since he's virtually invulnerable to weapons-fire. Those merely wounded by his first assault earn his extra attention - he moves to within point blank range so that his next shot will blast them to bits. He continues this strategy until either he's sent his foes running or he's left their twisted, charred bodies to rust on the battlefield. As Seacon Commander, he leads more by terror than by example. His followers understand that any sign of dissension on their parts will result in their destruction on his part.

Abilities: In tortoise mode, Snaptrap is nearly impervious to weapons-fire. Durabyllium-steel alloy armor shields his body. He carries two audio module-shattering, rapid-fire, retractable sonic shell cannons; eight turret-mounted photon beam ports; and a turret-mounted, semi-automatic atom smasher cannon, which he can also use in robot mode. In both modes he is slow: His maximum speed is 20 mph on land, 30 mph in tortoise mode at sea. In robot mode he also uses a fire-rimmed incendiary sword. He combines with his fellow Seacons to form the super robot Piranacon.

Weaknesses: The armor plates on Snaptrap's underside in tortoise mode are relatively thin. Designed to facilitate his ability to float and maneuver in the water, they also leave him vulnerable to attacks from below. Luckily for Snaptrap, few of his enemies - and even fewer of his so-called "friends" - are aware of this weakness.

[Grand Moff Muffin]

The A-Z says Snap Trap is fast and agile in robot mode. Snaptrap's TFU entry says he is slow in both modes. On his tech-specs, his speed is 2, more consistent with TFU than the A-Z.

Martin

[Pinwig]

Jul 13, 2019 15:10:32 GMT Grand Moff Muffin said:

There's reason to believe Volume 2 may not have been written before the tech-specs, as Skullgrin's TFU entry refers to his stint as a movie star, Fort Max's refers to the death of Galen prior to Spike taking over, etc.

Martin

That makes sense then. Interesting to think the Seacons were defined in the UK a year before the US!

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Jul 13, 2019 16:11:43 GMT Pinwig said:

That makes sense then. Interesting to think the Seacons were defined in the UK a year before the US!

And defined with names that don't quite match the toys released in the shops (Snap Trap / Snaptrap, Piranacon/Pirranacon, Overbite/Jawbreaker).

Can I interest anyone in doing a little bit of comparative research on Headmasters profiles?

As I recall, seven Headmasters got A-Z entries in the 1988 UK annual, with box art. If they follow the same pattern as the Seacons, they will be based on the tech-specs blurb but not the TFU entries. But then some of them got a second A-Z entry in Collected Comics specials, with the TFU art rather than the toy box art. (And Apeface got his first A-Z in Collected Comics, as the annual missed out the Horrorcons.) I don't have these any more, but I'd like to know whether the Collected Comics A-Z entries of the likes of Brainstorm replicated the text from the UK annual, or whether they were based on the text from the TFU entry that provided the artwork.

Martin

[Grand Moff Muffin]

5. TENTAKIL

Tech-specs:

Crushes submarines like they were soda cans. The more benevolent he appears, the crueler he becomes. Electomagnetic tentacles add super strength to his vice-like grip. Electrically-charged feelers short circuit and stun on contact. In robot mode, carries dual slime lasers that shoot globs of highly-adhesive gelatinous goo. In weapons mode, transforms to twin 50,000 volt lightning rifles. Also able to burst away in a cloud of viscous black grease that hinders his pursuers. Combines with fellow seacons to form Piranacon.

Transformers A-Z:

Profile: Tentakil comes on like he's your oldest friend. To his enemies it appears that he wouldn't harm them for the world. He just wants to be friends... until he's within reach. Then his tentacles strike faster than the eye can follow. His powerful embrace can crush a submarine like it was a tin can. The more benevolent he appears, the crueler he becomes. He likes to prolong his victims' agony.

Abilities: In squid mode, Tentakil's electromagnetic tentacles add super strength to his vice-like grip. Electrically charged feelers short circuit and stun on contact. Tentakil is able to burst away in a cloud of viscous black grease, which hampers pursuers. In robot mode he carries a 50,000 volt lightning gun and a dual slime laser that shoots highly adhesive gelatinous goo. He combines with his fellow Seacons to form Pirranacon.

Weaknesses: Tentakil's 'friendly approach' tactic is a one shot gimmick. A wise opponent is unlikely to let him get near enough to strike.

Transformers Universe:

Profile: Don't be deceived by Tentakil's gentle touch and soothing words - he is undeniably the cruelest, deadliest Seacon. His style is as distinctive as it is lethal: he showers a potential victim with kindness, offering him help, even complimenting his appearance. And then, once he has gained the confidence of his victim, Tentakil moves in for the kill. In a flash, kindness turns to cruelty. The soft caress of his limbs turns into a deadly, unyielding stranglehold. He seems to take a perverse pleasure in these amiable charades, enjoying them even more than their inevitable, lethal conclusions. As his fellow Seacon, Nautilator, likes to say about him, "Tentakil can charm the fuel right out of your chassis." And given half a chance, he will.

Abilities: In octopus mode, Tentakil can crush a submarine as if it were a soda can. Powerful electromagnets embedded within his tentacles enhance his strength to awesome proportions, giving Tentakil the vise-like grip that he is infamous for. Electrically charged feelers on his tentacles' surfaces can short-circuit and stun anything of an electrical nature on contact. While retreating, he can discharge a cloud of viscous black grease to hinder any pursuers. In weapons mode, he turns into twin 50,000 volt lightning rifles, which can operate on land and sea. He is insulated from any electrical attacks himself, so the rifles can't electrocute him underwater. In robot and octopus modes, he wields dual laser-guided slime blasters, which shoot globs of highly adhesive gelatinous goo. He combines with his fellow Seacons to form the super-robot Piranacon.

Weaknesses: A mysterious short circuit in his wiring often inhibits Tentakil's ability to transform from one mode to another. This causes him severe problems when he's stuck in robot mode underwater, or octopus mode on land. In these situations, the modes are poorly suited for the environments. In fact, on land, his octopus mode is more likely to keel over than take a step.

[Pinwig]

I don't have a full set of CC issues so I probably don't have the right ones. Very patchy after about #13

[Philip Ayres]

Jul 13, 2019 14:37:08 GMT Pinwig said:

I would imagine that's because the Annual the A-Z entries appeared in was published in August 1988, but Nautilator's Universe entry didn't appear until issue #59 of the US comic, which went on sale August 1989.

The A-Z entries existed long before that. They are mentioned IIRC in issue 41 of the US comic - Blaster vs Grimlock on the moon tfwiki.net/wiki/Totaled! - where the plan was to do a second TFU limited series along the lines of Marvel Universe update. That fell through and the TFU entries were recycled as space saving backup in the US comics, reducing script and art costs per issues.

That's why there's only extra TFU entries for the 87-88 toys, the 89-90 toys weren't around when the new TFU was written.

[Grand Moff Muffin]

And finally...

6. OVERBITE/JAWBREAKER

Tech-specs:

A menacing, mechanical monster. Prowls the ocean depths for his next victim. Unrelenting and unbeatable underwater combat. Teeth and talons can tear through solid slabs of concrete and steel. Liquid-cooled, turbo-powered engine enables him to reach speeds up to 70mph. In weapons mode converts to a double barrelled tidal wavemaker. In robot mode carries jawbreaker cannon that shoots metal eating, salt-based corrosives. Combines with fellow Seacons to form Piranacon.

Transformers A-Z:

Profile: Relentless. That really sums Jawbreaker up. Once he is given a task to perform, or a victim to destroy, he will see it through no matter what. Sleek and fearsome, Jawbreaker is almost unbeatable in underwater combat. His speed, combined with his razor sharp teeth, powerful jaws and raking talons, makes him an opponent to fear. He is known to prowl the depths, just on the off chance he'll find a likely victim.

Abilities: In shark mode, Jawbreaker's teeth and talons can tear through solid slabs of concrete and steel. Liquid cooled, turbo powered engines enable him to reach speeds of up to 70mph. His streamlined form cuts down water resistance considerably, enabling him to make fast, powerful strikes. In robot mode he carries a jawbreaker cannon that shoots metal eating, salt based corrosives. Jawbreaker combines with his fellow Seacons to form Pirranacon.

Weaknesses: Jawbreaker's desire to see the job through, sometimes places him in exposed and dangerous situations.

Transformers Universe:

Profile: A menacing, mechanical monster whose presence makes any body of water unsafe for swimming - or anything else - Overbite is just about the most dangerous creature ever to prowl the ocean depths. And perhaps he's the most obsessed, as well, for he sees his life as an endless quest for prey. As soon as he finishes off one victim, he goes hunting for another. But as much as he enjoys his work, he looks to occasionally take time off to amuse himself. For fun he chomps holes into the sides of oil tankers and sinks cruise ships. As Overbite likes to point out, "The only thing better than swimming through an oil slick is swimming through an oil slick full of drowning fleshlings."

Abilities: In shark mode, Overbite is virtually unbeatable in underwater combat. His attack is unrelenting. His teeth and talons can tear through the hull of a battleship. His liquid cooled, turbo-powered 3,500 horsepower engine propels him through the water at up to 70 knots. He never needs to surface, except for regular maintenance checkups. He carries a freeze beam blaster that can trap any underwater prey in a block of ice. He can transform to an amphibious weapons-base mode, in which he can create tidal waves by wagging his tail at super speed. His front end converts to a jawbreaker cannon, which shoots powerful metal-eating, salt-based corrosives. In this mode, when his fellow Seacons combine to form the super-robot Piranacon, Overbite serves as Piranacon's hand held weapon. Overbite also uses the jawbreaker cannon in robot mode.

Weaknesses: Although virtually unbeatable underwater in shark mode, Overbite is quite literally like a fish out of water in robot mode on land. There he is slow, awkward and relatively weak. Needless to say, he prefers to remain aswim.

[Pinwig]

Jul 13, 2019 16:32:28 GMT Grand Moff Muffin said:

Can I interest anyone in doing a little bit of comparative research on Headmasters profiles?

I seem to have two. These are from CC13. I don't have any more. These seem to be abbreviated from the Universe versions and use the right art, but then CC13 went on sale July 1989 and Apeface's Universe entry was in TFUS #47, which went on sale August 1988. So it's the other way round to the Seacons - these profiles would have been easily available when the UK came to do them. If anything the UK ones seem cut down/reworded just to fit the space they needed to go in.

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Jul 14, 2019 7:17:46 GMT Pinwig said:

I seem to have two.

Thank you. Those are the only two I remember for sure, so it may be that only Brainstorm had an A-Z profile in the 1988 annual and also in Collected Comics (the annual skipped the Horrorcons).

These seem to be abbreviated from the Universe versions and use the right art

Like almost all the A-Z entried in the regular UK comic.

Moment of truth time... Let's look at Brainstorm's A-Z in the 1988 annual...

Profile: So full of ideas that he often begins telling you a new one before he's fully explained the last one. Bonded with the mysterious medical doctor Arcana with whom he's originally worked to devise the technology that created the Headmasters.

Abilities: In jet mode, maximum speed: 5,200mph. Carries two high energy photon pulse cannons. Range: 8,000 miles.

Weaknesses: Sometimes overheats and shorts out sections of his cerebro circuitry.

Very disappointing - the annual A-Z adds nothing original to the tech-specs:

So full of ideas that he often begins disclosing a new one before he finishes explaining an old one. Worked with the mysterious Nebulan medical doctor, Arcana, to whom he's binary-bonded, to devise technology that created the Headmasters. In jet mode, maximum speed: 5200mph. Range: 8000 miles. In robot mode, carries high-energy photon pulse cannons. Sometimes overheats and shorts out sections of his cerebro-circuitry.

At least the Seacon A-Zs made up some new stuff. The Headmasters ones (in the annual) just take the tech-specs blurb and repackage it as profile/abilities/weaknesses.

And then we have the full TFU entry:

Profile: Brainstorm is so full of ideas that often he's disclosing the next one before he's finished explaining the first. His mind seems to work at a fevered pace. Even when he's not consciously applying himself to thinking creatively, a part of his subconscious circuitry proceeds on its own - he often interrupts conversations, battles, even himself with typically irrelevant, but brilliant, pronouncements. On Cybertron, he felt unappreciated, since warriors were valued far more than robot geniuses. He's found Nebulos to be more fertile ground in which to plant his ideas. His most significant contribution so far has been devising a way to install the humanoid Nebulans into headless Autobots to create the Headmasters.

Arcana's genius is a bit more mysterious. Trained as a medical doctor, the Nebulan quickly rose to the top of his field, but he found his job unchallenging, so he turned his attentions to studying the ancient lore of Nebulos. He became learned in many sciences that had long been repudiated, which earned him the disfavor of many of his medical colleagues. Arcana combined some of that ancient knowledge with his modern medical skills to bio-engineer Nebulans, including himself, so they could transform and become the heads of the Autobot Headmasters. Working with Brainstorm, Arcana made Fortress Maximus's vision of the Headmasters a reality. He is the oldest Nebulan among the Autobot Headmasters, and the wisest. He is also the most remote - no one truly can fathom the workings of Arcana's mind, not even Brainstorm, who shares it.

Abilities: In jet mode, Brainstorm has two solid-fuel after-burning turbofan jet engines that propel him to a maximum speed of 5200 mph. He carries two high-energy photon pulse cannons on either side of his nose module, which he can also use in robot mode. His range is 8000 miles.

Weaknesses: Brainstorm's mind sometimes works so fast that he overheats and shorts out sections of his cerebro-circuitry, which often leaves him disabled. In jet mode, his engines are also prone to overheating. If driven too hard, they burst into flame. If Brainstorm is lucky, he can manage to glide back to the ground without crashing.

Martin

[Grand Moff Muffin]

RODIMUS PRIME

Possibly the only character whose A-Z entry (a full page in TFUK #150) is indisputably superior to his TFU entry.

Tech-specs:

A vanguard for the Autobot ranks. Possesses acute military prowess. Speaks with the savvy of seasoned veteran. Expert tactician with exceptional maneuverability in battle. Can be hot-headed at times. Has a tendency to act first and ask questions later. In robot mode, carries a photon eliminator that shoots high voltage electricity. Range: 500 miles. Speed: 200mph. Sole purpose is to protect all life. His only weakness is his compassion for other living creatures.

Transformers A-Z:

Profile: Rodimus Prime is the matured, transformed version of Hot Rod. During the battle between Hot Rod and Galvatron, within Unicron, the Matrix Holder (containing the essence of the energy being, Primus) responded to Hot Rod's touch, recognising him as the next true leader of the Autobots, and opened, bathing him in the Matrix's essence. He grew in strength and wisdom to assume the mantle of leadership as Rodimus Prime. Though Prime speaks with the savvy of an experienced veteran, he can still be hot-headed at times - he has a tendency to act first and think later. He is very aware of the consequences of all his actions, and finds the strain of leadership a constant - if necessary - burden. Rodimus Prime's sole purpose is to protect all life.

Abilities: Rodimus Prime possesses acute military prowess. An expert tactician, he is also extremely manoeuvrable in battle. In robot mode he carries a photon eliminator gun, and shoots high voltage electricity from his arm mounted cannons. He is very strong and resistant to many forms of artillery. In futuristic lorry mode, he can reach speeds of 200mph for a range of 500 miles. His windscreen and bodywork are resistant to flame and bullets.

Weaknesses: Rodimus Prime's only weakness is his compassion for other living creatures.

Transformers Universe:

Profile: Rodimus Prime is the mature, transformed persona of Hot Rod. This transformation and simultaneous assumption of the Autobot leadership occured in a major battle between the Autobots and Decepticons. It is as Rodimus Prime that Hot Rod defeated Unicron and restored order to the galaxy. Rodimus Prime speaks with the savvy of a seasoned veteran. He can be hot-heated at times - he has a tendency to act first and ask questions later. Rodimus Prime's sole purpose is to protect all life.

Abilities: He possesses acute military prowess. Rodimus Prime is an expert tactician with exceptional maneuverability in battle. In robot mode, he carries a photon eliminator that shoots high voltage electricity. Range: 500 miles. Speed: 200 mph.

Weaknesses: His only weakness is his compassion for other living creatures.

[Grand Moff Muffin]

The TFWiki tfwiki.net/wiki/Transformers_AtoZ doesn't seem to know about the Apeface and Brainstorm profiles in Collected Comics.

Martin

[Pinwig]

Jul 14, 2019 12:43:10 GMT Grand Moff Muffin said:

RODIMUS PRIME

Possibly the only character whose A-Z entry (a full page in TFUK #150) is indisputably superior to his TFU entry.

Galvatron and Ultra Magnus have pretty comprehensive A-Z entries too, much better than the Universe ones.

Oh, my mistake. Those predate the A-Z format. They're in #81 and #87 when the A-Z didn't start until #89

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Jul 14, 2019 12:55:43 GMT Pinwig said:

Galvatron and Ultra Magnus have pretty comprehensive A-Z entries too, much better than the Universe ones.

Oh, my mistake. Those predate the A-Z format. They're in #81 and #87 when the A-Z didn't start until #89

Yes, I was wondering if anyone would fall into that little heffalump trap.

Martin

[Grand Moff Muffin]

[The Doctor]

THE NEW LEADERS.

-Ralph

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Other A-Zs worthy of mention are:

1. Powermaster Optimus Prime in TFUK #177, using artwork from the text story 'Prime Bomb', and still mentioning his scout car, Roller, which was printed years before the US comic printed his TFU entry.

2. The six Micromaster Patrols in the 1990 annual, which never had TFU entries. But I can't remember if they added anything to the tech-specs text or not, i.e. were they like the Seacons or like the Headmasters?

3. The Classic Heroes A-Z Updates in the 1991 annual, which used a logic-defying mixture of box art and comic art and referred to how the events in the comic had changed them since their original A-Z entries - including reference to Jazz's Pretender shell. (I have scans of these on my computer and can e-mail them if someone wants to post them on their image site for linking here.)

Martin

[Pinwig]

Jul 14, 2019 16:32:03 GMT Grand Moff Muffin said:

2. The six Micromaster Patrols in the 1990 annual, which never had TFU entries. But I can't remember if they added anything to the tech-specs text or not, i.e. were they like the Seacons or like the Headmasters?

They're very slightly expanded. There isn't any new info; someone's just made the original tech specs slightly wordier to fit the bigger space on the annual page.

[Grand Moff Muffin]

Jul 14, 2019 16:44:10 GMT Pinwig said:

They're very slightly expanded. There isn't any new info; someone's just made the original tech specs slightly wordier to fit the bigger space on the annual page.

Right, thanks, we can forget about them, then. So the Seacons and Classic Heroes annual A-Zs add something to Transformerdom, while the Headmasters and Micromasters A-Zs are no better than the tech-specs, except with better grammar.

Martin