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Post by Pinwig on Mar 20, 2018 18:26:51 GMT
30 Years Ago This Week: Issue #158 The Desert Island in Space! - Part 1: Buster awakes on Decepticon Island to find Shockwave and Ratbat discussing his future. Meanwhile, Spike returns home to visit his father but is forced to reveal his new Headmaster form. He summons Fortress Maximus from the woods outside and in head mode introduces the Autobot Targetmasters, who Maximus informs Sparkplug will help him look for Buster. He summons a shuttle from the orbiting Nebulan ship and the Autobots make for Decepticon Island. As they arrive, Triple I make to attack the shuttle, but Walter Barnett, with the Throttlebots still in their toy car forms, spot an Autobot insigna on the shuttle and try to halt the attack. Elsewhere, Transformation informs readers that strange new PRETENDER Transformers will be in shops very soon, supported by a story and free gift in issue 162; Hound and Huffer feature in the A-Z; and tucked in the middle of the main strip is a free four-page Visionaries mini comic, introducing the Knights of the Magical Light and encouraging readers to buy their new comic - on sale next week!
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Post by The Doctor on Mar 20, 2018 22:18:58 GMT
I did buy the Visionaries comic that was on sale the next week! It came with a hologram!
-Ralph
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Post by Fortmax2020 on Mar 20, 2018 23:49:36 GMT
The orbiting ship is Cybertronian not Nebulan.
I loved how Spike traces the call in this issue. Has stayed in my memory ever since. The changes to him are more than just a suit of armour.
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Post by Pinwig on Mar 21, 2018 20:52:42 GMT
Yeah, sorry. I was meaning 'ship from Nebulos'.
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Post by Pinwig on Mar 27, 2018 21:15:20 GMT
30 Years Ago This Week: Issue #159 The Desert Island in Space! - Part 2: The Autobots land on Decepticon Island only to discover it is actually a heavily armoured space ship in disguise. They are repelled, but when it takes off, Fortress Maximus hitches a ride to try and save Buster. Shockwave fires a missile that skewers Max's body, but Spike detaches as Cerebros. Shockwave exits the ship to attack Cerebros, but Spike manages to remotely trigger an attack from Max's damaged body that shatters Shockwave's rockets and sends him tumbling into Earth's atmosphere. Spike manages to reach Buster, but separated by the dome encasing the top of the Decepticon ship can do nothing when it blasts off into deep space. For his courage, the Autobots adopt Spike as an honorary Autobot. Elsewhere, it's a slow news week as Transformation again plugs the new Visionaries comic; Colin and Steve debut their new combat tank, only to bring down the clock tower of the town hall with it; and on the letters' page, Grimlock interestingly reveals that most of the Head and Targetmasters are still around in 2008, but only a few are still bonded to their Nebulan companions.
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Post by The Doctor on Mar 28, 2018 7:11:33 GMT
FORT MAX GETS THE AXE!
-Ralph
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Mar 28, 2018 9:40:49 GMT
More like he get's the shaft.
Andy
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Post by Philip Ayres on Mar 28, 2018 10:01:39 GMT
I remember buying this issue and thinking the cover was a pale imitation of the US version which I already had: I thought it was Pretender to the Throne next week but it appears there's a UK story in between: Salvage!. The US order is more prominent in my mind around now and I struggle to remember what UK story fits in where.
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Mar 28, 2018 10:02:43 GMT
PHIL!!!!
How can you forget the return of Ultra Magnus and the imminent return of Lord Straxus!!
Andy
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Post by Philip Ayres on Mar 28, 2018 10:21:34 GMT
It's more like in my head the Max story is directly followed by the Pretender story.
Around this point is where the US & UK orders get altered slightly, the US fill in issue being delayed a bit in the UK, and a US story gets interrupted for a UK one.
Anyway, in case I forget can someone poke me when we get to part one of the Pretender story?
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Post by Fortmax2020 on Mar 28, 2018 14:46:47 GMT
I am still shook up by this last issue.
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Post by The Doctor on Mar 28, 2018 17:12:12 GMT
PHIL!!!! How can you forget the return of Ultra Magnus and the imminent return of Lord Straxus!! Andy Phil's Grand Galvatron is now forfeit. -Ralph
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Post by Pinwig on Apr 4, 2018 21:30:30 GMT
Oops. Out of routine. Phil has just reminded me it's past time for... 30 Years Ago This Week: Issue #160 Salvage! - Part 1: Richard Branson promotes his environmental cleanup campaign by inviting photographers to watch as Megatron and Centurion are raised from the Thames. However, before he can capitalise on this, a group of Decepticons steal their dormant bodies. The jets return to Shockwave, now reinstalled in Fortress Sinister, who begins attempts to resurrect Megatron. Meanwhile, the Sparkler Mini-bots have freed Ultra Magnus from Mount Verona, only to find his encounters with Galvatron have affected his mind. As nightmare images flood Magnus' thoughts, the real Galvatron appears behind him. Elsewhere, Transformation announces the UK classic Crisis of Command is now available again via Collected Comics 8; a Ready Brek competition invites readers to win one of ten 'Le Clic' cameras (as well as a box of the " tasty high-fibre breakfast treat"); and on the back page, a full page advert from Tempo announces The Rebirth video is out on video "at last".
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Post by The Doctor on Apr 5, 2018 7:08:50 GMT
I suspect The Rebirth ad had an effect on young Andu.
-Ralph
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Post by Pinwig on Apr 5, 2018 7:34:13 GMT
I like the way it says 'at last'. It's only about five months behind the US TV broadcast, yet the fact it was first mentioned in the comic the previous August and the competition to win copies was in September with the winners announced in January makes it sound like the whole thing was delayed. Like the US screening was supposed to be in September as with the other seasons, but got delayed for some reason. Certainly I rushed right out and bought this, and only ditched the tape (kept the cover) last year.
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Post by Pinwig on Apr 5, 2018 7:36:41 GMT
I haven't rated Bryan Hitch's covers too much so far, but this one is a really good one. I also love the temerity of Furman at this point. Keeping Shockwave alive and featuring him in a story straight after he's unceremoniously killed in the US comic is just brilliant.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Apr 5, 2018 8:35:38 GMT
There is a vague whiff of this issue and the next being rustled up in something of a hurry. Is there ever, apart from the Christmas stories, another point where there's a two issue gap between US strips? I have reason to believe that the next US story, Pretender to the throne was cobbled together in a rush and led to the fill in issue being needed for US 43 which we'll come to when we get there, which in turn might have led the UK team to want a bit of breathing space if they believe they won't have the assets available in time. It's also interesting that this 2 parter looks like the start of the next UK run of stories - 164-173 - which resume straight after Pretender to the Throne, which makes me think Salvage got yanked forward to fill a unexpected gap. More in 2 weeks time when the info is at it's most relevant....
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Post by Pinwig on Apr 5, 2018 8:58:43 GMT
Ancient Relics is between Crater Critters and The Cure, but that would have been to schedule it with Action Force.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Apr 5, 2018 9:09:18 GMT
But not common practice by any means?
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Post by Pinwig on Apr 5, 2018 9:38:23 GMT
Nope. No other occurrences up to 160.
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primenova
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
Posts: 6,045
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Post by primenova on Apr 5, 2018 11:41:08 GMT
The last issue was US #39 so that does lead some interesting details for when the US knew they had to fill in an issue (but remember the US had just done this with #33,34 which had no effect on printing in the UK) - apart from leaving the uk 2 issues less stuff to reprint.
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Post by inflatabledalek on Apr 5, 2018 14:12:33 GMT
I believe the odd placement of Ancient Relics 1 is entirely down to the needs of the Action Force comic, it's about syncing up with when it could slip in best for them.
With Pretender I think the explanation is even simpler. That's the only toy gimmick not to get a UK push story whilst they're doing original material (even the Micromasters managed it), so the compromise seems to have been running their American intro the week that was best for the parent company.
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Post by Pinwig on Apr 5, 2018 14:54:22 GMT
I wondered if it was timed to promote the new toys just before Easter, but Easter 1988 was just as early as it was this year, so it'd have been a couple of weeks after. But Easter vaguely feels right to me for old UK toy releases. It may have got swapped with Salvage because of the need to promote Richard Branson's cleanup campaign at a specific time?
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primenova
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
Posts: 6,045
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Post by primenova on Apr 5, 2018 19:22:53 GMT
The UK comic was only about a month behind to the US issue around this time - even with the UK 7 weeks part epics.
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Post by Pinwig on Apr 10, 2018 8:33:25 GMT
30 Years Ago This Week: Issue #161 Salvage! - Part 2: Megatron believes he comes face to face with both Optimus Prime and Straxus while unknowingly being subjected to Shockwave's psycho probe. The experience almost brings him to breaking point but his resolve returns. Shockwave uses this to instill a hatred of Galvatron in him. Meanwhile, Ultra Magnus undergoes a similar transformation as the Sparklers try to take on Galvatron. Regaining his courage, Magnus attacks Galvatron and forces him to retreat, swearing that the next time the two meet will be the last. Elsewhere, Transformation warns readers to look out for next week's free gift laden introduction to the Pretenders; Action Force educate readers in a special Ian Rimmer/Kev Hopgood Green Cross Code strip Road Safety - From the Air!; and Wayne Clarke of Gosport sees his conclusion to the Action Force story Battle Island! see print as the winner of WH Smith's complete the story competition is revealed.
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Post by The Doctor on Apr 10, 2018 9:24:38 GMT
SNAPTRAP!
*clicks fingers*
THE PSYCHO PROBE!
-Ralph
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Post by blueshift on Apr 10, 2018 10:09:17 GMT
30 Years Ago This Week: Issue #161 Salvage! - Part 2: Megatron believes he comes face to face with both Optimus Prime and Straxus while unknowingly being subjected to Shockwave's psycho probe. The experience almost brings him to breaking point but his resolve returns. Shockwave uses this to instill a hatred of Galvatron in him. Meanwhile, Ultra Magnus undergoes a similar transformation as the Sparklers try to take on Galvatron. Regaining his courage, Magnus attacks Galvatron and forces him to retreat, swearing that the next time the two meet will be the last. Elsewhere, Transformation warns readers to look out for next week's free gift laden introduction to the Pretenders; Action Force educate readers in a special Ian Rimmer/Kev Hopgood Green Cross Code strip Road Safety - From the Air!; and Wayne Clarke of Gosport sees his conclusion to the Action Force story Battle Island! see print as the winner of WH Smith's complete the story competition is revealed. Possibly the best issue of transformers
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Post by The Doctor on Apr 10, 2018 10:33:39 GMT
Explain your working.
-Ralph
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Post by Pinwig on Apr 10, 2018 21:00:47 GMT
I think the gulf between the US and UK writing is at its widest here. This issue is a really nicely balanced look at the mental state of two key characters. The format is typical Furman, but the thinking behind the story shows a writer who really knows how to find depths in fairly shallow characters. It's in a different class to the Spacehiker stuff.
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Post by blueshift on Apr 10, 2018 21:32:26 GMT
I think the gulf between the US and UK writing is at its widest here. This issue is a really nicely balanced look at the mental state of two key characters. The format is typical Furman, but the thinking behind the story shows a writer who really knows how to find depths in fairly shallow characters. It's in a different class to the Spacehiker stuff. And not just that, but the /style/ as well, the amount that it deftly and poetically fits in to 11 pages, the counterpointing of Magnus and Megatron... it's honestly fantastic. (I also really rate that one issue of the Ancient Relics crossover where it's only 5 pages but there's so much there, and each page is a flashback for another character that recaps the plot, moves it forward, provides character insight and leaves a cliffhanger, absolutely amazing)
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