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Post by Pinwig on Apr 17, 2018 18:06:45 GMT
30 Years Ago This Week: Issue #162 Pretender to the Throne! - Part 1: Ethan Zachary plays games with the backup he took of Optimus Prime's consciousness, but can't convince the former Autobot leader that he is actually real. Zachary makes a connection to Prime's past and contacts Sparkplug, who hangs up on him after ranting about how the Transformers ruined his life. Having bugged his father's house, Spike hears the call aboard the Steelhaven, and Goldbug is dispatched in his newly rebuilt body to investigate. Goldbug finds Zachary, and the pair dispatch Prime electronically into the research laboratory occupied by Scorponok's Decepticons. There, Prime's conscious witnesses the birth of the Decepticon Pretenders. Elsewhere, Transformation is very excited about the arrival of the Pretenders, but warns that only six of the twelve debuting in the story are actually in toy shops; readers are advised their amazing free self-adhesive badge can be " displayed on clothes and bags"; and on the letters page, Grimlock informs David Place of Driffield that the lack of water on Cybertron didn't stop the creation of the Seacons because they were created for 'off-world' combat, but that Cybertron has its own seas, including the " great rust sea" which " stretches from the borders of Tyrest to Polyhex".
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Post by Pinwig on Apr 17, 2018 18:09:39 GMT
My copy of this issue still has the sticker on the front. It's a bit of a comedown really - Special Teams had the poster and the booklet to stick the cards in, Headmasters had the data scan thing. Pretenders just get a sticker, which the editorial is almost embarrassed to make suggestions as to what to do with it.
This cover is weird too - even if it shows the shell opening the right way, it makes it look like a sarcophagus.
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Post by The Doctor on Apr 17, 2018 22:05:14 GMT
30 years of Pretenders! Golly!
I loved the sticker. Mine was used!
-Ralph
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Post by Philip Ayres on Apr 17, 2018 22:48:15 GMT
This issue's TF story, and the next, was sold in the USA as Transformers 40 tfwiki.net/wiki/Pretender_to_the_Throne! www.mikesamazingworld.com/mikes/features/comic.php?comicid=59161Cover Date: May 1988 On Sale Date: January 26, 1988 However it's solicitation in Marvel Age 61 p5 makes interesting readingBut for the title that sounds awfully like US TF 41/UKL TF 174-5 tfwiki.net/wiki/Totaled! Here's what I think happened: US TF40 S.R.O. was nearing completion as the conclusion of Fort Max and the Headmasters arrival on Earth when the word came down from Hasbro that an issue was needed to plug the Pretenders Oh and by the way can we have something to plug the Powermasters and the new Optimus Prime soon as well? 40 Pretender to the Throne is written and drawn quickly, using the trap door that Budiansky's had in mind for some while for bringing Optimus back. SRO is then reworked as Totalled, inserting the brief bits with Bumblebee and the Autobot Powermasters which becomes US41. US42 is done in a bit of a rush too, leading to a lot of Delbo using the stock images, especially for PM Op. Delbo's colapsing in a heap so issue US43 is an inventory issue, the Big Broadcast of 2006 and 44 is used to close off the other hanging plot thread of Sky Lynx and the Sacehikers with Frank Springer filling in on art. Because the new US issue 40 was a late production it wasn't ready for when the UK were expecting it, to close off the Headmasters story, so the previous two UK originated issues get brought forward to plug the gap.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Apr 17, 2018 22:54:50 GMT
(just added the above to the Wiki!)
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The Huff
Thunderjet
Hufferlover
Posts: 4,227
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Post by The Huff on Apr 22, 2018 16:26:59 GMT
Always frustrated me that there was no story showing Prime actually getting leadership back from Grimlock/Blaster/Fort Max. He is just suddenly in charge again (and using Fort Max as a boat).
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on Apr 22, 2018 17:15:58 GMT
Always frustrated me that there was no story showing Prime actually getting leadership back from Grimlock/Blaster/Fort Max. He is just suddenly in charge again (and using Fort Max as a boat). I think the UK annual text story 'The Quest' in which a time-traveller from the future viewed scenes from the TF war, referred to the scene where Prime talked Grimlock into returning the leadership to him. But I don't think it gave many details. Martin
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Post by Pinwig on Apr 24, 2018 18:31:59 GMT
30 Years Ago This Week: Issue #163 Pretender to the Throne! - Part 2: The Autobots create their own Pretenders while the Decepticon equivalents begin to attack RAAT forces outside the lab. Prime is sent back into the Deception lair digitally, while the Pretenders clash in the real world. Goldbug connects his visual receptors to Ethan's computer so Prime can see the battle and take command, but even when the Autobots win, Prime doesn't realise that he is far more than just a computer program. Elsewhere, There's a competition for fifty lucky readers to win one of the brand new Pretender toys by identifying the toy gimmicks introduced by Guzzle, Scorponok and Swindle; Alf appears in an advert to shout " Tom Cruise!" and promote his new monthly Marvel comic (on sale now for 35p); and on the letters' page, Grimlock asks readers to STOP sending him photos of packaging for Sky Lynx and Trypticon, conceding they are the genuine article.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Apr 24, 2018 18:33:32 GMT
on the letters' page, Grimlock asks readers to STOP sending him photos of packaging for Sky Lynx and Trypticon, conceding they are the genuine article. Mumble, groan, winge, I never saw them :-(
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Post by Benn on Apr 24, 2018 21:07:52 GMT
There was a Sky Lynx in our house, (belonging to Ed) but no Trypticon.
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Post by The Doctor on Apr 24, 2018 21:48:55 GMT
Prime appearing on a flat screen telly 20 years ahead of its time!
-Ralph
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Post by Fortmax2020 on Apr 25, 2018 7:52:27 GMT
I note it is still rounded on the edges though like an old CRT.
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Post by The Doctor on Apr 25, 2018 8:09:21 GMT
Cybertronian technology.
-Ralph
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The Huff
Thunderjet
Hufferlover
Posts: 4,227
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Post by The Huff on Apr 26, 2018 14:26:48 GMT
I'm just happy that the 'angle' of the picture of Prime on the TV is drawn correct. Not many things annoy me more than a screen drawn at an angle where the image/character is also drawn at the same angle as though it is 3D. The cartoon did this lots. (Not sure if I'm making sense, but I know what I mean).
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Post by The Doctor on Apr 26, 2018 18:29:33 GMT
I know what you mean and it drives me batty too.
-Ralph
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Post by inflatabledalek on Apr 26, 2018 18:45:55 GMT
The Next Generation used to do that deliberately with the bridge viewscreen to suggest it was 3D, Prime' s futuristic TV probably should be the same!
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Post by Pinwig on May 1, 2018 17:33:55 GMT
30 Years Ago This Week: Issue #164 City of Fear! - Part 1: The Cybertronian city-state Kalis has become infested with undead Transformers intent on ripping apart anyone who strays into its districts. On Earth, Ultra Magnus and the Sparkler Minibots discuss returning to their homeworld to report on Galvatron, unknowingly heading for the now deserted Autobot base in the self-same city. On arriving, the Autobots have little time to register the curiously quiet atmosphere before being attacked by Decepticons. In the fight they capture Flywheels, who expresses alarm at being taken to Kalis when he realises where he is. As he does, hands sprout from the ground and grasp at Magnus and the others. Elsewhere, Transformation sets up the forthcoming run of UK stories by informing readers of who will be drawing each of the next nine issues; on the letters' page Grimlock deals sarcastically with the question of why Overbite was called Jawbreaker in the recent story featuring the Seacons; and Combat Colin unveils his combat kilt as he heads to Scotland to uncover the mystery of the Loch Ness Monster.
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Post by Benn on May 1, 2018 19:31:23 GMT
To be fair, Jawbreaker is a better name.
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Post by Pinwig on May 1, 2018 20:07:33 GMT
True!
I can't help but feel the effort going into explaining this kind of problem is pretty poor at this point though. Compared to the Swoop/Divebomb days.
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Post by The Doctor on May 1, 2018 21:07:39 GMT
The Jawbreaker/Overbite conundrum caused much consternation for young Ralph.
-Ralph
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Post by Pinwig on May 8, 2018 19:10:30 GMT
30 Years Ago This Week: Issue #165City of Fear! - Part 2: Magnus and the others are attacked and only manage to survive when Flywheels pitches in and the Minibots use their sparkler exhausts to burn the zombies. Magnus realises he is fighting undead Autobots and ponders the possibility of returning them to life. Flywheels suggests jamming the signal that is controlling them and points out the Baird Beaming Transmitter. Magnus succeeds just in time while the others hold off the undead. He discovers that the signal controlling them is coming from deep underground. Elsewhere, Transformation warns readers to look out for Dragon's Teeth, a new US format Marvel title on sale at the end of May; Action Force finishes reprinting GI Joe's fiftieth issue with the reveal of Zartan's sister, Zarana; and on the letters' page, Grimlock allays reader fears that this year's Transformers annual will be split between both titles by announcing that both Transformers and Action Force will have their own books.
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Post by The Doctor on May 8, 2018 21:40:22 GMT
Why has it taken me 30 years to notice that the zombie is reaching for Ultra Magnus' crotch? No wonder he looks so worried!
-Ralph
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Post by Pinwig on May 8, 2018 22:07:33 GMT
Because when you were a child you were innocent!
I hadn't even thought about that until I read Stuart's write up for the issue. He can't resist a bit of smut.
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Post by Pinwig on May 15, 2018 16:29:45 GMT
30 Years Ago This Week: Issue #166 Legion of the Lost! - Part 1: A mysterious figure observes Magnus and the others on the surface of Cybertron before beginning to recount events prior to their arrival. Three weeks previously, a massive explosion wreaks havoc in Kalis, heard by the Wreckers in their secret base beneath. They determine the blast was caused by a venting fusion reactor, installed by Megatron in the distant past when he intended Cybertron to become a mobile battle station. As Springer waits for technicians to find a lead on the reactor's location, he questions his own leadership and wishes Impactor hadn't died. He becomes indecisive when the base is attacked by the undead Transformers, and despairs when he comes face to face with the animated remains of his former leader. Elsewhere, unbeknownst to the comic at the time, this week it reaches the half way point in its 332 issue run. Transformation gets excited about the imminent arrival of Action Force Monthly, on sale 19th May; Voltan from the planet Zarg bursts into the middle of the main strip to request help from Earthlings to supply his dehydrated planet with Quosh orange drink; and the A-Z examines Inferno and Ironhide.
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Post by The Doctor on May 15, 2018 21:42:42 GMT
I remember really liking Quosh, I drink it: biff bash bosh!
-Ralph
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Post by Grand Moff Muffin on May 16, 2018 5:46:05 GMT
Into the mix they tossed A tale called Legion of the Lost. Our heroes the mighty Wreckers Should have eaten Double-Deckers As they seemed to lack their power. It was not their finest hour!
Then Impactor Became a factor.
Iacon was where he died, So it's a convoluted plot aside That he ended up in Kalis Far from the capital's ruined palace. Did the Wreckers bring his body along? That strikes me as very wrong. It makes Cybertron seem very small. What were the odds? Not high at all.
Flame's to blame.
Martin
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Post by Pinwig on May 17, 2018 18:52:05 GMT
Possibly worth noting as we track the events of Marvel 30 years ago, that new fortnightly title Galaxy Rangers debuted last week, thirty years ago.
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Post by The Doctor on May 17, 2018 20:57:01 GMT
I had all nine issues, The 'Fabulous News' caused tissues.
-Ralph
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Post by Pinwig on May 22, 2018 18:55:19 GMT
30 Years Ago This Week: Issue #167 Legion of the Lost! - Part 2: Xaaron tries to talk to Impactor but is interrupted by Flame, an Autobot scientist, who reveals himself to be behind the zombies. He was cast out by the Autobots in the past for trying to continue Megatron's work with the planetary engines, but went into hiding to escape being stopped a second time. Flame departs, leaving Impactor to guard Xaaron and the others. Xaaron persuades the disheartened Springer to use his jumping ability to try and free them, but Impactor grabs hold of him as he does and they both burst through the skylight above the cell. Springer manages to reach Impactor's true self for a moment, but leaves to try an save Cybertron. Elsewhere, it's a busy issue! Transformation announces new Marvel UK title 'Dragon's Teeth' is on sale now, and there's a special half page introduction to the comic, complete with the unused 'Teeth' logo. Death's Head's 'High Noon Tex' strip makes an incongruous appearance; the Pretenders get their first toy advert (complete with tagline "Pretenders Hide the Transformers Inside!"); and on the letters' page, Grimlock can't explain to John Butcher of Bishop's Stortford how Optimus, Hot Rod and Galvatron can all appear in the Headmasters video together, condescendingly claiming that the makers probably don't know either.
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Post by The Doctor on May 22, 2018 20:51:02 GMT
I refuse to accept that Dragon's Claws was 30 years ago.
-Ralph
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