Transformers #38 - Video Review by 80s Comics

Is everyone ready. It is Transformers issue number 38 from March of 1988 here on 80s comics. Transformers Headmasters continues in Transformers the regular series number 38. You get a sweet cover with Scorponok fighting Fortress Maximus while some irritating little squishy humans get in the way.

Trial by Fire. This issue picks up after the Headmasters leave planet Nebulas in Transformers Headmasters issue number four. It is a cliffhanger. It is Fortress Maximus being doubled in size and quadrupled in strength. Everyone got that. It is a badass robot right there. You need to run out to KB Toys and buy three of them. And that is Galen. Galen is the leader of the Autobot Headmasters, a good guy with a Prince Adam haircut. And he transforms into Fortress Maximus’s head. That is what the Headmasters do. They are humans that transform into robot heads that then work with the robots to fight their enemies. It makes no sense, but it probably made for some pretty cool toys.

Here is the creative team. Bob Budiansky once again doing the writing. Jose Delbo doing the pencils. The coloring is really good in this issue, so I have to give a shout‑out to Nell Yamtas. Great colors, good ink quality too in this particular book. Does everyone remember that they left Nebulas because the war was going to destroy it. And if war is our fate, then let us welcome it. It is not a moment too soon, Brainstorm. We are nearing our destination. And bold type, Fortress Maximus must be there when we get there.

I have to give a shout‑out to Bill Oakley too. I cannot even read my own handwriting, and Bill Oakley’s handwriting is so good that you can read it in the future. After the final Headmasters issue, they leave planet Nebulas and travel to planet Earth where they have received a distress call. Everyone following along with me here. Very good. There is Galen’s sweet necklace. His blouse with the little space symbol on it from the early issues of Headmasters. There is his idiot ex‑girlfriend. Frankly, he is better off without her.

And they travel to Earth. And here is a look at that new Fortress Maximus. The upgraded Fortress Maximus transforms into that thing. Never had Fortress Maximus, but that does look pretty cool. That is a toy worth buying right there. Cut away to the sweet Sega Master System ad and Buster’s brother is Spike Witwicky, right. Is it Spike. Spike is Buster’s brother back from college. Spike is looking for Buster, travels to Mount St. Hilary, which is where the Ark, the Autobots’ base, is. Meanwhile, the Headmasters are flying from Nebulas to Earth to investigate this Autobot distress signal.

They reintroduce all the Headmasters and the artwork is pretty good in this series. It is not as good as Frank Springer’s art. Paper quality and ink quality are actually pretty good, but this one is drawn by Jose Delbo. Not familiar with him, but it is nice. It looks good. Frank Springer is, to me, really the epitome of Transformers artwork, but the artwork is nice in this particular issue. Colors look really good.

And Jose does a nice job drawing the computers. In short, this entire issue leads up to one giant battle between the Autobots and Decepticons, of course, because there is Zarak. Zarak and the Decepticons also left Nebulas toward Earth. The Autobot Headmasters are already on Earth, and there is a giant battle scene. And I love how all of the 80s comics based on toys like Transformers, G.I. Joe, Thundercats, they always have these great scenes where they need to speak to each other and bold all of the character names so that you know which toys to run out and buy. Grr, I hope you shoot straighter than you think, Weirdwolf. Do not worry, Skullcruncher. These feeble fleshling lovers present no challenge to us. An empty post, Scorponok. Autobots transform and roll out. Can you say that. Is Optimus going to kick his ass for saying that.

As we make our way to the end of the issue, all the panels get really small. It is like they tried to cram a whole lot of information into the last couple pages. It is kind of ridiculous, to be honest. This is not as good as the Headmasters standalone issues, but I think they are trying to get us to run out and buy this Fortress Maximus toy. The conflict leads us deep into a volcano with molten lava, and it is well drawn, though tiny panels. There is Scorponok, who is chasing Spike. And there is Galen, who then ends up ripping off his own head and throwing it at Scorponok. And then there is a giant battle between Galen and Zarak. Two Headmasters enter the cave filled with lava and death and doom and sadness.

But only one Headmaster leaves. A real tear‑jerker at the end. A tale of woe. Things do not go well for Galen. But hey, Spike gets a promotion and a magic thought helmet, so that is good. It is Transformers issue 38. Not as awesome as the Transformers Headmasters miniseries, but still entertaining. It is a good book. Good issue. I am actually excited to pick up 39, see where it goes. It is like I stopped reading here at 38. I do not know why. Because I spent all my money on G.I. Joes and NES games back in the day. But here it is. Transformers 38. Recommended by 80scomics.com. Witness a thrilling tale of good versus evil. Giant robots fighting other giant robots comprised of other smaller giant robots which are formed from humans transforming into robot heads. It is the Headmasters. Who thought of this. It is brilliant, really. Good stuff. Number 38, recommended.