Daily Comic Book Mission #013: Transformers Universe #1

Greetings and welcome back to your daily comic book mission from ComicBook.beer, where today I’ve got a mission for you to read Transformers Universe number one, the first collector’s item issue from December of 1986. This is a four-part series, a guide to all of the Autobots and Decepticons, their powers, their weaknesses, and more.

Sadly, the first issue features the worst Transformer, like the Snarf of the Transformers, perhaps even worse than Snarf, though not much. Bumblebee. May he be eaten by Unicron and then digested through Unicron’s mighty organs.

Now these are really cool issues, these Transformers Universes. They’re like the G.I. Joe Order of Battles, just collections of the figures, making you want to run out and buy the toys. But with lots of detail, nice artwork, good drawings of the figures, of the characters, of the actual characters. The real-life Transformers alphabetically, starting with Air Raid. And it’s actually really fun reading this again after spending some time with the new Transformers series from Image / Skybound, because I totally forgot about Beachcomber. I sort of remembered him, but now seeing him again, it’s like, okay, Beachcomber was a classic character. Allegiance: Autobot. Function: Geologist. And I guess he first appeared in Transformers 17.

"Know the conflict within before facing the conflict without."

They’ve each got their little statements, they say something. Blaster: “When the music is rockin’... “I’m rollin’.”

And then we get Blitzwing. Blitzwing was cool. I never had Blitzwing, but Blitzwing is pretty awesome because his quote is, “Destroy first, think later.” He’s a triple changer. As a jet fighter, Blitzwing can fly at Mach 2.7 with a range of 1500 miles. He carries heat-seeking concussion missiles. As a tank, he can traverse most terrain, however rugged, and can achieve a speed of 28 miles an hour. His track-mounted cannon fires an explosive shell 3.5 miles that can level a five-story brick building. In robot mode, he uses an electron scimitar, which can short-circuit any electrical device with a touch of its blade, and a gyro-blaster rifle, which disrupts the sense of balance of anyone it hits for 30 minutes. This would have been so much fun to write.

Buzzsaw. I forgot about Buzzsaw. There’s Laserbeak, there’s Buzzsaw, Cosmos… there’s Cliffjumper.

Bumblebee — ugh.

Braun. Braun was just in one of the Transformers issues. Bruticus, Broadside… totally forgot about Broadside. Broadside transforms into an aircraft carrier. Let’s see, profile: Broadside is very uncomfortable about transforming to aircraft carrier or jet mode, and with good reason. What’s the reason? Tell me more.

Floating on water upsets his gyro balance circuitry, making him feel as if he’s functioning at less than peak performance, the mechanical equivalent of seasickness, and he’s even more distressed when flying since he has a natural fear of heights. Boy, you picked the worst transforming things then, right? He strongly detests these earthen forms and is quite vocal about it, but despite everything, he manages to overcome these problems in battle. He’s an effective and valiant warrior, and his fellow Autobots value him for these qualities. They just wish Broadside would do his job without griping so much about it.

What was his first appearance? I don’t remember Broadside. I don’t remember this Transformer. That must have been a later one. Where are we here? Does it say? It doesn’t say. Was Broadside ever in anything? Maybe it’s like when they put Rocky in the G.I. Joe team. I’ll take him out later.

Devastator, Dirge, Dive Bomb. Dive Bomb was cool. The Predacons, yeah, I had one Predacon. I never had all of them. Predacons were cool.

Frenzy. Frenzy is cool. Also, it’s a great video game. Rounding out this issue here on the last page is one of everybody’s favorite Transformers. I’m talking about Grimlock. That’s right, me Grimlock. I like this issue a lot. That’s why I’m recommending it today. It’s a change of pace, too. I spent a lot of time yesterday going through King Conan. King Conans are tough to talk about quickly, there’s so much going on in some of those issues.

There’s Bruticus. Bruticus is in some of the recent Transformers issues. It’s really cool how they draw Bruticus.

Dirge. I don’t remember Dirge. What are Frenzy’s weaknesses? Okay, see, this would be good for battle. Frenzy’s one of the cassettes that played in Soundwave. Weaknesses: like his brother Rumble, Frenzy’s small stature limits his physical strength, but his abilities make him difficult to get near. A very cool logical reaction to his manic onslaught is often an effective way of countering his intimidating effect. Also, probably a giant hammer. The cassettes weren’t that tough.

And there you have it. Your daily comic book mission. Go out out there and pick up a copy of Transformers Universe. I have no idea what these are going for these days, but it’s a lot of fun if you like the Transformers because they are packed with detail. The credits go to the who’s who of everybody that’s ever worked on Transformers.

Bob Budiansky, Herb Trimpe. Let’s see, John Romita. John Romita’s Raiders did some work on it. We got Pat Brousseau, Paul Bekden, lots of familiar names in here.

So, now you know, and knowing is half the battle. That’s the wrong franchise. Transformers Universe, issue number one is your daily comic book mission. By this I command!