Tftember: Transformers#58

    "All the Familiar Faces!" the Transformers#58 (November 1989) with credits to Simon Furman (script), Jose Delbo (pencils), Dave Hunt (inks), Nelson Yomtov (colors), Jim Massara (letters), and Don Daley (editor)

Ratchet has been challenged by Megatron to bring Starscream back to life using the most advanced medical tech on Cybertron. He has taken the challenge, mostly due to his being threatened but also the sheer nature of the work. He also eyes the three Autobot bodies he brought with him from Earth...

While Prime fights the Decepticons on Earth, Ratchet finishes his work. Starscream lives! Sort of; his broken body has to be kept in a large outer shell to help the healing plus his mind has been reworked to be 100% loyal to Megatron. He's no fool after all. 

While Starscream begins his assualt on Earth, Megatron prepares to kill Ratchet but remember those Autobots he brought with him? Yeah, meet the Autobot Pretenders!

Decent and yes, this is yet another shilling the toy episode but it's handled well enough to build tension. 

TFtember: Jetfire

Jetfire 

Or Skyfire, if you prefer

A figure that in all likelyhood will NEVER be reissued. It began life as a VF-1S Super Valkyrie from Macross and it was made by Takatoku Toys. As best as I can tell the whole thing came about for two reasons. 1) Hasbro was in dire need of need toys for Series 2 2) Takatoku was in dire need of money thus they lent the molds to Hasbro. The figure is a real beauty, going from robot to jet to a 'guardian mode' which you'd be familiar with if you caught any episodes of Robotech.  

The filecard doesn't go in a whole of detail. He's the fastest and seems interested in science but there's nothing to suggest he's a proper scientist. He's also so high tech he can prone to mechanical failure. 

The comics painted a different picture. He started out as a Decepticon but also a mindless one. Yeah, he was built at the same time as the Constructicons but unlike them he had no personality. Thankfully Buster, when he briefly had Creation Matrix powers, and Bumblebee managed to alter Jetfire's programing and give him free will. He later would be used pretty much anytime the Autobots needed air support until he was blown up by Starscream, although later materiel suggested he was simply injured and not dead. 

The cartoon, where he was voiced by Gregg Berger, was a sort of blend of the comic and the filecard. In the show, Skyfire (can't seem to find a reason for the name change) was originally a scientist alongside Starscream. In fact they were the closest of chums but during a scouting mission to what would become Earth, Skyfire was lost in a storm and crashed, only being thawed out millions of years later. 

He would at first be a loyal Decepticon but after seeing how they acted he switched sides to the Autobots. He was then buried again but got thawed later. He also acted as their air support/taxi for the rest of the series. He was later seen being shot (but not overtly killed) in the episode "Dark Awakening". 

All told, disappointing waste of a character. Lots of potential, especially his past with Starscream but they barely did anything aside from using him as transport. 

Tftember: The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2

"The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2", the Transformers, November 26, 1985

Optimus has finished refurbishing the the old jets into new robots but since Megatron has the key there isn't much he can do. Alpha Trion has an alternative-namely he'll use up all his energy to power the computer and thus give the jets life. Before Prime can object the old fellow up and does that. He dies but that's enough to power in the computer to give the new jets life. 

The newly dubbed Aerialbots are impressive but Trion's ghost warns them that the Key of Vector Sigma will have strange effects on Earth. That doesn't bother the Aerialbots, who proceed to demonstrate their ability to form Superion is darn nice and an almost complete rout of the Decepticons. 

But can the Autobots get the key back before the Earth is destroyed?

Decent although the episode is a rather hard shill for the Stunticons and Aerialbots, the fight scenes keep things moving along. 

TFtember: Transformers#57

   "The Resurrection Gambit!" the Transformers#57 (October 1989) with credits to Simon Furman (script), Jose Delbo (pencils), Dave Hunt (inks), Nel Yomtov (colors), Jim Massara (letters), and Don Daley (editor)

Somehow, Megatron has come back. Ratchet is not having this, but Megatron skips over the details of resurrection and moves right into explaining his master plan. 

Back on Earth, Optimus Prime and the rest of the Autobots are having issues with the Decepticon Micromasters, which grow when Scorpinok arrives. Looks like Ratchet is on his own...

Rather not spoil this one but the story and possible return hinted at? Brillant work easily the best use of the trope. 

Tftember: Inferno

Inferno

So we're looking at a guy whose name has been both an Autobot and a Terrorcon. He started out a Diaclone and aside from the few safety requirements was pretty much the same as his Japanese version. 

The next figure in Generation one was an Action Master. Rather good with ball joints and came with the biggest dang gun in the entire line I think. There was also a European Classic line, with was the exact same as his American version.

The file card has him as a cowboy cop who plays by his own rules. Yup, he might stop fighting a forest fire to go fist fight with a Decepticon. He loves fighting fire and a fighting period. 

The comics were a different story. He didn't show up in the American comics until#78 and pretty much stayed in the background until the series ended. He did have a longer career in the UK comics, actually having action and doing things. 

The cartoon was voiced by Walker Edmiston. He didn't much aside from hosing things down and working with Red Alert in the background. He apparently dated Firestar, for whatever that's worth. 

Seriously, a guy who's whole deal is being in the background no matter the medium. That's almost impressive. 

TFtember: The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1

"The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1", the Transformers, November 25, 1985

In which we met the Stunticons for the first time

The Autobots are hauling some new super fuel back to base when the Decepticons attack! Thankfully there is a tunnel nearby and the jets are driven off. Megatron isn't happy. 

So he has his troops steal different types of cars and trucks and with a little elbow grease they bring them to life, sort of. They don't have any personalities and that's bad apparently. Prime, learning about this, realizes the next step is going to the massive supercomputer Vector Sigma in order to implant personalities, despite this never being brought up before. 

Seriously, the Dinobots were built on Earth and so were the Constructicons (at least in one telling). 

Shockwave radios in, letting the Decepticons that while finding the computer was easy there's a component missing-the key! Which is in the possession of Alpha Trion. 

 When the Decepticons arrive back on Cybertron, Trion puts up a good fight but he's no match. The Decepticons get the key and quickly give the Stunticons personalities. They're all wild but they're willing to listen to Megatron at least. 

The Autobots arrive too late. They manage to save Trion but they fail to stop the Stunticons from becoming alive. Despairing, they notice some ancient rockets and jets buried in the rubble near the computer. If the Decepticons can increase their ranks, why not the Autobots?

Back on Earth, the Stunticons make their move, with a confused populace now convinced the Autobots have turned bad...

Decent; I mean, we've never seen Vector Sigma before and we won't see it again so the retcon is a bit muddled; plus the Stunticons are a bit bland aside from a generic 'rah, I'm a bad guy' moments. 

TFtember: Transformers#56

    "Back from the Dead" the Transformers#56 (September 1989) with credits to Simon Furman (script), Jose Delbo (pencils), Dave Hunt (inks), Nel Yomtov (colors), Jim Massara (letters), and Don Daley (editor)

Ratchet's been plagued by nightmares lately, although you can't fault the medic for that. Optimus Prime pops by for a pep talk and to insist Ratchet get some downtime. 

He doesn't get it as more Micromasters attack. A new group, claiming to be the Autobot Sports Car Patrol, help the Autobots out and offer Ratchet a lift back to Cybertron. Seeing this as a golden opportunity to get his friends fixed with a proper medical bay, Ratchet leaps at the chance...but things aren't what they seem...

Darn good. Furman makes the most of his first issue and brings back some old favorites.