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by Dave Scrimgeour and Kevin McCluskey    Script- Simon Furman Art- Geoff Senior Letters- Richard Starkings Colour- Gina Hart Editor- Ian Rimmer synopsisImpactor gets jumped by three triple-changing Decepticons, who turn out to be Autobots sent by Emirate Xaaron to prove their mettle, and suitability for Operation: Volcano to the Wreckers' leader. Meanwhile, back on earth, Galvatron blabs his origin story, and his masterplan to the captured Jazz, just in time for three future Autobots to arrive in 1986, with the intention of thwarting it. Dave So, we are actually just a bit more than midway through this series, issue 84, and finally a Galvatron origin story. I like Phil Gascoine’s cover, it’s very clean and technical looking. Kev Yeh, me too. I like Galvatron’s double bicep pose. Dave Galvatron looks like he's paying homage to 'The Centurions' with the old "Power X-treme" pose. Kev Ha, ha! He does a bit actually, yeh. And this is the reveal of Unicron really. Furman is making good use of the regional delay of the cinema release of ‘The Movie’ here, by getting some mileage out of unveiling how Unicron looks before anyone over here in the UK had clapped eyes on him. Dave I didn't realise this was another Furman/Senior collaboration. Kev Oh yes! Furman’s prose, with Senior’s artwork, makes this a compelling opening to this issue, in my book. Despite the fact that they are essentially just schilling three new toys to children here. Ha, ha! Dave The first page demonstrates how flamboyant Seniors art is. He’s great at dramatic looking poses and expressions.  Impactor may be a lot of things, glass jawed is not one of them. That 'bot can take a punch. Kev He definitely heightens the drama of any scene and any given situation, that's for sure. I’ll be honest though, I can’t remember if I bought into the bait of Springer, Broadside and Sandstorm being Decepticons, or not. I’m pretty sure I’d seen an advert for them on TV before I’d read this. Or maybe it was in print. Who knows? It was 35 years ago. Dave And it's clever use of the narrative about Impactor having good, bad and indifferent days, which Furman uses again later when referring to Galvatron. Kev Yep. Furman was always one to make good use of repetition like that. Dave I see so much similarity to issues of ‘Dragons Claws’ again on page 1. I did bring this up last issue as well, but I can see it so much. Kev Yeh, Senior has quite an identifiable style. Between this and 'Dragon's Claws,' do you have a preferred Senior era? Dave I’m not sure actually. I'm slightly more partial to ‘Claws.’ As you could probably tell, by the way I keep referencing it. Kev Me too. For me, I think ‘Claws’ may be Senior at his peak. Although, his more recent stuff with 'To The Death' is also excellent. Very different, stylistically, but very, very impressive nonetheless. I love his depiction of a wartorn Cybertron here too. Dave It's great narrative as well, as Furman describes, in depth, how Impactor, a heavily trained elite forces operative, is out of his depth. Kev Yeh, it's good stuff alright. It gives Furman a chance to flex his prose writing a bit. Dave The second page is equally as impressive as the first. The emergence panel of the trio, and the third panel of them in the shadows, puts me in mind of Claremont's ‘Wolverine’ story. Senior really does have a natural flamboyance to his visuals.  "No. I won't kill a helpless human being. Not even sadistic scum... like you." Kev Ah, good point about ‘The Wolverine’ comparison. It does have a bit of a Frank Miller look about it . I daresay that Miller was possibly an influence on Senior. He was an influence on most people around this time. And I like the idea that the Transformers “skin” is made of “sinews of living metal” that “stretch, blur and blend anew…..” It really helps remind you that this is indeed an alien race, whose make-up is not of this earth. Dave This was a demonstration of power by the trio, as Impactor is lucky to escape. And they want him to be aware of how much they know about Debris as well. Kev Yeh, I always found it quite amusing that Emirate Xaaron’s plan to show Impactor how capable those three are, is to have them beat the crap out of old Impactor. Dave Cunning move indeed by Xaaron, it shows how tactical the Autobots can be as well. It also shows that The Wreckers aren't invincible. It gives them a vulnerability as well. Kev That's true, he's a "wily old buzzard" indeed. And it even adds another level to the drama of the Operation: Volcano subplot that's boiling away in the background. Dave It’s putting it all on a level playing field, isn't it? There is no guaranteed winner in this conflict. Kev Definitely not. If there's one thing that The Transformers comic had established that made it different from the cartoon, it was that the good guy Autobots were certainly not always guaranteed to win. Dave Also, the good guy Autobots have a certain harshness to them when needed, which is proven by Xaaron. And also it shows that there is an element of being expendable, or replaceable, if need be. Kev Definitely. The Wreckers were just the Autobot 'Suicide Squad.' If we ever get the chance, we could do something a bit more contemporary, and do Nick Roche's 'Last Stand of the Wreckers.' I say more contemporary, but it's still over a decade old at this point. And I’m not sure that “all” of Galvatron’s “...days are good days!” Some of them in 'The Movie' were pretty terrible. Particularly when Unicron was torturing him with the colour red and the high pitched noise. Dave I love the last panel on page 4. Impactor is just totally frustrated. "I don't know whether to thank him or tear his head off!” Totally played, or what?  "Oooh, I could crush a.....communication cube." Kev Ha, ha! Yeh, the Emirate Xaaron/Impactor relationship is an interesting one alright. Dave A little bit of dry humour added in. Kev Indeed, it helps provide a little levity. “A loon’s a loon…..” according to Jazz, which is quite insightful actually, considering the way things go with Galvatron, his unravelling sanity, and his ultimate fate in 'Time Wars,' about 120 issues later. Plus, we also get this nice little interaction between Jazz and Galvatron, “I have every intention of telling you--” “Surprise, surprise!” Ha, ha! Which is another little nugget of smart dialogue. Dave Yeah, it's like they’ve already worked out that he likes to talk. Kev Definitely. Furman is toying with the Bond-villain-explaining-their-master-plan cliche a bit here. Dave Do you think Furman had a copy of the final version of the script when writing this section? Kev I think they had all seen 'The Movie' by this point, yeh, 'cause Senior's depictions of some of the events from the film look like they've been lifted straight from it. They're incredibly accurate. Dave That's what I was thinking. Because it was out in the U.S. around August time. Kev Yeh. I wonder if they were sent a 35mm print of it, or something. Dave That's a great panel of Unicron on page 6, looks straight from the movie.  Unicron's an arsehole. Kev Totally. I've always loved Senior's Cybertronian design elements and architecture. If you could even call Unicron that. In fact, I love Senior’s sci-fi design elements and architecture full stop. Dave Unicron is like a giant, menacing, floating, all seeing eye. Kev Jeez, he is a bit, isn't he? Or an all consuming sphincter, with horns. Dave Page 6 is really just a recap of the movie, but I imagine reading it at that time it would have been another “wow” moment. A movie spoiler for you. Kev It really is just a recap of a bit of the movie, yeh. But considering that we still had about six weeks still to wait until it was released over here, it was a great little tease. Dave It’s actually a pity those two small panels were on that image of Unicron. They kind-of get in the way of the aesthetic of that main panel. I know they are required, but it’s a really great panel. Kev True. It's perhaps not the best panel placement. I reckon if this was a 22 page American-style issue, that would've been a splash page. Dave It’s splash page quality. Sterling work by Senior. ‘The Movie’ was released on December 12th, nationwide in the UK. That would have been your Christmas movie, really. Even if it wasn't set around Christmas. Kev Was it the 12th, yeh? Jeez, I don't remember going to see it THAT close to Christmas. Still, a week or two to wait until Christmas seemed like a lifetime to you when you were 9 years old. Dave That second panel on page 7, of Galvatron, is good. Showing him from a ground perspective, looking up, enhances how powerful he is.  "We always hang in a (Tory) Stance." Kev Yeh, he's rocking that Tory stance. Dave Haha, nice one. An armed Tory. Kev Oh they're all armed, Dave. Maybe not with firearms, but they're certainly all armed with privilege. Dave There is never a shortage of narrative here. There's plenty of recapping of past events, and even a caption telling you to see the movie. “At a cinema near you soon.” Advertisement, or what? “Soon” is near enough a couple of months though. I wonder how long “a while” would be? Kev Ha, ha! Yep. We're selling you toys AND movie tickets with this story. Things certainly moved more slowly in the ‘80s, didn’t they? It was a more gentle pace of life. It’s interesting that Furman, who clearly has no compunctions about revealing Unicron, well certainly his planet mode, draws the line at revealing the death of Optimus Prime in ‘The Movie.’ I suppose that would have been a step too far. You wouldn't want to be responsible for traumatising a load of kids before they even got a chance to see 'The Movie.' And certainly for them NOT buying a ticket to see the film as the result of any premature reveal. Dave Yeah, I bet he was under orders to keep that one hush, hush. Again, that would have been a classic Tom Holland spoiler at the time. Kev Ha, ha! Could you imagine? I like the fact that Galvatron was going to hide his weapon under Autobot City. Although, surely the Autobots would have conducted some sort of survey that would have revealed the massive solar powered laser cannon beneath the earth they were hoping to break ground on. Dave Yeah, just trying to hide this, and make it go unnoticed, may not have been as easy as he anticipated. Those villains and their sordid plans, eh? Kev Ha, ha! I know, eh? "We just did a land survey on the proposed building site for Autobot City, and it turns out there's a massive solar-powered laser cannon where the foundations will be, but I'm sure it'll be fine." I also like the fact that Cyclonus states that he “...wasn’t in the mood to haggle…” with Starscream for information “so (he) beat it out of him!” Ha, ha! Dave I’m not entirely sure the floating head image of Galvatron on the 2nd last panel of this page is necessary. After all we know it’s him talking. It kind-of looks like one of those cheesy sci-fi films there.  Mind that time when Galvatron was just a floating head, in space? Preempting Unicron's fate perhaps? Kev Ha, ha! It does a bit, yeh. I quite like it. I agree though, it's not necessary at all, but I still like it all the same. In fact, I'd be happy to see more of it as a technique. Little drawings of heads, next to the relevant caption boxes, to denote exactly who it is that is doing the talking in them. Dave That is a clever turn of events on page 8 though, how the irony just hits Galvatron that Megatron has teamed up with the Autobots, and Jazz just pisses himself with laughter. Or leaks oil. The expression on Jazz’s face is brilliant. This is another light moment. I like how Jazz does that uncontrollable laugh. He’s like The Joker there with all the “hahas.” Kev Yeh, the look on Jazz's face says it all. He knows he's probably not long for this world, certainly if Galvatron has his way, so he ends-up just laughing hysterically at Galvatron's misfortune. And I love how Galvatron just K.O.s him with a double axe handle.  "Double axe-handle from the second rope!" Dave Yeah, there’s no fucking about with Galvatron. Kev Definitely not, no. Dave Kind-of makes sense though; the old time travel backfiring on both present and future selves. Kev Yeh, that's what he gets for messing around with the space/time continuum. Dave Then page 9 shifts the story again. Kev Yep, back to Eastern Wyoming, and we get our introduction to the future Decepticons’ counterparts, Hot Rod, Kup and Blurr. I love how Furman makes sure that they are all referred to by their names. For toy selling purposes, of course. Dave Yep, they would have been plugging them big time for Xmas. Well, the execs were probably telling them to. "Yesterday lad, just like yesterday.” I love the humanity in the dialogue; the old, grizzled, army veteran type guy. Kev It's great, isn't it? Furman uses what he's perhaps seen from the movie, to quickly establish these three new future Autobots. Dave Yeah, establishing in the comics the relationships that we were yet to see in the movie. Hot Rod really is the new kid on the block isn't he? He’s portrayed as this young, eager guy. Even I'm talking about those machines like they’re humans now. Kev Ha, ha! That’s it, you’re emotionally invested now, man. Yeh, Hot Rod is the “turbo revvin’ young punk.” And like you said, Kup is the grizzled old veteran. Whilst Blurr does everything at a sprint. Even talk. Dave I also like how this page splices panels of the Autobots and the Decepticons at the same moment.  "(Hot Rod, Kup and Blurr) stepped into the quantum leap accelerator....." Kev Yep. It’s perfect for ramping up the pace and the drama for the finale of the issue, before undercutting it with almost a pause, a moment of silence that is pretty chilling. And that "...owes nothing to the climate." Dave Then, on page 10, there's a callback to the prologue issue, and we get the multi-coloured Star Trek transportation panels. Especially the fourth panel on that page. Kev Yeh, that panel of Shockwave, Thundercracker and Frenzy's disappearance is almost an exact copy of the one of Optimus Prime, Prowl and Ratchet from the prologue.  ".....and vanished." Dave I like the future Autobots’ entrance panel on top of page 11. It’s like ‘Dragon’s Claws’ again, when we were introduced to another team of players in The Game. The flamboyant entrance is a Senior trademark to me anyway. Dramatic poses all around. 10 out of 10 scores from the judges on that one.  (They) awoke to find (themselves) trapped in the past,...." Kev Ha, ha! Yeh, that's a classic panel. "CHOOM!" And "THA-DOOM!" Cracking stuff from Richard Starkings again as well. Senior’s artwork is just superb. The panel layout on his earlier Transformers work, such as this, is arguably even better than it is on some of his later work. It’s a bit looser, and it flows in a bit more of an interesting, unconventional way. And Gina Hart’s colours compliment it so well. Dave And those last three, closing, panels neatly round off the issue. No dialogue, just narrative. Great writing and artwork. The winning combo of Furman and Senior strikes again.  Cyclonus looks absolutely terrified here. Kev Absolutely, that bit of prose on the last page or so, by Furman, is excellent. And Senior’s artwork, and Hart's colours really help elevate it even further. From the panels of the time travel exchange, to the arrival of the future Autobots, to the reactions to Unicron’s laugh by the Autobot Triple-Changers and Galvatron and Cyclonus, it’s fantastic work from all involved. Dave I think this issue has really upped the pace of the story, as you said it would in our last review. I also think that Furman and Senior were the ideal team to handle the reveals from the movie tactfully, and to carry this story onwards, but also essentially plug a movie which was coming out as well. Kev Definitely. Having Senior's dynamic art style was never going to hurt the feel of the pacing of this issue, and Furman's certainly driving the plot forward into its second act. It's all good stuff. Plus, the arrival of the future Autobots also helped to up the ante somewhat. Dave Yeah, I think this issue was better than the last issue. Not that the last one was bad, this was just a better read. (D) & (K) Next: 'Prisoners Of War!' 
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