With issue 52 we return to space! I recall seeing this issue when I first discovered Transformers comics. I remember seeing the cover and just thinking, whoa. A whole expanded world of the Transformers exists. I have to find out what happens! But before we get into the story lets check out the cover art that captured my imagination so many years ago.
Go Into Battle With Optimus Prime and Bumblee with this T-Shirt from 80sTees.com
This cover just pops! The white background helps the menacing looking Mecannibals jump off the page with their long legs, long sharp teeth, and large eyes. On the cover is also Landmine who is clearly fighting the Mecannibals for his very life on top of a spider web made of metal. I know this is going to sound like nostalgic love but I can still remember the feeling I had when I first saw this issue for the first time so many years ago. A whole world of Transformers I never knew existed and I could not wait to get inside it. If you can look at a crisp copy of this issue I doubt you would regret it.
Our story kicks off from the point just after the Underbase story line. Several Autobots are depicted as damaged from the aftermath. Optimus Prime sends out Landmine and Cloudburst, both Pretenders, on a mission to secure several microchips to be used in repairing the damaged Autobots. The Pretenders are sent to Grand Central Space Station where they will try to procure the microchips off the black market. Optimus Prime warns the two Autobots that robots are not welcome on the space station. This is confirmed when the Pretenders enter a local bar on board the space station and a robot, who goes by Chromite, is forced to leave through the space station’s airlock.
Shortly after arriving the Autobot Pretenders find a couple of ship dealers. The two don’t realize that the dealers are in fact Nebulan Powermasters, Hi-Test and Throttle. The Autobots are also warned by another familiar face to the reader, Berko. Berko wants the two Pretenders that the chip dealers they are working with are not to be trusted. They also learn that a fellow Autobot, Sky Lynx was at the space station but has since gone missing.
As the deal for microchips progress with the Nebulans, Landmine demands to be taken to their supplier directly to complete their transaction. Soon, the Pretenders find themselves up close and personal with Mecannibals. These spidery like robots are robot eaters. Because the Pretenders look like humans they find themselves safe from the Mecannibals appetite. The two parties agree to do business over Dinner. Dinner turns out to be Sky Lynx!
Landmine’s internal robot forum was staying outside at the beginning of the meeting, but then takes action and frees Sky Lynx. In the confusions, Landmine’s inner robot recombined with his otter shell, unnoticed by the Mecannibals. Afterword, the microchips transaction is completed.
With the mission complete the Pretenders head back to the space station only to reveal themselves to Berko which is observed by both Hi-Test and Throttle. Those two notify the local Bartender so that when the Pretenders go to the bar to settle up Berko’s tab they are quickly overpowered by the robot hating patrons and sent into space through the air lock.
The two are picked up by Dreadwing and taken to the Mecannibals’ ship. The spider like robots now know that the Pretenders are robots and are eager to have them for their next meal!
My Thoughts On This Issue
Sometimes, I think I might be reading through these issues to quickly. Keep in mind these issues came out monthly and I’m going through them at a rate of almost one a week. One issue we’re in space. The next issue we’re on earth. After that, we are back in space again! Stories that don’t actually affect each other. Not yet anyway.
What I’m trying to say, in a round about way, is that my mind gets used to being on earth and then I have to make a hard adjustment to being in space with pretenders and Mecannibals. I doubt this was an issue back in the day when readers did have to wait a month from one issue to the next. It gave their mind a chance to process everything and be prepared for the next adventure the following month.
I will say this. The longer I think back over this issue, the more I find myself liking it. One big help was seeing old friends again. Berko and Sky Lynx. Which is weird because I didn’t think I would miss Berko.
Over all I feel the story had a solid idea behind it. Need chips to fix the Autobots. I do question the Mecannibals being in possession of so many microchips. They just don’t seem like a life form that would have so many of them. Unless, when they eat robots they don’t each microchips? Maybe?
Throughout the issue, I also enjoyed the art. It wasn’t fantastic, but I have seen worse in a Transformers comic. I take that as a good thing.
The more I think about this issue the more I’m getting excited to read the next one and find out how this story concludes.
So what do you all think of this issue? Do you agree with me or am I way off base? Let me know when you have a moment. I would like to know.
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This issue was very special to me. My mom did not have a lot of money back in those days. So for Christmas she bought me Cloudburst and was embarresed that is all she could afford for me that year. I remember being very happy with the toy and had a lot of fun with playing with Cloudburst. I need to pick up a Cloudburst on ebay! Reading this issue when I was a kid, I had no idea what to expect, in fact as an adult the only thing I remembered was the toy my mom bought me was in the comic. I did not even know Cloudburst name! When I read the comic as a kid I was floored Cloudburst was in the issue out of all the Pretenders or any other Transformer Marvel had picked him. You hit a good point. I have read all Marvel comics, Gen 2, those 2 off stories I had sent, and Regeneration One in about 3 months. The reading can get pretty tough as you do indeed feel like you are rushing. I think you are doing it correctly one a week. The older Transformer issue are very word intense. As you point out on the podcasts those comics are very human story centric. I think now we are close to a point were humans are less of a focal point and it gets to be a fast read because your more intrested in the Transformer plight. I enjoyed the issue both as a kid and an adult. I too loved Sky Lynx as well as a nod to those who had been reading the comic for so long. One thing to point out is the bar tender kicking out the droid was very Star Wars – “We don’t serve your kind here”. 🙂
Tim, Thank you for sharing your personal story. I was really touched by your words as I read them.
I hope luck is on your side as you hunt down Cloudburst again on ebay.
You’re right in that the bartender and his words are very Star Wars sounding. I noticed that as well, but just chose not to say anything. That might have been a mistake so, I’m glad you pointed it out.
I did like the alien/human element in these stories. I also like how they used the Pretenders (a disguise was needed as robots are unliked in that part of the galaxy) I just remember thinking that I wish some of my old favourites weren’t dead. I had one or two Pretenders back then, but this was about the time I stopped buying the toys, so I was pining for the old characters