General Information:
No writers or artists listed
Publication Date: Fall 1987

Note: This comic book was printed in 3D, which required 3D glasses to see the effect. In scanning panels from this comic, I have run it through Photoshop filters to make it easier to see.

Synopsis:
Ultra Magnus has gathered Blurr, Lightspeed, Searchlight and Fortress Maximus on a search for energon. He is not happy about leaving Cybertron when the Transformers are on the brink of war again. Hot Rod tells him to relax however, indicating that Rodimus can "pop up" if needed.

The Autobots find the source of energon on a large asteroid and Fortress Maximus quickly lands on the south and transforms into fortress mode. The Decepticons have not been idle however. Galvatron, Ratbat, Cyclonus and Scourge are all inside Scorponok who lands on the north and transforms into city mode.

By chance (or perhaps not), both Cyclonus and Lightspeed find the source of the energon reading. Each finds a small quadraped alien creature and each takes the creatures back to their respective bases. While Ultra Magnus' reaction is total shock, Galvatron's is more aggressive and he punches Cyclonus for believing an organic could produce energon.

Undaunted, Cyclonus goes to work and believes he has discovered the key to the creatures' production of energon. The creature creates energon as its waste product! Lightspeed deduces the same, but Ultra Magnus is hesitant to get another organic race involved in the Transformers war.

Both leaders dispatch troops to find more of the creatures. Ultra Magnus sends out Searchlight while
Galvatron sends out Ratbat. Each finds the other's base and are caught spying! Both do the obvious thing - they run! Eventually, the Autobots and Decepticons meet and a battle begins!

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the Transformers, each of the creatures teleport out of their holding tanks and as the Transformers fight, we see the two creatures discussing the differences between the two factions of the race. The one who was in captivity with the Autobots tells his partner that the Autobots did their best to take care of him, including setting up a more nature oriented setting in his tank. The other tells of how the Decepticons seemed to go out of their way to make his stay uncomfortable. The two disappear from the battlefield and approach their employer with the item they requested: the Transformer databanks. Their five faced employer waves a tentacle and asks to see the data...

Story:
The idea of an organic creature that can create Energon is an interesting one, and in the realm of science fiction, stranger tales have been told. This story has quite a bit of originality, but also plays up some humorous aspects as well (due in part to the artwork). This humor shows itself in physical ways (such as Searchlight slamming Ratbat to the ground) to internal dialogues (Ratbat is constantly thinking like a regular Transformer even though he only speeks in screeches).

There are some nice points to the story that make it a shame Blackthorne never followed up on this tale. Ultra Magnus expresses his dislike for dragging organics into the Transformer war (citing the humans as an example). Galvatron obviously has plans beyond just finding energon as he has Sixshot round up new recruits. Most of all, it would have been interesting to see just where the writer wanted to go with the stolen data given to the Quintessons.

Continuity Notes:

• Hot Rod mentions in the beginning that Rodimus Prime can just "pop up". This seems to indicate that Hot Rod either has access to or still holds the Matrix, which is odd since it is implied that Ultra Magnus is the Autobot leader here.
• Hot Rod makes mention of developing "Headmaster" technology and even points out a world that we can presume is Nebulos. This indicates that neither Scorponok or Fortress Maximus are Headmasters yet at this point.

Artwork:

• Cover
• Fortress Maximus fights Scorponok
• Ultra Magnus and Lightspeed
• Scourge and Galvatron
• Sixshot (with Decepticon clones and Flywheels)

The cover art is simply an artists rendition of the toy box art of Galvatron and Ultra Magnus. However, Galvatron is reversed (his cannon should be on the other arm) while Ultra Magnus should have more color on his face than just blue. Not a very creative or well done cover.

The art style of this book resembles that of Japanese Manga with a cutesy edge. There is no information on the artist of the book so it is difficult to find other work of his or hers to compare this to. Suffice it to say, it appears that the artist took the toy models and made them look more organic than mechanical. From the rounded legs to extremely expressive faces, these Transformers look more like men with funny suits on than robots in disguise.

One thing the artist does do is convey a certain amount of slapstick in his work. As Fortress Maximus slaps Scorponok, the Decepticon's head looks like it is going to fly off. An explosion sends Magnus flying in a rather undignified position while Ratbat's look of surprise is priceless when Searchlight slams him to the ground.

Now don't get me wrong, I think this is genuinely an interesting look for Transformers, but not one I would have wanted to see across an entire series. Rather, this is nice as a one shot, experimental art style.

Final Thoughts:
This is one of the most interesting entries into the world of Transformers comic books, even after all these years. The art style and somewhat light hearted writing work well together. It is a shame this story was never allowed to play out. B+