The Autobots are described as Cybertron�s dominant life form, a race of sentient robots that evolved thanks to �the interaction of naturally occurring gears, levers and pulleys�. Prosperous and possibly a bit smug, the Autobots had built a �mechanical paradise� and their peaceful lifestyle was suddenly interrupted by the first attack of the underground Decepticon movement, which was apparently kicked off by Megatron, Ravage and Soundwave. The war is so brutal it, erm, dislodges Cybertron from its orbit and sends it careening through space.

Incidentally, before it became unorbitified, Cybertron originally circled one of our neighbours, the star Alpha Centauri.

The origins of the Transformers� transforming abilities aren�t too clear here. Readying themselves for war, the Decepticons alter their forms, giving themselves the ability to become deadly weapons. The Autobots� ability to transform isn�t brought up until after this, when they fight back and we�re told �each was gifted with the ability to alter his configuration into strange, unearthly vehicles... vehicles of great offensive potential�. Does this mean neither side could transform until the Decepticons hit upon the idea, or that their becoming weapons was a reconfiguration of their original alt modes, or that the Autobots could always transform and the Decepticons could not? I'd lean more towards the first explanation myself, but as half the stuff in this book will be retconned later it doesn't matter much I suppose.

There is a council of Autobot elders who seem to make the key decisions in Cybertronian society.

Megatron�s stronghold is called Castle Decepticon. Inconspicuous. If you�re going to conduct clandestine meetings in which you plot the destruction of your fellow robots, maybe you shouldn�t paint the Decepticon logo above the door.

The civil war is one thousand years old by the time Prime and Megatron leave for Earth.

The Ark crashes into the volcano Mount St. Hilary - in what will become Portland, Oregon once all the dinosaurs are out of the way.

Aunty � the Arks�s computer � intercepts signals from across the globe and transmits them to the Autobots, giving them plenty of information about Earth. Odd that not one of them reveals a human, though; later in the story organic life seems to be an alien concept to the Autobots.

Transformers have heard of water. Ironhide�s water gun. Bumblebee�s love of swimming: the Ark said Earth is mostly water.

The first earth bound battle: at the drive in: Prowl, Cliffjumper, Hound and Brawn vs. Starscream, Skywarp, Laserbeak, Ravage and Thundercracker.

Which earth modes we see this issue: Soundwave, Starscream, Skywarp, Soundwave, Bumblebee, Hound, Thundercracker, Prowl, Brawn, Cliffjumper.

Once they escape the Ark, the Decepticons plot to raid the planet�s abundant fuel resources they�ve learned about from information the Ark gave them, and conquer the world.

I N T R O D U C I N G

Optimus Prime, Megatron, Soundwave, Ravage, Skywarp, Thundercracker, Rumble, Frenzy, Laserbeak, Buzzsaw, Ironhide, Ratchet, Huffer, Gears, Mirage, Wheeljack, Cliffjumper, Windcharger, Jazz, Hound, Bluestreak, Prowl, Brawn, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, Trailbreaker, Buster Witwicky, Sparkplug Witwicky, O, Jessie, The Ark, Aunty

C H A R A C T E R S

Megatron is, of course, a complete bastard, pouncing out of nowhere to destroy the Autobots, starting an endless civil war because he�s not keen on the their complacent but harmless society. His key goal is to turn Cybertron itself into a dreadnought, a weapon that will then travel the universe. Maybe a bit of a coward when the chips are down � after being revived and feeling weak, he runs for it rather than chance facing Prime. His weapon is a fusion cannon that blasts �endless streams of energy�.

Optimus Prime is described as being �wise and powerful beyond understanding�. He brings together the disparate, almost defeated Autobot troops and shapes them into a decent army. He�s obviously noble, willing to sacrifice himself (and his crew) for the good of Cybertron, and he�s kind of a pacifist, wanting to make peace with the Decepticons rather than destroy them all. Above all else he places the safety of the Earth�s inhabitants. He�s responsible for unleashing the Decepticon menace upon them. Optimus Prime�s Cybertronian mode is a kind of blocky tank with a huge gun turret on the top.

Prowl is Prime�s most trusted advisor � as Prime says, �Prowl, most trusted of my advisors�. He�s logical � relying on computations and �logic circuits� to make decisions.

Buster Witwicky: Studious, well aware that his dad wishes he was more practical, but aiming for a literary scholarship. A decent kid, willing to stay behind in a war zone to rescue a talking car. Then attempts to fix it.

Sparkplug Witwicky: Wants his son to be more like him; wishes he�d take more of an interest in auto repair and less interest in books. A real salt of the earth type, meat and potatoes. Isn�t convinced that Buster�s scholarly ways could lead to a decent job. Protective, worries that Buster won�t be able to hold his own against a rough world. Is over the moon when he thinks Buster is using the workshop in the middle of the night.

As he escapes the Ark with his fellow Decepticons Megatron mentions that �one of our mightiest is missing�

Prowl retreats from the drive-in leaving Bumblebee behind.

Bumblebee�s vehicle mode has no ignition or pedals. He leaks an oil-like substance and cries when he�s injured.

Soundwave: doesn�t do much, but we do see his alt mode: a tape deck. There�s no mention of Rumble, Frenzy, Laserbeak, Buzzsaw and Ravage being his spy cassettes. Monitors transmissions, reads �minds� by reading Autobot electrical impulses. Has a photographic memory. Concussion cannon.

Ravage can absorb electromagnetic radiation in order to remain undetected. He�s a bit of a suck up. He�s the one who leaks the Autobots� plans to blast through the asteroid belt to Megatron.

Buzzsaw: can pinpoint a hex nut at 20 miles with his optical sensors and uses his beak to carve up Autobots.

Laserbeak: interrogates the enemy with his laser eyes, which is why he�s called Laser� beak.

Skywarp: the power of teleportation.

Thundercracker: He loves his rockets, this one, but his party piece is a crippling sonic boom. Seems afraid of Megatron: when Starscream criticises Megatron�s plans Thundercracker�s all no, his plans always work, we shouldn�t defy him.

Starscream describes himself as the fastest and most manoeuvrable of the Decepticon jets. There�s the beginnings of his opposition to Megatron: at the drive in he complains that Megatron�s assault plan is no match for guile and stealth.

Rumble: causes earthquakes using low frequency ground waves. Personality: bit rough.

Frenzy: high pitched soundwaves to shatter the enemy�s equilibrium.

Mirage: has an electro-disrupter that interferes with Decepticon circuitry and makes him appear where he�s not. Isn�t too keen on being lumped in with the Autobots, but sticks around anyway.

Bluestreak: so called because he�s as fast as a blue streak, and because he talks one too. Talks incessantly.

Prowl: Has little to say, but his logic centre dictates the most advantageous course of action in any situation. Endlessly patient. He�s the one who first figures out that life on Earth is dominant and not mechanical, when he sees no vehicles defending themselves at the drive-in and notices humans trying to get away.

Jazz: Talks like a black dude from the �60s. Would rather cruise round and take in the sights than fight. Photon rifle, overhead flamethrowers.

Hound: His infrared radiation collector makes him the best tracker on or off Cybertron, and his hologram turret gun projects terrain maps if he ever gets lost. Uses a three-dimensional hologrammatic missile to ward off Ravage at the drive-in. Fascinated by Earth.

Windcharger: Powerful magnetic arms.

Gears: Hates Earth from the moment he wakes up, and wants nothing more than to leave. He knows everyone�s going to use him as a mobile transport unit again, once they have to set up.

Ratchet: Medic. He�s got the tools to fix anything, but he�d rather be out partying than doing that.

Wheeljack: Has been patched up the most by Ratchet thanks to his fondness for mucking about with gadgets � especially weapons. Has shoulder cannons.

Trailbreaker: Has a forcefield projector to protect himself.

Ironhide: Old and ornery. Steel alloy skin. Water gun that fires various liquids.

Huffer: Not interested in going after the Decepticons, would rather just bugger off to Cybertron. Has stress testing sensors and mathematical skills, could rebuild the Ark. Moans a lot.

Bumblebee: Needs very little fuel and is an inquisitive little fellow. Wants to explore the whole planet, and loves to swim, apparently. Gets into trouble thanks to his over eager nature; rams Buster�s car and gets blowed up by the Decepticon jets.

Sunstreaker: Vain. Considers himself the �sleekest� Autobot and wants everyone to see him. Has ground-to-air missiles.

Cliffjumper: Super fast. Has a glass gun that makes metal extremely brittle. Uses it on Starscream and Thundercracker at the drive-in.

Brawn: The strongest one in the bunch. Powerful punches. Talks like a trucker. �Now yer talkin� my lingo.� Can take the brunt of the Decepticon drive-in attack.

Sideswipe: Uses his arms as piledrivers. Has a habit of rushing headlong at Decepticon fortifications.

Jessie: Hot.

O: Erm...

Q U O T E S

Megatron:
�They shall learn the way of conflict� the way of war� the way of Megatron.�

Narration:
�The currently dominant species has named this world they rule � Earth, this volcano � Mount St. Hilary. They have marked the movement of time numerically. As it is reckoned, the date is 1984. But all that means nothing here. Time and place have seemingly little significance to those who lay within this rotting hulk.�

Prime:
�But let us never forget our primary purpose � to spare this world from the scourge we have unwittingly unleashed upon it!�

Bumblebee:
�I�m gonna be the first to greet an earthling!�

Buster:
�Bumped from behind by a fender-bending Beetle! Dad�ll cream me!�

Prowl:
�This is almost beyond belief. The Decepticons have launched an assault and the Earth vehicles have done absolutely nothing to defend themselves.�

Bumblebee:
�Help me, please! I�m dying!�

R E V I E W

Well, here we are right back at the beginning... and what a beginning it is. This is my favourite origin comic and still one of my favourite TF issues. It's impossible to be objective about it, as it's so tied up with my childhood, so there's always going to be a certain nostalgia element I suppose. But while #1 certainly isn't perfect - Yomtov sets up his stall early by randomly throwing crayons at the page, there are a few misplaced speech bubbles, and some tangles in the overall execution - it's still fantastic stuff.

What I love most about this comic is its sense of awe, its epic quality. There's a solemnity about it, and it's incredibly atmospheric, from the moody panels as we draw closer to the dormant Ark once it's crashed in Mount St. Hilary, through the sensor drone taking in the sights of Earth, to Bumblebee laying (parking?) injured in Sparkplug's workshop. There�s a great transition from Prime swearing to stop the Decepticons to life carrying on as normal at the Witwicky�s. The calm before the storm; life goes on. Say what you want about Springer's art, I love it. Sure, it's scrappy: you're lucky to get two panels in a row where Prime looks the same, and there are a few oddities like Huffer's sticky-out butt, Megatron's '70s shades, Prime's twin joining in the attack on the Ark... But he draws cracking transformations, and there's a bristling energy about the whole thing that's really exciting, a meaty matter-of-factness and a real sense of scale, like the battle at the drive-in with these giant robots stomping about while tiny humans run around.

Mantlo and Macchio pack a lot of plot into 25 pages. In this era of decompressed storytelling it's always fun to read old stuff where the story just keeps on rolling. Sure, there's plenty - PLENTY - of exposition and infodump dialogue, and a heavy reliance on Budiansky's character profiles, but it doesn't matter; this is riveting stuff. We get peace, war, flight from Cybertron, crash landing on Earth, the revival of the Transformers, their emergence into modern earth, the first battle, the introduction of the human cast and Bumblebee�s injuries. I love the whole set up, which more than transcends its origins as a marketing tool for Hasbro. And while the whole thing is cobbled together from disparate toy lines, there's a real genius in having the Autobots as benign vehicles like ambulances, police cars and VW bugs while the Decepticons are weapons, jets and spying equipment.

The Transformers seem truly alien here, with formal speech patterns and a naive quality, but also an excitement about exploring Earth that makes them endearing (the Autobots at least). It's interesting to see Prime and Megatron take a back seat, the focus resting on the Autobot scouting party; and I like that the Autobots spend a lot of time in vehicle mode, which makes the most of the 'robots in disguise' premise, something that the cartoon and later comics largely failed to exploit. Most of the characters are archetypes, really - noble leader, evil villain, trusted advisor, not-so-trusted advisor - or sound bites, introducing themselves so kids know which toys to nag their parents into buying. The only Transformer who really jumps out at this stage is Bumblebee, with his youthful exuberance and gleeful desire to greet an 'earthling'. It's fun to see characterisation that, as far as I remember, has never cropped up again: Ratchet would rather be out partying than repairing his fellow Autobots, would he? Well, all right then. Still, it's early days and this issue gets all kinds of slack for that.

Funnily enough the most engaging character is probably Sparkplug. One of my favourite moments here is his almost poignant mistake when he thinks Buster is up in the middle of the night fixing cars like his old man. I've got a lot of time for humans in Transformers comics: they give the whole thing a sense of scale, which makes the robots seem more alien, bigger, grander, more wonderful. Plus, here they�re engaging characters in their own right. Well, the Witwickys are. Jessie and O are just sort of there. I'm even partial to the "What the-?" humans like the hitchhiker and drive-in cashier here, who gape as driverless vehicles pass them.

So, yep, brilliant stuff. Hard to believe it's been 23 years.