Cover art revealed for Viz Media's Transformers: The Manga Volume 2

For many years, the Transformers G1 Manga from Japan eluded Transformers fans. It was once the stuff of much desire and wild speculation. Around October 2002, Million Publishing (currently known as Hero-X), publishers of the popular Transformers Generations series of books, released the first ever compilation of the Generation One manga alongside a Lucky Draw Black Tracks. The manga compilation was titled "Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: The Comics".

This amazing book came into my personal collection courtesy of a purchase I made at OTFCC 2003. Within its many pages were some of the most incredible artwork of the Autobots and Decepticons drawn in such a unique style for someone used to the styles of the Marvel Transformers comic books and the original Sunbow Transformers cartoons. I have enjoyed looking at the beautiful renditions of the Transformers characters who were drawn in a familiar manga or anime style by the very talented Ban Magami, yet very distinct from other popular artistic renderings to which most Hasbro-market Transformers fans are accustomed. 

However, as sensational as the images of our favorite "robots in disguise" were to my eyes and my imagination, I had no damn idea what the heck was happening in the book. Well, other than what was actually shown, and even then it was sometimes challenging to understand what I was looking at due to the small black and white artwork. Needless to say, as much as I enjoyed looking at the back initially, it has spent the better part of the last 16 or so years in storage alongside my original Marvel Transformers comics and my prized (embarrassingly) KISS Players Manga collection. 



Fast forward to March 11th, 2020. This is the day that Transformers: The Manga Volume 1 from Viz Media will be released at book and comic book stores nationwide. Special thanks to Viz Media for providing a sample copy of this book to Seibertron.com for review purposes. What makes this version unique, is that Masumi Kaneda's stories would finally be translated to English at very long last. After so much time, the stories of the Transformers G1 manga would at last be known to Transformers fans outside of Japan. 

The book's presentation is top notch. It is a great addition to the collections of those who appreciate Transformers Generation 1 fiction in all of its forms, as well as the collections of those who collect Manga. As exhilarating as Magami's artwork can be to those of us who can't get enough of this style, the stories were slightly more juvenile than for which I was hoping (though highly suspected) after years of looking over these manga pages from the previous compilation. 





However, I understand that this manga was intended for kids, as were the Marvel Transformers comics that have such a special place in my heart despite their many flaws. Despite the story's simplicity, I enjoyed the desired nostalgic rush as I plowed effortlessly through this book. Page after page, I sucked in as much eye candy as possible, which seemed to hit so many of the right spots, while finally being able to understand what was happening in the artwork which had been the stuff of wonder for so long.



Surprisingly, Abby Lark's translations were pretty spot on. To be honest, I was expecting various flaws, misspellings, incorrect character names or factions or other problems that are unfortunately common with Transformers translations. However, that wasn't to be the case with this book. Lark seemed to know her Transformers very well. The subgroups and characters were all appropriately named and the translations were all sensical. There were few, if any, errors. I was pleasantly surprised by this and truly appreciated the amount of time and effort it took to get all of these things right. The translations used in this book for Convoy, Bumble, Metroflex, Cybertrons, Destrons, etc, are the more well-known American names such as Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Metroplex, Autobots and Decepticons respectively. This might bother some fans but is perfectly acceptable to most. It will be interesting to see how the translations are handled in Volume 2's Masterforce manga for various characters like Super Ginrai versus Powermaster Optimus Prime. 



The last 74 pages of the page are dedicated to bringing some additional artwork into an "Illustration Works" gallery for your viewing pleasure. Many images within this gallery include promotional images for various episodes of the Fight Super Robot Lifeform Transformers cartoon through 2010 and the Headmasters series. In addition to this promotional artwork, there are some very detailed drawings of the alt modes for some characters like Jazz, Starscream, Wheelie, Springer, Arcee, Blurr, Scourge, and others. It is a very nice addition that I don't think was available in the original Japanese compilation (at least, not at this printed size) if I recall correctly.





While not as large as the original Japanese version from Million Publishing, it is only volume 1 out of 3 volumes. Volume 2 will be released later in May 2020 and should contain the remaining Headmasters stories along with the Masterforce. Volume 3 will be released later this year which will contain Victory, Zone, and Battle Star stories (Sidenote: who wants a Super Megatron toy after all of these years???). With a $24.99 cover price per book, it still costs less for all 3 volumes from Viz Media than the $80 I spent for the original Japanese compilation at OTFCC 2003 (not to mention inflation), which makes these books from Viz an absolute steal in my opinion, especially with the nice hard covers. 



In addition to traditional brick-and-mortar stores, you'll be able to find Viz Media's Transformers: The Manga Volume 1 at various online outlets such as Amazon.com and the Seibertron Store. Transformers: The Manga Volume 2 through is currently available for pre-order through Amazon.com.



Transformers: The Manga's long sought after story is written by Masumi Kaneda, brought to life with artwork by the very talented Ban Magami, and made readable for those of us who can't read Japanese courtesy of Abby Lark, whose translations were seamlessly lettered and retouched into the original artwork by Brandon Bovia.

I would recommend this book for those of you who enjoy a nostalgic tug from the past and for those of you who enjoy Transformers Generation 1 fiction. If you're a die-hard Michael Bay Transformers Movie buff or only like comics with "deeper" meaning like some of the Transformers comics from IDW, than this might not be for you. If you can enjoy some of the lighter Transformers content intended for kids or just like awesome pics of cool lookin' Japanese styled robots, than this book is absolutely for you.

As for my rating? Well, by Primus, I am extremely biased and enjoy every page. It was a lot of fun to read through this book. I give it a loud and proud 4.5 Rodimus stars out of 5!




So what are you waiting for? Go get your copy today! In the meantime, join our discussion on our forums to further discuss Transformers: The Manga Volume 1!

Gotta admit, from the looks of those pages, the official translation sure does look more refined than the old fan translation on TFArchive.

Looking forward to picking this up as well as Volume 2 and Volume 3.

Sabrblade wrote:Gotta admit, from the looks of those pages, the official translation sure does look more refined than the old fan translation on TFArchive.

Looking forward to picking this up as well as Volume 2 and Volume 3.

Do we know if there will be a volume 3? I had presumed that the remaining G1 content would be in book 2 but it's been a while since I looked at my original compilation so I can't be certain how much content remains.

Seibertron wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:Gotta admit, from the looks of those pages, the official translation sure does look more refined than the old fan translation on TFArchive.

Looking forward to picking this up as well as Volume 2 and Volume 3.

Do we know if there will be a volume 3? I had presumed that the remaining G1 content would be in book 2 but it's been a while since I looked at my original compilation so I can't be certain how much content remains.

Yes. I posted an Amazon link to it previously. Volume 2 contains The Headmasters, the Headmasters one-shot, and Masterforce, while Volume 3 has Victory, the Zone one-shot, and the Battlestars one-shot.

Sabrblade wrote:Yes. I posted an Amazon link to it previously. Volume 2 contains The Headmasters, the Headmasters one-shot, and Masterforce, while Volume 3 has Victory, the Zone one-shot, and the Battlestars one-shot.

Thanks for the info, Sabrblade. I updated the news story to have the correct info about Volume 2 and 3.

Now will this book work in traditional manga form, where you read back to front?

Great review. These stories definitely spark joy, and remind me why I’m such a big Transformers fan in the first place. I read a few chapters last night, and I’m looking forward to reading more tonight. Highly recommended.

BW Megatron wrote:Now will this book work in traditional manga form, where you read back to front?

Yes

Got mine in late last night after work and gave it a quick thumb through. Looks absolutely amazing for a comprehensive compilation. Really looking forward to a chance to sit down and go through it cover to cover. For the low MSRP versus what it would have cost to hunt these all down, its a great value as well.

My copy arrived yesterday, went straight to the top of my manga to-read pile and it has me refocused on finishing Gundam: Ecole du Ciel so I can get to it. Excellent review here, helps set expectations though it's in line with what I'd assumed. Very happy to see this released!

Courtesy of the fine folks at Viz Media, we have even more images to share with you from the just-released Transformers: The Manga Volume 1. This is a combination of images that are publicly available in the free preview at Viz.com along with additional images that their PR company sent us to share with all of you. The free preview includes almost the first 20 pages, and then we added in some of the extras (in appropriate order) that we received separately. You can click on the thumbnails below to view the full images.

This book can be purchased at Amazon.com, comic book stores, or other specialty retailers such as the Seibertron Store. Don't forget to check out Seibertron.com's review of Transformers: The Manga Volume 1 and share your thoughts about this excellent book on our forums!

"Marvel Transformers comics and my prized (embarrassingly) KISS Players Manga collection. "
Truth Be told, I'd like to see the Kiss Players Manga done here too. It sounded so bizarre I'd like to see it.

Rodimus Knight wrote:"Marvel Transformers comics and my prized (embarrassingly) KISS Players Manga collection. "
Truth Be told, I'd like to see the Kiss Players Manga done here too. It sounded so bizarre I'd like to see it.

Eh, it's content is kinda pornographic, though. Not exactly the same audience that this manga was aimed at (as in, young kids).

Sabrblade wrote:

Rodimus Knight wrote:"Marvel Transformers comics and my prized (embarrassingly) KISS Players Manga collection. "
Truth Be told, I'd like to see the Kiss Players Manga done here too. It sounded so bizarre I'd like to see it.

Eh, it's content is kinda pornographic, though. Not exactly the same audience that this manga was aimed at (as in, young kids).

Transformers KISS Players is not pornographic. It does have a level of adult sexual content that some many find inappropriate (especially when associated with Transformers), but it's not pornographic. Hustler and Penthouse magazines are pornographic.

Where can I purchase the Kiss Player Manga. I dig anything Japanese and Transformers and they look fun as heck.

Seibertron wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Rodimus Knight wrote:"Marvel Transformers comics and my prized (embarrassingly) KISS Players Manga collection. "
Truth Be told, I'd like to see the Kiss Players Manga done here too. It sounded so bizarre I'd like to see it.

Eh, it's content is kinda pornographic, though. Not exactly the same audience that this manga was aimed at (as in, young kids).

Transformers KISS Players is not pornographic. It does have a level of adult sexual content that some many find inappropriate (especially when associated with Transformers), but it's not pornographic. Hustler and Penthouse magazines are pornographic.

What I found weird about it, is you couldn't find a copy of it online. Like so many manga and comic books can be found to read, and yet this one, nadda.

I've been trying to find copies of it to buy and can't find anything

I, uh, have scans.

Never looked at them, knowing what they contain, but I got them since they were included with the fansubbed release of Car Robots.

Volume 3 has finally been released, as of today!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1974711781?tag=seibertron07-20&

Originally serialized in Japan’s TV Magazine, these classic stories from the Generation 1 era of Transformers are now available in English for the first time!

The Autobots and the Decepticons have been locked in a brutal civil war for eons, and now their battle has come to Earth! The Autobots seek peace and coexistence, while the Decepticons seek power and control. Earth and its populace are caught in the middle as these mighty factions go head-to-head. Transformers took the world by storm shortly after their debut, and these previously uncollected stories were a vital part of that takeover!

The final volume of Transformers: The Manga is here! This deluxe volume collects three classic stories and a beautiful art gallery. “Victory” is the tale of the legendary battle between Starsaber and Deszaras. In “Zone,” the Nine Great Generals run wild. And in “The Battle Stars,” Super Megatron attempts to feed on planet Earth, but Optimus Prime stands in his way!

Greetings Seibertronians! Fellow Seibertron user, Sabrblade, has let us know that Volume 3 in Viz Media's Transformers: The Manga series is now available to purchase from Amazon!





This compilation contains manga stories from the Transformers: Victory, Transformers: Zone and Transformers The Battlestars: Return of Convoy, portions of Japanese Generation 1.

Here is the description from the Amazon listing

Viz Media wrote:Originally serialized in Japan’s TV Magazine, these classic stories from the Generation 1 era of Transformers are now available in English for the first time!

The Autobots and the Decepticons have been locked in a brutal civil war for eons, and now their battle has come to Earth! The Autobots seek peace and coexistence, while the Decepticons seek power and control. Earth and its populace are caught in the middle as these mighty factions go head-to-head. Transformers took the world by storm shortly after their debut, and these previously uncollected stories were a vital part of that takeover!

The final volume of Transformers: The Manga is here! This deluxe volume collects three classic stories and a beautiful art gallery. “Victory” is the tale of the legendary battle between Starsaber and Deszaras. In “Zone,” the Nine Great Generals run wild. And in “The Battle Stars,” Super Megatron attempts to feed on planet Earth, but Optimus Prime stands in his way!

About the Author

Masumi Kaneda: Born in Tokyo in 1958. Representative of KND Limited. He works as a writer, planner and organizer of publishing and broadcasting for licensed character media. The original writer for the G1 series Transformers comic, and writer of the Japanese Toei Transformers anime, and supervised production of the Japanese version of The Transformers: The Movie. Writer of Transformers TV Magazine specials and all related book media. From Super-God Masterforce to Transformers Zone, he and Ban Magami did the character designs. He created all non-toy creatures and original characters for Masterforce.

Ban Magami: Born in Kanagawa in 1957. As the apprentice of manga artist Leiji Matsumoto, he worked as an assistant on “Planetary Robot Danguard Ace,” “Galaxy Express 999” and other works. In 1985, he debuted “Fight! Super Robot Life-form Transformers” and he handled all of the serialization after that as well. He worked on the Kodansha Aoi Tori chapter book “The Secret of Tutankhamen,” the Studio DNA anthology based on the Playstation game “Space Battleship Yamato: The Far-Off Star of Iskandal,” the Heibonsha book “Engineer Story: The Power of Higher Education to Open the Door to the Future” and many other books.

Want the first two volumes? Check these links!

Volume 1.

Volume 2.

Have you bought any of these so far? Will you be picking this one up? Let us know in the Energon Pub and stay tuned to Seibertron for all the latest news and reviews!

I purchased the first two, and #3 should hopefully be delivered tomorrow. The others were nice fillers to series I've already seen , but it is this 3rd volume I've been anticipating the most. I'm just a little disappointed Operation Combination was not included.

o.supreme wrote:I purchased the first two, and #3 should hopefully be delivered tomorrow. The others were nice fillers to series I've already seen , but it is this 3rd volume I've been anticipating the most. I'm just a little disappointed Operation Combination was not included.

Surprisingly, the story pages for Zone, Battlestars, and Operation Combination are all included in this volume, but only the artwork without any of the toy catalog parts.

Though, the inclusion of the story pages in this volume makes me wish that they had done the same with the previous volumes. FSRLTF, 2010, The Headmasters, and Masterforce all had story pages too, and some of which aren't even available to find online (particularly those for The Headmasters, Masterforce, and even Victory).

ok cool, that's good to know, even though they are only story pages, I'm glad they were all included.

It would have been nice to get the story pages for the older series as well, not sure why they were left out, maybe Viz thought they were redundant since those series had actual Manga stories? How different are the content of the story pages for FSRLTF, 2010, The Headmasters, and Masterforce vs Their respective Manga ?

Anyway, this is my chance to, in my head cannon, finally see how the original series ends. It may be no more satisfying than Rebirth (it may n fact be less so...), but at least it went on longer .

Also, does anyone ever wonder what sort of weird alternate reality would exist if DIC had picked up the animation license for Transformers as well as GI Joe? I mean, 1989 was pretty much just Micromasters, and 1990 was Action Masters, but one would think/hope that Hasbro would have come up with different/better concepts with animation to support it (even as bad as DIC was in the early 90's heh...) perhaps even just importing some of the Japanese characters.

o.supreme wrote:ok cool, that's good to know, even though they are only story pages, I'm glad they were all included.

It would have been nice to get the story pages for the older series as well, not sure why they were left out, maybe Viz thought they were redundant since those series had actual Manga stories? How different are the content of the story pages for FSRLTF, 2010, The Headmasters, and Masterforce vs Their respective Manga ?

The story pages for FSRLTF were individual small stories that did their own thing at first, but then eventually decided to build up to and tie into Scramble City by featuring small stories about Metroplex, Trypticon, Ultra Magnus, and toy-colors Galvatron.

The story pages for 2010 were likewise small stories, much of which devoted their time to retelling events from TFTM to get the Japanese kids up to speed on things since the movie didn't see release in Japan until 1989.

Not much is known here in the Western World about the story pages for The Headmasters, Masterforce, and Victory, but it is presumable that they too were small stories.

o.supreme wrote:Anyway, this is my chance to, in my head cannon, finally see how the original series ends. It may be no more satisfying than Rebirth (it may n fact be less so...), but at least it went on longer .

Generation 2's story pages have a more finite conclusion, ending with a one-on-one fight between Optimus and Megatron.

But then of course, 2000s fiction produced by e-HOBBY, the Legends manga, and now the current Selects manga have all continued the Japanese G1 story into years as late as 2050.

Sabrblade wrote:

o.supreme wrote:ok cool, that's good to know, even though they are only story pages, I'm glad they were all included.

It would have been nice to get the story pages for the older series as well, not sure why they were left out, maybe Viz thought they were redundant since those series had actual Manga stories? How different are the content of the story pages for FSRLTF, 2010, The Headmasters, and Masterforce vs Their respective Manga ?

The story pages for FSRLTF were individual small stories that did their own thing at first, but then eventually decided to build up to and tie into Scramble City by featuring small stories about Metroplex, Trypticon, Ultra Magnus, and toy-colors Galvatron.

The story pages for 2010 were likewise small stories, much of which devoted their time to retelling events from TFTM to get the Japanese kids up to speed on things since the movie didn't see release in Japan until 1989.

Not much is known here in the Western World about the story pages for The Headmasters, Masterforce, and Victory, but it is presumable that they too were small stories.

o.supreme wrote:Anyway, this is my chance to, in my head cannon, finally see how the original series ends. It may be no more satisfying than Rebirth (it may n fact be less so...), but at least it went on longer .

Generation 2's story pages have a more finite conclusion, ending with a one-on-one fight between Optimus and Megatron.

But then of course, 2000s fiction produced by e-HOBBY, the Legends manga, and now the current Selects manga have all continued the Japanese G1 story into years as late as 2050.

Has there been any word on the e-Hobby, Legends manga, etc., being translated/collected and printed?

So, it's taken me a while but, recently, I finally sat down and gave Volume 1 a complete read from start to finish.


The Prologue for Fight! Super Robot Life-Form Transformers basically just recaps the backstory given in the first episode of the cartoon: The war on Cybertron between the Autobots and Decepticons, and their coming to Earth aboard the Ark after needing to find new energy sources.


FSRLFTF Chapter 1 marks the actual first fictional appearance of Menasor in Japan, since "The Key to Vector Sigma" didn't air in Japan until May 1986, while this story came out in April. This is why Trailbreaker reacts surprised to see that Menasor is a combiner made up of individual vehicle Transformers. Of course, since Trailbreaker didn't appear in "The Key to Vector Sigma", one could theoretically place this story immediately after that two-parter but before Trailbreaker's next cartoon appearance in "Cosmic Rust" (which applies for both the American and Japanese episode orders).


Chapter 2 is a pretty simple story with not much to note about it. Though, in one scene, the Autobots and Decepticons are locked in battle in an Arizona desert. Apparently, this has led some to think that the Ark is located in that state, having interpreted this battle to be at the Ark when there's no reason to come to think that.


Chapter 3 sees the beginning of the Autobots' construction of Metroplex, leading up to the Scramble City episode, even though it was released back in the same month as Chapter 1, but also before "The Key to Vector Sigma" aired in Japan, so its release was chronologically premature anyway.

This chapter also has a neat bit of continuity with something that wouldn't happen until later in The Headmasters cartoon. In this chapter, Megatron reveals to the rest of his troops that his true ambition of conquering Earth is to convert each of its continents into robotic bases and, ultimately, transform the whole planet into a giant robot. This goal of his would later resurface in the aforementioned cartoon in which he (as Galvatron) desired to merge himself with the Earth to become the planetary robot Grand Galvatron.

This story also has a typo/mistranslation in which "Scrumbuster" is spelled as "Scrambuster".


Now, Chapter 4 is a big one. While it may seem like just another simple story, it actually seems to have had a heavy influence on the Car Robots cartoon.

The story opens with the Autobots having established a new base located in Japan. This base is hidden underground, accessible through secret entrances hidden within tall parking garage complexes. It its interior walls are covered in monitor screens and its floors are adorned with human-scaled computer button consoles and workstations.

Sound familiar?



While not an exact match in artwork, the resemblance between the two in both concept and design aesthetic remarkably uncanny. The cartoon version would merely be a simplification of the manga's more detailed artwork.




Viz Media translation in the first pic, old fan translation in the second and third pics

The similarities continue with the presentation of the Autobot Road, a vast underground roadway system built 2500 meters below the Earth's surface that connects the Japanese base to many other locations around the world. This is extremely similar in concept to the Cybertron Net from Car Robots. Their names are even similar enough since the Autobot Road is actually named the "Cybertron Road" in Japanese.



However, despite this similarity, I do not believe the two to be the same thing since the Cybertron Road is said to be only 2500 meters below the surface, which would place it within the Earth's crust. Meanwhile, the first episode of Car Robots states that the Cybertron Net runs through Earth's mantle.

The Earth's crust is about 70 kilometers deep. The Cybertron Road being 2500 meters underground would only be 2.5 kilometers down. Whereas the Cybertron Net being inside the mantle would put it way down far below where the Cybertron Road would be.

Plus, Episode 21 of Car Robots also has Build Boy confirm that he and the other Buildmasters are the ones who built the Cybertron Net in the first place, and they didn't come to Earth until 2000, when the FSRLFTF manga is set during the late 1980s.

Though, it is still possible that the Buildmasters could have used the Cybertron Road as a springboard for the Cybertron Net, and simply incorporated the former into the latter when they built the Cybertron Net.

Nevertheless, I do remain convinced that the Japanese base seen in this story would go on to become the same one used by Fire Convoy's team in Car Robots over a decade later.

Also, there is another typo/mistranslation in which Tracks's name is written as "Trucks".


Anyway, Chapter 5 is mostly just a toy commercial for the four combiner teams, having them battle each other at a baseball stadium. Kenji is also in attendance with a lady friend of his, seemingly on a date together despite their both still being elementary school children.


Chapter 7 features more build up to Scramble City, with Trypticon now online and fully functional while Metroplex isn't quite ready yet, requiring Hound and Perceptor to trick him with a massive hologram of Metroplex. Trypticon also doesn't recognize Metroplex when he sees the hologram, so this is indeed set before Scramble City.

Chapter 7 continues to show just how guilible humanity is in the G1 cartoon universe since they are so easily led to believe that the Autobots are evil by the Stunticons and Onslaught wearing fake Autobot symbols and Rumble and Frenzy spreading propaganda while dressed in black KKK costumes.

I am not kidding.



It is absolutely as uncomfortable a read as it sounds.

Also, Kenji's supposed girlfriend from Chapter 5 is seen here again as a classmate of his.


Chapter 8, sadly, isn't much better since this is the one with the Decepticons' absolutely bonkers plan of creating a dog from advanced Decepticon technology, and when it escapes it ends up dying from its injuries when it uses the last of its power to enhance the Autobot Minibots.

Yep. That is a thing that happened.


Moving on, Chapter 1 of The Story of the Super Robot Life-Forms: The Transformers brings the setting to the year 2010, the year in which the Japanese dub of G1 season 3 took place, creating a five-year gap between the movie and those episodes that exists only in the Japanese version.

It's a simple story of Rodimus Prime leading the Autobots on a mission to rescue some humans whose shuttle is captured by the Decepticons' massive ship-eating vessel.

Of note is that, at the end of the story, among the humans rescued by the Autobots are two children who resemble younger versions of Kenji and his lady friend from the FSRLFTF manga. Possible offspring of theirs, perhaps?


Chapter 2 is the one with all the Megatron clones controlled by Galvatron. This story directly mentions the aforementioned 5-year gap and sees the Autobots still not fully aware of the fact that Galvatron was rebuilt from Megatron. Thus, I'd wager that this story would come pretty early in the Season 3 episodes, not too long after the "Five Faces of Darkness" five-parter (and would thus put the first chapter in that time as well).


Chapter 3 is just a big toy commercial for Metroplex and Trypticon, having them fight each other and show off Scamper, Full-Tilt, Brunt, and Sixgun. Though, since Trypticon is even in this story at all places it after "Thief in the Night", since that episode revealed that Trypticon was not destroyed at the end of "Five Face of Darkness", as the Autobots had originally believed in that episode.


Chapter 4 is the one with Gilthor (pronounced like "gill-tor"), the Optimus/Megatron fusion robot created by the Quintessons and possessed by Starscream's ghost. It's just big battle with him, Galvatron, and Rodimus. The fact that it's Starscream possessing Gilthor requires this story to come between "Starscream's Ghost" (when he is first discovered as a ghost) and "Ghost in the Machine" (when he gets a new body from Unicron and is last known by anyone to still have that body at the end).


Chapter 5 features a great big battle on Planet Feminia, which would later reappear in both the single episode and single manga chapter of Transformers: Zone. Predaking gets the main spotlight here, with Sky Lynx too busy fighting Decepticon on Earth over New York City to come fight him. So, it's the Omnibots who make a rare appearance in 1980s fiction and use the old "Snowspeeders vs. AT-AT" method to trip up Predaking.


The last three stories in this volume are from The Great Transformers War. Chapter 1 features more Combiner advertisement for the main four Scramble City Combiners, but also foreshadows to the coming of both the Terrorcons and the Technobots.

However, this is actually a bit of a continuity error since it implies that both teams haven't been built yet and that Doctor Dalton of the planet Elan will be the one to create the Technobots. This is because the episode "Grimlock's New Brain" had not yet aired in Japan at the time of this story's production, so that episode's events may not have yet been known about at the time.


Chapter 2 thus attempts to retcon the first chapter by instead saying that Dalton merely upgraded the Technobots rather than created them. Grimlock is also present in this story to further strengthen this story's connection with the cartoon. So, Chapters 1 and 2 would both fit coming around the time of "Grimlock's New Brain", despite the little hiccup in Chapter 1.


Finally, Chapter 3 is actually a prologue for the new cartoon, The Headmasters. Optimus Prime is back from the dead and the Autobot Headmasters are chasing the Decepticon Targetmasters as the latter are on their way to join up with Galvatron, as seen at the very beginning of that series' first episode.


All in all, I'm glad to finally have these stories officially available in English, but a few curious oddities in the translation remain:

• Page 52: The humans who work at the Autobots' secret Japanese base are said to be robots who turn into humans (they're not Pretenders since that gimmick didn't exist yet).
• Page 138: Trypticon's dino mode, instead of his base mode, is stated to be his Dinobase mode
• Page 186: The narration bubbles are written as though one of the characters is speaking them as dialogue rather than their merely being expositional narration to establish the change in scene.

Among many other oddities.

I'd have to go through this volume with a fine-toothed comb to point out all of these, but that's a level of work that I presently don't feel like doing.