From this cover it looks more like they’re working together, doesn’t it?
The Transformers #9
Marvel Comics (October, 1985)
“DIS-INTEGRATED CIRCUITS” WRITER: Bob Budiansky PENCILER: Mike Manley INKER: M Hands LETTERER: Rick Parker COLORIST: Nel Yomtov EDITOR: Jim Owsley (by the way, why did they break out the “crew chief” and “pit boss” jokes for the editor and editor-in-chief when racing had little to nothing to do with the story? Just because it opens on G.B. on a racetrack like Tony Stark in Iron Man 2?
G.B.’s announcement that he has a weapon to deal with the robots earns the attention of both the Decepticons and the revived Autobots. Jazz’s idea is to try to recruit him as an ally, Starscream’s idea is to destroy the weapon–unless he can snag it for himself. However, there’s a new player, Josie Beller. She’s created a tape-like high-tech “costume” that gives her the ability to battle the Transformers as Circuit Breaker. Now if she can just stop attacking the Autobots along with the Decepticons. Meanwhile, Buster finally gets a hold on his new powers courtesy of the Creation Matrix.
What they got right: I like seeing the humans at least trying to defend the planet, and it’s nice that G.B. is easy to convince that there may be some allies among the robots.
What they got wrong: The art takes a huge drop from last issue (although not as bad as the next issue), but it isn’t bad otherwise. The Circuit Breaker “costume” is a naked woman with tape-like circuitry wrapped around her that allows her to not only walk but levitate and fire electric bolts plus interact with computers and other high-tech devices. It just doesn’t hold up to scrutiny.
Other notes: This is the first appearance of Circuit Breaker, although Josie would be introduced in #5 and injured the following issue. I wonder if Budiansky had planned all along for this character rather than the idea coming to him between issues. She popped up a few more times but for all the flack I give Simon Furman I have to admit he gave her quite the sendoff. The Earth of this series isn’t as advanced as the mainstream Marvel Universe but Josie’s costume wouldn’t be the only bit of advanced science we would see in the Marvel run, perhaps an influence of at least being a Marvel-produced comic.
Recommendation: A rather important story in the Marvel run, being both the first appearance of Circuit Breaker and the formation of the alliance between Blackrock and the Autobots that would prove to be an asset in the future. Rather important to pick up.
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