“Yesterday’s” Comic> The Transformers #20

“But I don’t have a pencil.”

The Transformers #20

Marvel Comics (September, 1986)

Still injured from last issue, Skids is found by a woman named Charlene and her wisheshewasherboyfriend Wendell. They have him repaired, thinking he’s just an ordinary van and Charlene needs a new car. When she learns the truth she takes Skids to learn all about the area and her fascination with the Old West. However, Donny’s looking for Skids too so he can warn the Autobots and that jerk from last issue is hunting Skids to wreck him. Then there’s Ravage, who hunting Donny. This leads to a Skids/Ravage battle in an abandoned Old West town.

What they got right: The problem with a cast this large in a monthly comic, or even a daily TV series, is that not everybody gets a focus story. Skids usually gets no character development, but this is moment and it’s used well. Skids becomes a bit more “fleshed out” (pardon the expression). The art is very good, especially when it comes to Ravage.

What they got wrong: To this day Skids and Charlene’s…relationship is the source of parody by Transformers fans, and frankly even I can see…and be creeped out by…how the two interact. We keep hearing about how Transformers have no gender, but I feel dirty watching Charlene giving Skids a washing, and not just because of her outfit. I think bringing Wendell more into the story and having him win over Charlene might have been more interesting. Otherwise he doesn’t do a lot in this story that couldn’t be done without him. It’s not like Charlene really learns Skids’ “moral” to her at the end of the story. Thankfully, Jake and Frannie won’t be back…although Jake was the annoying jerk that, while pushing Skids’ story along, I could do without.

Other notes: This will be the last time Budiansky writes Ravage. Furman brings him back during his run and references his defeat in this issue, but I’ll comment on that when we get there. Skids and Donnie will be an interesting team in the next story arc, after next issue’s one-shot story. The cover refers to a dream that Skids has after Jake smashes him with a tire iron or whatever he had, so technically it does show up in the story, representing Skids being torn between returning to the war or staying with Charlene. The story ends with Charlene talking about how she junked her last car, which seems an odd line to end the comic on.

Recommendation: A good story that stands on its own even though it was set-up last issue. It’s worth a read.