Come on, Yomtov! A shortcut this bad on the COVER?
The Transformers #35
Marvel Comics (December, 1987)
“Child’s Play” WRITER: Bob Budiansky PENCILER: Don Perlin INKER: Ian Akin & Brian Garvey COLORIST: Nel Yomtov LETTERER: Jack Morelli EDITOR: Don Daley
As the Protectobots take the arrested Blaster through a railyard, the Combaticons move in to attack them again. Caught in the middle are four kids who work with Blaster to defeat the Combaticons and earn the respect of Hot Spot, who sets Blaster free. Using the mode lock once used on Blaster, he is able to take control of Blast Off as thanks to the kids for saving him…and end up in the target sites of the now mobile Ark!
What they got right: Yeah, it’s too bad Grimlock was the one who got the Ark moving again, but it would have still opened new possibilities for the Autobots. (Sadly these wouldn’t really be realized.) It’s also good to see Hot Spot is smarter than most of the other Autobots.
What they got wrong: There’s one panel where Defensor says Bruticus’ line. I’m kind of neutral on most of the kids. I could take or leave them. Robin, on the other hand, didn’t come off as cute as Budiansky intended. I think I liked her better next issue. And no real protest from the Autobots when Grimlock wants to strap Blaster in a torture harness just for going AWOL? Forget “Optimus Prime’s way”, this isn’t even the Autobot way.
Recommendation: It’s important to the story arc and the Bruticus/Onslaught fight was good but that’s all the positives. Get it to complete the storyline I guess.
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