On Cybertron, TV watches you!
The Transformers #40
Marvel Comics (May, 1988)
“Pretender To The Throne!” WRITER: Bob Budiansky PENCILER: José Delbo INKER: Dave Hunt COLORIST: Nel Yomtov LETTERER: Bill Oakley EDITOR: Don Daley
Ethan Zachary has started his own video game company since the last time we saw them. He also has the digital copy of Optimus Prime, who has only limited sentience and doesn’t remember he used to be more than a video game character. Ethan’s attempts to jog him memory leads him to try to contact both the Ark (no longer there) and Sparkplug, whose phone Spike had bugged and the rebuilt Goldbug is sent to find the source, where he joins in the jogging when Optimus is sent in to spy on Scorponok’s Decepticons, who have taken over a research lab to create a new fusion of organic and technological, the Pretenders! The Autobots make their own and with Prime’s leadership save the day…but Optimus still thinks it’s all a video game!
What they got right: As silly as Optimus’ death was, or his mind being stored on a floppy disk, may be, give Budiansky credit for having a ready-made way to return Optimus Prime to the comics when Hasbro took the complaints of young cartoon and comic fans demanded his return. The introduction is smooth if you forget the silliness of how it’s done, and the Pretenders (at least as a concept) get a good “buy these new toys” introduction.
What they got wrong: I understand Scorponok’s reasoning for giving the Pretenders monster forms but the giant human isn’t much of a disguise. I’d point to the Japanese Masterforce cartoon as an example, but they ignore the Pretender shell in Autobot form rather than follow Hasbro’s idea of the shell being radio-controlled “backup” for the owner. Also, Goldbug claims he was at Optimus Prime’s funeral, but he was actually in pieces at G.I. Joe headquarters at the time.
Recommendation: I’m happy to see Optimus Prime back, and we’ll see where this story goes in a later comic. However, I’d only recommend it to see the Pretenders debut or if you’ve been following what happened to Optimus and Ethan (this being his final appearance) or you may not care what’s happening to Optimus.
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[…] this is part of what makes Superman who and what he is. I have an easier time believing Ethan Zachary had the full recording of Optimus Prime’s memories on one computer disk than I do Dubbilex carrying enough of Superman’s memories and identity to properly re-create […]
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