“Yesterday’s” Comic> Transformers: Micromasters #1

I know I overdue the toy jokes, even when the comic is based on toys, but there are too many here to choose one.

Transformers: Micromasters #1

Dreamwave (June, 2004)

Taking place between The War Within and Generation One, we focus on Micromasters, smaller Transformers, similar to Mini-Cons only they didn’t connect to the larger Transformers. In this incarnation a group of Autobot and Decepticon Micromasters both decide to leave their respective factions citing mistreatment. The two groups meet just as they are set upon by a group of Insecticons (more on that momentarily, but not the three you know). Meanwhile, another Micromaster, Countdown, left the search for Optimus Prime and the Ark and wants to focus on stopping the Decepticons’ interplanetary operations and other threats but Ultra Magnus and Fortress Maximus (the latter wanting a truce so both factions can find their leaders) both say there aren’t enough resources for that kind of operation. So he’s planning to look elsewhere.

What they got right: I like seeing the Micromasters getting their own series. During Budiansky’s run in the Marvel years they were independent and functioned that way, even on Earth. There was potential for a spin-off but even with this series taking place on Cybertron before the Big Shutdown (we’ll get to that in the second Generation One miniseries) it could be interesting to see their adventures.

What they got wrong: I have no idea who is whom outside of Big Daddy. (Yes, that was actually a name Hasbro used and I suspect the name alone is what caused McDonough and Patyk to use it, although longtime fans, the target of the G1 era comics, would know Roadhandler more, who only gets a cameo.) We see the Decepticon Micromasters being mistreated by the larger robots the Micromasters all refer to as “guzzlers” like an insult, but what about Big Daddy’s group? Some of the Micromasters even like being Autobots and he gets mad at them because one of his friends, Crunch, was killed trying to rescue Roadbuster. While the Decepticon Micromasters come off as to be applauded for escaping their mistreatment the Autobot Micromasters just come off as self-interested jerks, and you’ll see that’s double for Countdown in the next few issues. The biggest problem, however, is that we don’t really know what’s going on. The Micromasters were all built together and for reasons not given until later were paired off between factions. Right now I’m as clueless as the first issue of many 90s comics, with no explanation as to what’s going on. All of these factors together means I don’t really care about these characters or their situation.

Other notes: The Micromasters were Hasbro’s attempts to use the “Micro Machines” craze to boost interest in Transformers. They had gimmicks like combining into larger vehicles or coming with playsets that connect to form a small city. The Insecticons here aren’t the usual Shrapnel, Kickback, and Bombshell but the “Deluxe Insecticons”, four larger Insecticon figures that weren’t used on the show because their molds didn’t come from a Takara toyline and so they didn’t have the rights. There were a few Transformers that never made it to the show because of that.

Recommendation: A shaky start since I’m not given a reason to care about these characters. However, Brad/James (whichever name he’s using at the time) and Adam are some of my favorite writers when they took over the Generation One series and hopefully they’ll pull this off as well. There still feels like there’s an issue missing somewhere, though.