#g.b. blackrock

[transformers-mosaic]

Transformers: Mosaic #279 - "Year Of The R.A.A.T."

Originally posted on October 29th, 2008

Story, Art - Mike Ackerman Colours - Ian Lea

deviantART | Seibertron | TFW2005 | BotTalk

wada sez: Based on the opening dialogue about the Autobots leaving Earth “ripe for the taking”, I can only assume that this was a tie-in to All Hail Megatron serving to introduce Marvel characters G.B. Blackrock and Circuit Breaker to IDW continuity. “R.A.A.T.” was the “Rapid Anti-robot Assault Team” from the Marvel comics, led by Circuit Breaker, here used in the title as a pun on the Chinese zodiac’s Year of the Rat. Obviously, this strip never went anywhere. Clean inks and colors below.

[nazrigar]

Transformers All-Sparks: Titans of Industry and Heroes of SCIENCE

In Transformers All-Sparks, with the fall of Cobra means an new time of relative peace, and also new opportunities to change the world.

These are the folks that are the movers and shakers in the background of the AU, from robotics to energy. Also Inhumanoid references!

Titans of Industry

Isaac Sumdac: Of all the industries revolutionizing the modern age, few have made an impact that Sumdac has made with robotics. Almost every college and university grad aims to one work on Sumdac System's wonders. Everything from production lines to seamless advanced prosthetics can be attributed to Sumdac. In spite of all this, Sumdac remains dedicated to both his work and trying to be a good person first and foremost. In a world of cutthroat and self serving men, Isaac has a genuine belief in making the world a better place with his inventions. Where and how he was inspired to really push for robotics remains known only to him. Lives in Detroit.

G.B. Blackrock: The man with a hand in almost every energy revolution out there, Blackrock is the owner of Blackrock Enterprises, the company responsible for the production and construction of everything from fossil fuels to renewables in this AU. A strong belief in investing for the long term means that he's very much into investing into alternatives to fossil fuels, not just for energy, but for everything that derives from petroleum. Despite the scope of his company's wealth, he's only "just" a millionaire, for whatever he makes, he donates to causes he really believes, mostly out of a sense of guilt. For what kind of man would he be if he has all the wealth in the world without trying to make it better? Travels a lot, but his company's HQ is in Portland, Oregon.

With the only two unambiguously good business folk outta way let's get to some REAL villains!

Prometheus Black: The OTHER great industralist of Detroit, with far less scruples and morals than Sumdac. A great showman who always makes a new innovation known to the world, and spearheads much research and development in biotechnology and biochemistry. Resents Sumdac, for even he has to rely on Sumdac's work, especially in the field of agricultural sciences.

Blackthorne Shore: A minging magnate and mogul of all things digging up the soil, has an intense rivalry with Blackrock for kneecapping much of the coal trade. Ruthless, with a dominating presence. Currently trying to dig deep into the Earth to try and find… something. Information leaking out since the fall of Cobra indicates a wealth of unknowns that he must find and leave his mark before anyone else. He's not getting younger after all.

World Science Team

In a world… Where the fall of Cobra means the unleashing of unknown variables and technologies to the wider world… one team is dedicated to making sure that they not only don't fall to the wrong hands, but also make all this mad science less mad. They are… WORLD SCIENCE TEAM.

Elise Presser: The team robotics expert. Brilliant in her field of study, but prone to absent mindedness and reckless behavior. Wanted to change the world in her own way, since every robotics whizz is either working FOR Sumdac or wants to bring him down.

Dr. Herc Armstrong: A guy who seemed to be genetically engineered to be a pulp novel scientist and adventurer come to life. The great decisionmaker, outspoken and incredibly courageous.

Dr. Brian Mindbender: Dr. Mindbender was once a peaceful Orthodontist, then an experimental pain relieving device electric brainwave stimulation damaged his mind, causing him to be much more aggressive and easy angered. He joined Cobra out of the promise to "fix" his mind, but Cobra never did, so when Cobra ate itself, he surrendered peacefully, trying to get somebody to hopefully alleviate his pain. As much as modern medicine tried, they never could get him back to his pre-accident days, but at the very least he wasn't going to die, which was was the real risk of his untreated condition. He is World Science Team's resident neurologist, biologist and of course, orthodontist. Cuz someone needs to look over teeth!

Dr. Kenneth Onishi: Dr. Onishi, MASTER OF ENERGY SCIENCES also train enthusiast. Has theories and hypothesis about EVERYTHING. Big Sentai fan.

[kudosmyhero]

Transformers (vol. 1) #6: The Worse of Two Evils!

Read Date: February 01, 2023 Cover Date: July 1985 ● Writer: Bob Budiansky ● Penciler: Alan Kupperberg ● Inker: Alan Kupperberg ● Colorist: Nel Yomtov ● Letterer: Rick Parker ● Editor: Jim Owsley ◦ Keith Williams ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● I love that Shockwave can fly around as a giant laser gun ● Yeah, this isn't going to end well for Blackrock's security team… ● Josie Beller is the computer wizard who designed most of the rig ● They harpoon Shockwave, and while it causes him some pain, it's not enough to hold him ● Blackrock admits defeat and orders everyone off the rig ● Falling debris sets off electrical surges ● Yikes, Josie gets badly shocked

● Shockwaves allows the humans to leave to act as messengers. "Tell them the new era is here… the conquest of your planet by the Decepticons began today!" ● Meanwhile, Megatron is still hanging, slowly being repaired. He vows that Shockwave and all Decepticons who are obeying Shockwave's orders will live to regret it. ● Back to Buster and Optimus Prime's, uh, head… ● Optimus Prime starts instructing Buster on what to do to help him ● He instructs him to disconnect two wires and press them to his own forehead so that they'll be in "mindlink" ● yeah, he gets shocked as badly as Josie did…

● meanwhile, Ratchet is still hanging out near the cave entrance and is the sole Autobot who hasn't been captured by Decepticons ● Shockwave goes to check on Megatron, and rubs it in that he now has a defensible base and a dependable source of fuel… something that the Decepticons had failed to do under Megatron's leadership. (I mean… he ain't wrong) ● Buster wakes up and makes his way back outside to Ratchet, sharing the news that Optimus Prime is a prisoner and the other Autobots are dead ● inside the Ark, Megatron gets free of the cables holding/repairing him and goes to Shockwave with his arm cannon aimed and ready: "Shockwave, you are relieved of command!" ● he fires his fusion cannon and sends Shockwave flying for miles until he lands in a high school football stadium ● Megatron shows up then to "crush whatever life remains within" Shockwave ● they battle it out ● Shockwave pours water from a water tower on him, causing Megatron to short circuit because of his unhealed wounds ● folks gettin' electrocuted left, right, and center in this issue. this time it's Megatron's turn:

● Shockwave kicks Megatron's ass, but logic tells him that Megatron has more value to him alive than dead… ● …for now! ● Shockwave carries Megatron back to the Ark (still no one sees Buster or Ratchet) ● Shockwave demands the other Decepticons swear fealty to him and, after they see what he did to Megatron, they do ● 👏👏👏👏

Synopsis: Shockwave has arrived at G.B. Blackrock's high-tech oil drilling platform and orders the humans to surrender it over to him. Not willing to give up his latest expensive venture, G.B. Blackrock orders his security expert Josie Beller to initiated the defense systems. Whatever weapons they throw at Shockwave prove ineffectual until their pierce his armor with surface-to-air harpoons causing him pain. Furious at this attack Shockwave then begins to open fire on the rig, causing electrical feedback that short circuits the control room and electrocutes Josie. As everyone abandons ship, G.B. Blackrock finds the unconscious Josie and carries her out. He arrives on the top deck as Shockwave arrives and announces that he will allow all the survivors to flee to warn the mainland of the coming Decepticon conquest.

Radioing into the Ark, Shockwave orders a number of the Decepticons to help prepare the oil rig for Decepticon purposes. Watching his former subordinates following Shockwaves orders infuriates Megatron who vows to get revenge on Shockwave. Elsewhere aboard the Ark, Buster Witwicky attempts to come to terms with the fact that Optimus Prime's decapitated head is a prisoner of the Decepticons while all the other Autobots are apparently dead. Optimus Prime tells Buster that he is the Autobots last hope and asks him to remove two of the terminals from his head and place them on his temples. Following Prime's orders, Buster is given a massive electrical jolt that renders him unconscious.

Outside Ratchet begins to worry about what is taking Buster so long to come back when he spots Shockwave flying back to base and is surprised to find the Decepticon active on modern-day Earth when the last he could recall was that Shockwave was still on Cybertron. Shockwave enters the room where Megatron is still undergoing repairs to gloat over his achievements since taking control of the Decepticons infuriating Megatron even more. Buster meanwhile revives, and groggily sneaks out of the base and informs Ratchet of everything he's seen inside.

Megatron, despite the fact he is not fully repaired attacks Shockwave head on. Their fight sends them rocketing toward the city of Valleymond where Megatron and Shockwave duke it out on a football field. During the fight, Shockwave grabs a water tower and uses it as a club against Megatron. The former Decepticon commander foolishly strikes it causing the water to spill on his exposed circuits causing him to short out. While Megatron is reeling in pain, Shockwave transforms into space gun mode and blasts Megatron. With Megatron defeated he is tempted to destroy Megatron but comes up with a better idea. Vowing to demoralize Megatron and use him as an example to the other Decepticons, he brings the defeated former Decepticon commander and shows him to the Decepticons present, he then asks the Decepticons to pledge their allegiance to him and him alone. The Decepticons agree unanimously, including the defeated Megatron. While outside, Ratchet and Buster wrack their brains to figure out what to do next.

(https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Transformers_Vol_1_6)

Fan Art: Megatron vs. Shockwave by Dan-the-artguy

Accompanying Podcasts: ● Transformers Chronicles - episode 06

● Transformers University - episode 17

[deepfriedhopesanddreams]

Hmm a character who thought they were human but were actually a Cybertronian type character. I’m getting IDW Garrison Blackrock vibes from this.

https://tfwiki.net/wiki/G.B._Blackrock#2005_IDW_continuity

Ye

[askvectorprime]

Dear Vector Prime, Can the Enigma of Combination be used on organic beings?

Dear Cautious Combiner,

Sovereign of course used the Enigma to unite organic minds thousands of years ago. But, I have also seen its power modified to work on organic bodies. Unfortunately, this is a one-way, and one-time, combination. Please take my word for it, as I cannot recommend that you personally investigate this.

[siphersaysstuff]

August’s @tfwiki Patron-back image theme is by Patron suggestion, and it’s the Fun Publications Transformers Subscription Service! Quite a few of these toys’ entries were still using the Photoshopped publicity mockups, and a couple had nothing at all on an individual basis!

Honestly, I’m kind of surprised I hadn’t hit some of these soon, for Personal Reasons.

Rounding out the set are a pair of non-TFSS items, just normal “club members can order this” from a big box set, that are just weird but needed their own pics.

Thrustinator

Prime Barricade

Prime Frenzy

Animated Jackpot

Carzap

Kreon G.B. Blackrock

Fisitron (aka Ironfist)

Blackcat

Toaster

RID2K Scourge

If you like what I do here, consider chucking a buck my way via Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/gregstfwikipics

[thefingerfuckingfemalefury]

It helps to be somewhat familliar with stuff in the Action Man and GI Joe books IDW has done I would say but I also wouldn’t argue that it’s impossible to enjoy the series if you are only familliar with stuff on the Transformers side of things...since of the human cast, two of the characters are human/Cybertronian G.B Blackrock and Ayana Jones from the Transformers: Robots in Disguise ongoing so everything you need to know about them is in that book

Not gonna lie

I am intrigued by Revolutionaries (the IDW team-up book) but I am not really a follower of any of the characters. So while some panels look fun, whacky, and cool, I don’t know if the characters and their interactions will be enough to draw me in. All I have seen is little glimpses after all, just whatever fans have posted on tumblr.

So if I may, what does anyone reading the book think? @renaroo @thefingerfuckingfemalefury @ayellowbirds I do not know if you have been reading Revolutionaries, but as you are skilled in Transformers IDW I figured I should ask you first. But really, all advice is welcome.

[allspark]

The first two Seacons are finally swimming over to this side of the Pacific!

Thanks to a tip from Allspark supporter G.B. Blackrock, we’ve learned the first two of the Generations Selects Seacons are now available for pre-order on Hasbro Pulse!

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  Curiously being listed under their Japanese names Turtler and Gulf rather than the American names Snaptrap and Skalor, these two went up for preorder on Japanese Transformers manufacturer Takara Tomy’s own online shop last week. Following the exciting precedent set by Takara’s Star Convoy, it seems the global brand unification means Transformers fans in the US won’t be forced to pay import prices for the pair!

  Turtler can be found here for $59.99 and Gulf can be found here for $34.99. While certainly marked up above normal Voyager and Deluxe Class prices, you can’t say they haven’t done plenty of new molding to justify it! At this time Hasbro does not seem to be offering a bundle of the two like Takara is.

  To share in the Seacon hype, check out the Allspark forums, Discord server, or Facebook group!

Generations Selects Seacons Now Available for Pre-Order on Hasbro Pulse! The first two Seacons are finally swimming over to this side of the Pacific!

[thelastgherkin]

Titans Return Alpha Trion with Sovereign

Finally, a toy of a major player that’s been in Transformers since the beginning!  ...and Alpha Trion.

[foxyturttle]

I wish I was more like you, G.B.

[kudosmyhero]

Transformers (vol. 1) #10: The Next Best Thing to Being There!

Read Date: February 23, 2023 Cover Date: November 1985 ● Writer: Bob Budiansky ● Penciler: Ricardo Villamonte ● Inker: Brad K. Joyce ● Colorist: Nel Yomtov ● Letterer: Janice Chiang ● Editor: Mike Carlin ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● Shockwave thinks Optimus Prime's head is going to be a mother (…and that's one of the oddest sentences I think I've ever typed) ● wait, I thought they needed the creation matrix to make new robots. So how are there now three new Constructicons? Scavenger, Mixmaster, Bonecrusher, Scrapper, and Hook ● Huffer looks pretty cool, but I imagine having that permanent hood-like structure really limits his peripheral vision:

● Yikes, Laserbeak fires two missiles at the army encampment. The people are ok, but all of the vehicles start melting. ● Sparkplug Witwicky is finally home from the hospital. Instead of resting, he immediately goes to his garage. ● heh, is Buster going to accidentally imbue his garage tools with sentient life? ● ah, the Constructicons can combine into a biiiiig robot ● Soundwave lookin' good this issue ● 👏👏

Synopsis: At G.B. Blackrock's Aerospace Plant, Shockwave forced Optimus Prime to witness as he completes the final touches on his six new Decepticon warriors whom he dubs the Constructicons: Scrapper, Mixmaster, Scavenger, Hook, Long Haul, and Bonecrusher all of whom can transform into Earth-based construction vehicles. As Prime witnesses this he wonders what Shockwave will do to him when he learns that he no longer carries the Creation Matrix.

While at the Autobot base, the Ark, Prowl show G.B. Blackrock around their base where they discuss telling the world of their existence while Blackrock secretly marvels at how the technology aboard the Ark could be a boon to his company. He is then shown the repair bay where he watches as Jazz gets repairs to the damage sustained from Circuit Breaker. Prowl points out that their war is not without casualties and turns Blackrock's attention to Sunstreaker whom they have not been able to fully repair as yet. They then meet Huffer who is working on reestablishing communications and find that he is just reminiscing over their homeworld Cybertron. Showing Blackrock the repaired and headless body of Optimus Prime, Blackrock suddenly remembers that the phone system at his Aerospace plant is rigged to allow for him to dial a special number and listen in from any phone in the building even if it's hung up. With this revelation, Prowl orders Huffer to connect a phone hook-up.

They are then radioed by Bumblebee, who has been scouting the Aerospace plant and he reports in seeing Laserbeak dropping a special bomb on the soldiers positioned outside the base, causing their weapons and vehicles to melt. While the soldiers are harmless, the Constructicons rush out to carry out their first mission. Prowl orders Bumblebee to follow after him and promises to send out a team of Autobots to meet with him. Inside the Aerospace Plant, Shockwave then shows off his next work in progress, the ultimate jet fighter that he dubs Jetfire.

At the Witwicky house, Sparkplug finally comes home from the hospital and is surprised to find that his son has fixed up all the cars that were waiting for repairs. While he is glad his father is proud of him, Buster keeps secret the fact that he gained strange powers that allow him to mentally control all things made of metal thanks to the fact that Optimus Prime transferred the Creation Matrix into him.

Meanwhile at a road-side diner in Idaho, Bomber Bill stops in for his usual meal while on the road shipping freight in his big-rig. While showing off pictures of his children to the waitress, Bomber Bill is suddenly startled when the Constructicons arrive and steal all the big rigs, including Bomber Bill's rig. Wanting to get home to his family, Bomber Bill decides to follow after the truck thieves and get his vehicle back. That night he watches as an Autobot convoy speeds by and manages to stop Huffer. Hopping into the Autobot, he is shocked to find that there is nobody inside driving, leaving Huffer to explain what he is.

The Autobots track the Decepticons to a space monitoring center in the mountains where the Constructicons and Soundwave are building a giant transmitter out of the stolen trucks and radio equipment. Spotting the Autobots, Soundwave orders the Constructicons to defend the transmitter while he completes his transmission to Cybertron. The Constructicons then merge into one giant form, a robot called Devastator who manages to keep the Autobots at bay. Ordering Huffer to destroy the transmitter the home-sick Autobot is hesitant at first and fails to stop Soundwave from completing his transmission.

Bomber Bill meanwhile has found his truck complete and intact and uses it to sever some of the wires leading to the transmitters. When Soundwave attempts to kill Bomber Bill, Huffer saves him knocking Soundwave aside. With their mission accomplished, the Constructicons separate and transform into their vehicle modes and retreat. Huffer and the Autobots then bid Bomber Bill farewell and Huffer comments on how he envy's Bill for being able to go home when he can't.

Lastly at the Aerospace Plant, Shockwave is annoyed to find that Optimus Prime has not used the Creation Matrix to bring life to Jetfire yet and determines that if Prime cannot produce this new warrior then his usefulness has come to an end. Listening to this threat over the phone are G.B. Blackrock and Prowl.

(https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Transformers_Vol_1_10)

Fan Art: Constructicons by xjager513

Accompanying Podcasts: ● Transformers Chronicles - episode 10

● Transformers University - episode 24

[askvectorprime]

Have you ever seen a reality where, instead of transformers coming/crashing on earth, humans came to cybertron?

Dear Arriving Astronaut,

Indeed so! For instance, G.B. Blackrock and the Neo-Knights played a vital role during the defense of Cybertron, then helped Hi-Q find the Last Prime and rescue that iteration of Cybertron from certain destruction. Sadly, not all such encounters have been positive; perhaps you remember Joe Colton’s infamous attack on Iacon, which ended with the introduction of the humanoid Prysmosians—and their own conflict—to a war-weary Cybertron.

[kudosmyhero]

Transformers (vol. 1) #5: The New Order

Read Date: January 28, 2023 Cover Date: June 1985 ● Writer: Bob Budiansky ● Penciler: Alan Kupperberg ● Inker: Alan Kupperberg ● Colorist: Nel Yomtov ● Letterer: Rick Parker ● Editor: Jim Owsley ◦ Keith Williams ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● this cover is quite intimidating. how can Shockwave's expression be so scary when he doesn't even have a face to emote? (amazing cover art by Mark Bright) ● wait… is Spidey back? that looked like his head logo ● lots of Autobots hanging by their ankles ● Thundercracker, Starscream, Ravage, Buzzsaw, and Laserbeak are undergoing rehabilitation. ● Shockwave tells a recuperating Megatron that he is assuming command (yeah, we'll see how that goes) ● Megatron brings Shockwave up to speed on the past 4 million years ● the people trying to figure out why the ambulance is speaking ● Megatron actually calling him "Commander Shockwave," but is basically just giving him enough rope to hang himself with. Shockwave is being pretty badass here, though, and he's just catapulted to one of my faves ● 11 Decepticons are all that remain?

● 👏👏👏👏

Synopsis: Having taken over the Ark, Shockwave has strung up all the Autobot's deactivated bodies from the ceiling of the ship and has begun the process of reviving all the Decepticons, and filtering out the poisoned fuel provided to them by Sparkplug Witwicky. The Decepticon requiring the most repair is Megatron, whom Shockwave deals with contempt and informs him that he is taken over leadership of the Decepticons, earning the now former Decepticon commanders ire. Shockwave has also taken a point of monitoring the Earth's television transmissions and learns of G.B. Blackrock's new high-tech oil rig that has been designed by his technologically gifted employee Josie Beller.

While at the Greater Portland Hospital, Buster Witwicky goes out looking for Ratchet and finds him just returning back with a pair of paramedics answering a call. When the medics realize that the ambulance they were riding can talk they are all frightened away. Buster explains to them that his dad pulled through the surgery and informed him that he tainted the Decepticons fuel so that they would lose their battle against the Autobots. Ratchet is concerned however because he is unable to contact the Autobots via radio and Buster convinces Ratchet to let him tag along in case there is trouble. Before he goes, Buster decides to visit his father one more time.

In Sparkplug's hospital room to tell his father that he is going back to the Ark. Sparkplug expresses his disapproval telling him that getting involved with alien robots is not a thing a high school student should do and has him promise that he is only going to say his final goodbyes, Buster promises his father that he will even though it saddens him deeply.

Back aboard the Ark, Shockwave gets all the Decepticons back up to working operation and has the remaining deactivated Autobots strung up on the ceiling. He then gloats to Megatron that he intends to use Optimus Prime's Creation Matrix to create the next generation of Decepticon warriors for him to command in his quest to conquer the entire planet Earth, seizing its energy resources. Shockwave then transforms into a space gun mode and flies off to begin his bid for conquest.

Ratchet and Buster meanwhile arrive at the Ark and are shocked to find Rumble and Frenzy guarding the base. Buster convinces Ratchet to let him slip past the entrance and investigate what's going on. Sneaking inside Buster is horrified to find all the Autobots destroyed and strung up on the ceiling. Rounding the corner he runs into the severed head of Optimus Prime, kept alive by the Decepticons. As Buster looks on in ever increasing horror the head of Prime tells Buster that he is the Autobot's last hope.

(https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Transformers_Vol_1_5)

Fan Art: Shockwave by sakuranez

Accompanying Podcasts: ● Transformers Chronicles - episode 05

● Transformers University - episode 17

[kudosmyhero]

Transformers (vol. 1) #31: Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash Of Doom

Read Date: July 12, 2023 Cover Date: August 1987 ● Writer: Bob Budiansky ● Penciler: Don Perlin ● Inker: Jim Fern ● Colorist: Nel Yomtov ● Letterer: Rick Parker ● Editor: Don Daley ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● Shockwave! it’s been a minute ● did I… did I miss the Witwickies?

● I wanna go through a carwash now… ● 👏👏👏👏

Synopsis: Ratbat has come to the planet Earth to audit the Earthbound Decepticons methods of gathering Earth fuel. Overlooking a raid of an oil tanker that happens by the Decepticon's base in the Florida Keys. While the raid is a success, they have been duped into attacking a decoy ship that has not a single drop of fuel in it. This leads Ratbat to label Shockwave's operation a complete waste of energy and points out that they should be exploiting the humans to give them fuel instead of attacking them. When Shockwave points out that humans are too unpredictable, Ratbat explains that he's already using them in his current plans.

In Portland, Oregon, business at Sparkplug Witwicky's garage is booming since the installation of a new Wash & Roll, a car wash franchise that is owned by G.B. Blackrock. Despite the fact that there is a fuel shortage in the area, people are coming by in droves to gas up at Sparkplug's place, making it hard for Buster to have a social life and maintain his relationship with Jessie. While at Blackrock Enterprises, G.B. Blackrock addresses the press and discusses the success of his Wash & Roll franchise and unveils a model for a new deluxe model of the popular car wash to them. When the press leaves, Blackrock returns to his office where he pulls out a cassette that transforms into Ratbat, who congratulates him for a job well done.

That night at the Witwicky owned Wash & Roll, Jessie comes by in her parents car and asks Buster if he wants to go through the Wash & Roll with her. He agrees but is hardly impressed by the Wash & Roll's visual effects and other features. Realizing how insensitive she has been in choosing this as a date, Jessie attempts to make up by starting a make out session. However, because she is looking out the windshield, she is bombarded by hypnotic lights and put into a trance. When the car wash is over she abruptly ends the date and leaves. Buster, finding it all strange decides to follow after her.

He tails her to a Blackrock owned fuel refinery where he sees a number of the locals coming in and lining up for something. Spotting Jessie seemingly fueling up her car, he flashes his headlights at her snapping her out of the trance. Spotted by Laserbeak, the Decepticon herds him into the line, and he soon realizes that the Decepticons has hypnotized people with the Wash & Roll's so that they come to this Blackrock refinery to siphon out their gas tanks. Picking up Jessie they are about to leave to tell the authorities when Buster spots his dad in the lineup of cars.

Turning back the couple snoops around and finds Blackrock and Ratbat unveiling the new model of the Wash & Roll and explains to the hypnotized thrall gathered that to go through it will make the hypnosis permanent. When Sparkplug is the first person to volunteer to try it out. Buster gets in the way and is forced to drive into the Wash & Roll himself, with Ratbat not far behind. Buster manages to fend off an attack by Ratbat with a crowbar, and the effects of the Wash & Roll before Jessie can rescue him. Climbing to the top of the Wash & Roll, Buster tosses the crowbar at its light up sign causing a flash of electricity that snaps everyone out of their trances.

Led by G.B. Blackrock, the mob then attacks Ratbat and Laserbeak sending them fleeing. In the aftermath, Blackrock promises to have all the Wash & Roll's disassembled and refund everyone and send the proceeds to the stolen gas to charity. In the end, Jessie resumes with Buster where their date left off: a kiss.

(https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Transformers_Vol_1_31)

Fan Art: Colours on Casey's Soundblaster by hellbat

Accompanying Podcasts: ● Transformers Chronicles - episode 31

● Transformers University - episode 93

[kudosmyhero]

Transformers (vol. 1) #30: The Cure

Read Date: July 12, 2023 Cover Date: July 1987 ● Writer: Bob Budiansky ● Penciler: Don Perlin ● Inker: Ian Akin ◦ Brian Garvey ● Colorist: Nel Yomtov ● Letterer: Janice Chiang ● Editor: Don Daley ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● biiiiig Decepticons ● oh interesting…Ratbat is sending a team of Autobots to, um, euthanize those infected with Scraplets ● poor Bumblebee Goldbug

● oh… my gosh. is this gonna be a Signs thing where water is the secret weapon? ● the Scraplets are kinda cute in a gremlin-y way ● Autobots and Decepticons working together ● 👏👏👏

Synopsis: A group of Autobot juice-boosters known as the Throttlebots are led into a trap laid out by Decepticon fuel auditor Ratbat. Having captured the group, Ratbat then shows them the situation on Earth: While attempting to deliver a special cargo and place device on an appropriate human, the Decepticon Triple Changers have been infected with Scraplets, metal eating robots from outer space. They also report that they have taken the Autobot, Blaster (also infected) as their prisoner. Ratbat then forces the Throttlebots to go to Earth and eliminated all the Transformers that have been infected by the Scraplets by spraying them with acid to ensure an outbreak doesn't return back to Cybertron or foil the Decepticons plans for dominating the Earth. He gives the Throttlebots 10 hours to complete the job or he will destroy the entire Earth.

Meanwhile in Arizona, Goldbug (who has also been infected with Scraplets) and Charlie Fong are running out of time. Goldbug is so weak from the Scraplets that he cannot drive and Charlie pushes him out of the desert to a nearby Blackrock gas station. When the attendants give Charlie some water, he accidentally spills some on Goldbug. To his surprise, the Scraplets exposed to the water suddenly die. Realizing that water is the cure, Charlie attempts to grab the water hose to spray Goldbug, but the attendants -- not knowing what he's doing -- attempt to stop him because there is a water shortage.

While at the crater, the Space Bridge returns and the Throttlebots cross over and are preparing to hose down the area with acid when they notice that there are tire tracks leading out of the crater and into the desert. Rollbar orders the other Throttlebots not to act until he gets back and leaves with Wide Load to find the Transformer who escaped. They track Goldbug to the gas station where they attempt to spray him with the acid, however, Charlie purposely infects Wide Load with the Scraplets to show him that he's found the cure. Convinced, the allow Charlie to hose down Goldbug curing him of the Scraplets. Goldbug then places in a call to G.B. Blackrock calling in a favor and gets him to ship in two tanker trucks full of water to the crater area.

Returning to the carter, Goldbug tells Blaster that they found the cure, however in curing Blaster they would also cure the Decepticon Triple Changers. Blaster orders Goldbug to use the acid instead, however while they are arguing thousands of Scraplets merge together into a gigantic form and attack the Throttlebots. Overpowered, Goldbug has no choice but to cure all the infected in the crater in order to save the Throttlebots from the giant mass of Scraplets. Within moments, the Decepticon Triple Changers brutally cripple the giant Scraplet mass giving Blaster a moment to toss a barrel of acid on it destroying it for good.

While everyone is distracted, Astrotrain fires the device he brought with him to Cybertron unseen onto the forehead of G.B. Blackrock. Blackrock is suddenly bombarded by a hypnotic flash of light however, this goes unnoticed. In the aftermath of everything, the three Decepticons manage to escape with the whatever cargo was in the alien ship. Despite this setback, Blaster and Goldbug reconcile with each other and Blaster is glad that Goldbug ran off and found the cure and knows that his partner is not a coward.

(https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Transformers_Vol_1_30)

Fan Art: Autobots 84 Ark groupshot by Dan-the-artguy

Accompanying Podcasts: ● Transformers Chronicles - episode 30

● Transformers University - episode 93

[kudosmyhero]

Transformers (vol. 1) #29: Crater Critters

Read Date: July 11, 2023 Cover Date: June 1987 ● Writer: Bob Budiansky ● Penciler: Don Perlin ● Inker: Ian Akin ◦ Brian Garvey ● Colorist: Nel Yomtov ● Letterer: Janice Chiang ● Editor: Don Daley ●

**HERE BE SPOILERS: Skip ahead to the fan art/podcast to avoid spoilers

Reactions As I Read: ● I prefer the name ‘Bumblebee’ ● they can take gasoline now? ● panel ● oh yeah, I forgot Goldbug and Blaster have gone rogue ● 👏👏👏

Synopsis: A Decepticon cargo shuttle crash-lands in the Arizona desert, it's pilot attempts to crawl out of the crater, but something pulls him back in, something painful, as he is pulled back down he drops a lone bolt. While in Oregon, Goldbug and Blaster has sought out G.B. Blackrock, convincing him to take his date home in Goldbug. Blackrock is less than impressed that his date is ruined, after refueling Goldbug, the two Autobots transform. Blackrock is a little surprised seeing Goldbug (having seen him last when he was Bumblebee) and he wasn't aware of Blaster until he transformed into robot mode. His lack of trust angers Blaster who tells him he lost a friend battling the Decepticons. This leads to an argument between Blaster and Goldbug over leaving a comrade behind, Blaster tells Goldbug he had no choice.

Blackrock interrupts the argument and asks them what they want. They explain that they have gone rogue and are seeking out the Decepticons and want to know if he's heard anything. Blackrock tells them he's heard reports of a strange meteor that has crashed in the Arizona desert that has been sending out radio signals. After driving Blackrock home, the two Autobots head to Arizona to check it out.

Meanwhile, on Cybertron, Decepticon fuel auditor Ratbat has called the Decepticon Triple Changers, Astrotrain, Blitzwing, and Octane, to investigate the crash on Earth. Because of the sensitive nature of the mission he is forced to use the highly energy consumptive Space Bridge to send the Triple Changers to Earth to investigate.

The crater on Earth has also brought the attention of a group of research scientists led by Dr. Walter Huddleston. Among the scientists is the young and eager Charlie Fong, who inquires about going down into the crater, however Huddleston tells him they must ensure it is safe first. Just then, the Space Bridge materializes at the lip of the crater and the three Triple Changers arrive. They buzz the area in their flight modes scaring away all the scientists. Descending into the crater, the trio of Decepticons attempt to approach the pilot who is laying in a pile of nuts, bolts, and screws. The pilot warns them to stay back, and Blitzwing -- taking the caution as a threat -- steps forward into the pile of nuts and bolts, and is shocked by sudden pain and then realizes some of the bolts and screws have lodged themselves into his foot.

The robots arrival has caused the military to seal off the crater, leading to much disappointment for Charlie. Having just arrived Goldbug and Blaster overhear Charlie complaining about wanting to get beyond the military blockade and see what's in the crater and decide to reveal themselves to him and help him out. Approaching the military, Charlie attempts to pass Blaster off as a motion detector that can help the military monitor the Decepticons movements in the crater, they let him pass.

As they approach the crater, the lone bolt that was dropped on its lip earlier suddenly transforms into a tiny robot and spies the two Autobots and sees them as a source of food. When the Decepticons come out of the crater and attack, their blasts send Charlie falling into the crater, however, Goldbug goes down after him just narrowly avoiding getting bit by the small robot. There they find the wrecked Decepticon ship and it's pilot. The pilot explains to Goldbug and Charlie that he was hired to carry special cargo to Earth because using the Space Bridge would have been too costly. While preparing routine repairs to the ship, he flew through a strange cloud in space. It turned out to be Scraplets, parasitic robots that can transform into nuts bolts and screw, that feed and multiply off of living mechanical creatures. Finishing his story the robot then dies. The Scraplets, detecting Goldbug in the vicinity transform into robot mode and swarm toward him. Charlie manages to keep them at bay, however.

Above the crater, Blaster tries his best to keep the three Decepticons at bay, however their fight ends up breaking up the lip of the crater sending them all crashing down into it. Blaster lands on a pile of Scraplets, getting infected instantly. As Octane explains what's happened to Blaster, Blaster radios to Goldbug to get ready for a surprise attack. However, Goldbug hesitates when Octane mentions that 83,000 years ago Cybertron was infected with Scraplets but a rare element was used to destroy them, Charlie realizes there may be a cure and that they need to find it. Convincing Goldbug to flee, Blaster thinks that his partner is a coward and is struck down easily.

Goldbug has second thoughts and transforms at the top of the crater. As Charlie tries to convince him that they have to go to find a cure, Goldbug is infected by the lone Scraplet at the top of the crater. With no other choice, Goldbug transforms again and the two drive off into the desert in the hopes to find a cure. However, not even a half hour later, Goldbug is in rough shape leaving them both to wonder if he and Blaster are going to survive.

(https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Transformers_Vol_1_29)

Fan Art: It's been ages! by beroberob

Accompanying Podcasts: ● Transformers Chronicles - episode 29

● Transformers University - episode 93