Marvel Age of Transformers

MARVEL AGE 30
Sale Date: 6/11/85

Our regular artist, William Johnson, is MIA! Mike Manley [sic] is a fill-in artist for this issue, but Johnson is still on the schedule for Transformers 10 and 11. Meanwhile, Brad Joyce has been the scheduled inker since TF 7, but his only actual TF work was on #10.

We're about a year into Marvel's Transformers run. One may wonder how well was it doing in sales. According to this issue's Top Ten list, Transformers actually made the list! Spoiler alert: It would be the only time the main Transformers series would appear here. But something else will later on!

In Marvel Age #29, Transformers #8 and Secret Wars II #3 were right next to each other. Both would be released on the same date: 6/18/1985. So why is that interesting? Secret Wars II #3 is the first in-costume appearance of Circuit Breaker, which allowed Marvel to retain ownership of her.

MARVEL AGE 29
On Sale 5/7/85

The big takeaway from this month's preview is the continuing listing of William Johnson as the artist for the Transformers series. He only ended up doing TF #7 and 8. We would have a revolving door of artists for several months.

Marvel Age previewed some unfinished pencil art from Transformers #7 by new artist, William Johnson. Interestingly, this artwork is similar to, but does not match the final published scene.

MARVEL AGE 28
On Sale 4/9/85

Now we've arrived at the accurate month for the preview to Transformers #7 featuring the beginning of the long-lasting "partnership" of Ratchet and Megatron. William Johnson is the new artist for the series, and as you can see, was expected to be around for a while.

I still have mine, but because the box doesn't have a window, I never knew it had glow in the dark paint. I liked that his character was basically a TF version of the EMH Doctor from Star Trek Voyager.

While Marvel Age #27 previewed Transformers #6, it was sold in the same month as TF #5, thus has this very nice mention in the Bulletins Hype Box.

MARVEL AGE 27
On Sale 3/12/85

Well, this is unfortunate. We're finally up and running with a routine to preview three future issues of Transformers, and there is an editorial error. While this write up is for TF #6, the details are obviously for TF #7. This will be confirmed next issue.

Letters page! Another example of a Transformers letter posted in Marvel Age. This young lady started off talking about how she grew up reading comics, then mentions her favorite new title, which takes place close to her. I wonder if she is still a fan?

As you see above, Alan Kupperburg was never meant to be the full-time artist for Transformers. Right away, William Johnson was listed to be the new artist as of TF #7.

MARVEL AGE 26
On Sale 2/12/1985

We're now heading into the regular Transformer series and Marvel Age's Coming Attractions feature lists the upcoming three months of comics on their schedule. I will now attempt to cram in all that TF goodness into one image. Here, we see the final team for TF #5!

MARVEL AGE 25
On Sale 1/8/1985

January 1985 and we're one month closer to the launch of Transformers #5. But who will be the creative team? The artists announced in TF #4 are no longer on board. If Marvel Age #25 is to be believed, Frank Springer was set continue his run!

I think Annhilation also caused a bump in its prices. It's also fun pointing out that Rocket's creator, Bill Mantlo's previous work -- Transformers #1.

MARVEL AGE 24
On Sale 12/11/1984

Just one week after Transformers #4, Marvel Age's Coming Attractions lists TF#5 on its schedule for February. Unlike other entries, no creative staff is listed.
By the way, I love that Rocket Raccoon is right there. A character that would be huge 30 years later.

TRANSFORMERS 4
On Sale 12/4/1984

We've now caught up to the "final" issue of Marvel's TF comic, where its letters page revealed the news that it was going to be an ongoing series, though Marvel Age broke that news months earlier. Note the announced creative team. That will change very soon!

MARVEL AGE 23
On Sale 11/6/1984

Woah! Spoiler alert! A month before the release of Transformers #4, Marvel Age maybe gives away a little more information than necessary.

MARVEL AGE 22
On Sale 10/9/1984

TWO MONTHS before the release of Transformers #4, Marvel Age announced that the four-issue limited series would continue! The creative team for the ongoing series would be a very interesting topic as the months progress...

MARVEL AGE 21
On Sale Sept 1984

Marvel Age previews the upcoming third issue of Transformers, featuring an appearance by Spider-Man! Despite Spidey and Nick Fury appearing in this issue (not to mention the Savage Land later on), Transformers was later stated as not being part of the 616 universe.

MARVEL AGE 20
On Sale August 7, 1984
I always liked the letter columns, but Transformers had very few in its first year. However, some TF letters would actually appear in Marvel Age. This letter hilariously applauds the vary rare instance of Marvel advertising a comic on television.

MARVEL AGE 19
On Sale July 10, 1984
With Transformers being fresh bi-monthly title, comic updates at this time are limited. However, MA #19 posted a crazy-long list of their "Marvel Books" publications, including upcoming releases. Here are the scans edited to focus on Transformers titles.

MARVEL AGE 18
On Sale June 5, 1984
Only one week after the release of the first Marvel Transformers comic, Coming Attractions would reveal the plot for TF #2, while Newswatch would report Bill Mantlo would be departing the series handing off to Jim Salicrup.

The Marvel Age preview of Transformers #1 briefly covers the lore, including mentioning "Aunty" multiple times -- more times than would it would ever be mentioned throughout the entire US series. The sentient Aunty program was sidelined, and the ship itself would become known as The Ark.

I covered "BLOW-OUT", but who was originally "SPIN-OUT?" Strangely, the Marvel Age preview focused more on the character weapons than their personalities, so all we have to go by is his documented "electron-pulse gun." Looking at the Transformers Universe biographies, this points to Sunstreaker.

Each Marvel comic contained a monthly newsletter/checklist. Transformers #1 omitted this for space, but this is what would have been seen in other comics that month.

Marvel Age's preview of Transformers #1 included two panels from the premiere issue. However, this panel has completely different narration! Another sign of the heavy revisions made before publication.

The three-page preview of Marvel's Transformers #1 confirms that much of the comic was edited at the last minute. References to bots named BLOW-OUT and SPIN-OUT are throughout the article. Blow-Out is known to be Cliffjumper as one of Marvel's earliest books accidentally kept that name intact.

MARVEL AGE 17
On sale May 8, 1984
Believe it or not, this unsuspecting issue of Marvel Age is more significant than meets the eye. Released three full weeks before Marvel's Transformers #1, this magazine gave readers their first glimpse at the upcoming limited series. (more coming...)

I like that someone had to take the time to remove the obsolete "Marvel Comics Group" banner from G.I. Joe #1 and drew in all of those lines.

G.I Joe was one of Marvel's hottest titles in the 1980s and made the cover of Marvel Age three times, something Transformers never did.

I wanted to reboot this account and focus on the fascinating history of the Marvel Transformers comic. Marvel Age magazine is a wonderful time capsule and shares many insights to the publisher's activities.

Starting off with a house ad for some of the toy books at that time. Marvel Age #36 Mar 86