Random Happenstance

I totally get why it's done, but I always find it weird when another comics company reprints an old Marvel book. I have a lot of Dark Horse's Star Wars and Conan collections, but less of IDW's Transformers classics. From 2006, Transformers: Generations #5, reprinting Transformers #17 from 1986, "Return to Cybertron, part 1: The Smelting Pool!" Written by Bob Budiansky, pencils by Don Perlin, inks by Keith Williams. There were like three covers for this thing, including a "variant retro-art" one with interior art; but mine was by Ashley Wood, who seems like a get for this.

To introduce some new toys--er, characters--this issue returns to Cybertron, homeworld of the Transformers, Autobots and Decepticons alike. Somewhat troublingly, it seemed to be a rogue planet, not in orbit around a star, but just careening through space like the moon in Space: 1999. Cybertron also looked like a shiny Christmas ball from a distance, "But a closer look reveals it to be a pock-marked mechanical wasteland, a misery-ridden monument to millions of years of war and oppression." The Decepticons control at least this little corner of the planet, and were harvesting the lower class (and smaller) Transformers for fuel and raw materials. Blaster intervenes on behalf of a little robo-peasant, although he doesn't seem to think much of the potential victim; he was waiting to rendevous with Scrounge, who he also doesn't think much of, describing him as a "malfunctioning foul-up." Even Scrounge doesn't think much of himself, but using his special remote camera/boom mike arm to spy on the Decepticons, he copies some data they were pretty excited about. Transforming into a little wheel, Scrounge calls Blaster and tells him he's really got something big this time, but is then captured by one of the Insecticons. (Named later, it's Shrapnel. The Insecticons and the "conehead" seeker jets Dirge, Ramjet, and Thrust make their first comic appearances here; even if most of the baddies in the fights are generic.)

The other Autobots of Blaster's cell--it's led by Perceptor, but already feels like Blaster's in charge--write Scrounge off as probably lying and probably dead, which seemingly drives Blaster to find him more than any concern of his well-being, just to be contrary. Scrounge is taken before somewhat beefy Decepticon governor Straxus, who tears off Scrounge's gimmicked arm, then orders him thrown into the smelting pit. Blaster disobeys orders and goes after Scrounge, is promptly captured, taken before the ranting Straxus, and is also sent to the pit: being bigger and tougher, Blaster is able to get to a ledge and make his way to the already partially-melted Scrounge, who seems to know he's done for, and gives him the information. The other Autobots came after Blaster, and Powerglide rescues him, although Blaster stops to turn the pipes of molten metal back on their Decepticon pursuers in a furious act of vengeance.

Back at their base, the Autobots watch the message, transmitted from the Decepticons on earth, which also mentions that Optimus Prime was still alive. Blaster acknowledges that Scrounge died giving them hope, but seriously: Optimus and his crew (and Megatron and his) had been gone, presumed dead, for nearly "50,000 vorns," about 4,150,000 years! Would either side still be missing their leader after that long? It's also a ridiculous amount of time to spend fighting, although I suppose there would be a big offense or siege every so often, then extended periods of retrenching and regrouping. Also, most of them were not great shots. We do see Blaster make a few with his "electro-scrambler" rifle; on the toy packaging everybody had their own style of weapon, which was instead a pew-pew laser 99% of the time. 

There's a lot to chew on here, even if this plot could easily be repurposed for Sgt. Fury or any other war comic: a failure struggles to redeem himself to the hero, and dies trying. But this may be the first appearance of what later IDW comics would call neutrals, or "Nails," Transformers not aligned with the Autobots or Decepticons. Theirs does not appear to be a happy lot, as Blaster here does not seem to be particularly invested in their plight, but after millions of years of war he might feel like it's time to pick a side already, even if they did not appear to be warriors. Resources were also dwindling, which seemed to be often be the case; but the Decepticons here seem to be using it as an excuse for what could almost be considered ethnic cleansing. And although he doesn't seem to feel it as pain, there is a lot of body horror in Scrounge's dismemberment and melting death. TF continuity being what it is, he has made appearances in other versions; and got a figure in 2016! That Scrounge is a repaint of Cosmos, who co-incidentally makes his first comics appearance here. 

Although I consider myself only a casual TF fan, I had this issue as a kid; since I had been reading the mini-series which was then continued! Come to think of it, I may have had this in a digest as well, so I've bought this issue three times? What the hell, "casual" fan.