This thread is intended to capture the comic history of Generation 1 Transformers comics, including 1st appearances, 1st covers, and other “keys” or milestones. I’ve spent a few years now compiling this data, and I believe I’ve pretty much confirmed, or have high confidence in these being factual.
This is going to take some time to lay out everything. So I’m going to keep the thread “locked” until I’m able to transcribe as much of my research and data I have acquired, so that there is a smooth chorological flow before opening up to general comments.
If you do see an error, or would like to provide some feedback or request a special character, feel free to send me a private message, or I can create a separate thread to address for public posts.
Generally I’ll add comics in chronological order, and for now only speak to firsts within US or UK comics (as these are where 99% of the fan favorites first appeared anyway).
Starting with Marvel, then transitioning to Dreamwave, Fun Publications and then IDW which covers basically the first 40 years. I’ll only provide links to bio’s if I think the character is not one people may recognize and want to learn more, or where i got the intel. But I will say TFWiki.net and Marvel.Fandom.com have been primarily my go to’s for sources.
This will NOT be a complete list, and I’ll likely leave off obscure characters that others may not have ever heard of (much less care about first appearances). But if you have a favorite that you think I have missed (or want to eventually see), send me a message (for example, Elita-One, Windblade and Drift will make the list, but they are a ways out).
I hope everyone enjoys this as I continually add comics. We’re going to start out with the book that kicked everything off…
Release Date: May 29th, 1984 Cover art: Bill Sienkiewicz (painted) Script: Bill Mantlo / Ralph Macchio
Synopsis
The comic that started it all. Started out as a 4 issue limited series released bi-monthly. It was really intended to supplement toys sales by introducing new characters and providing some background. In fact, things were a little chaotic at first…which is noticeable in the designs of the characters throughout the first 4 issues (including the cover of issue #1…you’d think Optimus was a Decepticon with the evil eyes and crushing of a cybernetic lifeform), including coloring schemes.
The issue to own. Introducing most all beloved characters (28 transformers in all). It’s a book every transformers fan should own.
Release Date: September 20th, 1984 Cover art: Jerry Paris Script: Bill Mantlo / Ralph Macchio
Synopsis
The UK Magazine released bi-weekly, then weekly. They followed (reprinted) the US comics generally in order. Each UK issue was half a US comic (2 UK comics to 1 US comic), so even though issue 1 was released several months after the US comic issue #1, it quickly caught up. So the UK would “fill in the gap” between US issues with original UK stories, many written by Simon Furman.
Also, the UK Comic was printed on “newspaper thin” paper, making then very susceptible to damage with just about all issues essentially “rare” in high grades (i.e., NM or higher). As of this article, there are no 9.8 graded copies, only one 9.6, and three copies graded 9.4.
Also, the UK comics tended to have special add-ons, like tattoos, scratch offs (Action Transfers) and inserts. Some (such as the Action Transfers) were not physically attached to the book, and thus very rare to come across. If being delivered by mail (subscription), the recipient or delivery address may be written on the comic itself, making it very common to see this writing on the top front or back cover of issues.
While there are technically no “first appearances” within the book given the release date, it is a first cover appearance for several characters. The UK comic also supplemented the Transformers “half story” with a bonus feature, typically another part of a reprinted Marvel US Comic (see other notable appearances). The dates on the cover of the UK books are when they were to be displayed on magazine/comic racks before being pulled.
Release Date: July 31st, 1984 Cover art: Michael Golden Script/Story: Bill Mantlo / Jim Salicrup
Synopsis
Nothing too special about this issue, other than it’s the first Megatron cover. It is also the first Prime vs. Megatron battle cover, which there aren’t as many as you would think. Bumblebee is on the cover as well, so technically a first but not exactly at his best. For Bumblebee fans, there are better/more relevant covers to come.
I will also note that this issue was the first comic book I ever bought. So it probably means more to me than most anyone else, as it started my comic book collecting journey 39 years ago.
Another side note: Within the story, a song by Dazzler plays on the radio. This is the first in a series of references to mainstream Marvel continuity that the mini-series would make (see issue #3), later to be retconned.
Release Date: October 4th, 1984 Cover art: John Ridgway Script/Story: Bill Mantlo / Ralph Macchio
Synopsis
This UK issue provides the second half of the US issue #1. However it is the cover that is notable. Featuring first cover appearances for several fan favorites, but maybe more relevant is it being an homage to a classic pre-code horror EC comic, Weird Science #16! (How awesome is that?)
Release Date: October 2nd, 1984 Cover art: Mark Texeira Script/Story: Jim Salicrup
Synopsis
The issue that continuity forgot. Look out! Here comes the Spider-man, symbiote and all, making an appearance on the cover and in this book (and big part of the plot). I guess they thought sales would not be great, so why not throw in a main marvel character? But this is for the early black suit/symbiote completionists.
The only other claim to fame for this book is the cover first appearances of some popular Decepticons (albeit in shadow). Hard to tell who are the two seekers, so also forgettable.
On another note, there is one panel that shows what appears to be Shockwave standing on earth (See below), despite the plot having him on Cybertron. Likely an artist’s error (I guess we’re supposed to forget about that too).
First Appearances (Autobots)
• None
First Appearances (Decepticons)
• Shockwave (Cameo, in error)
Cover Appearances (1st)
• Ravage
• Frenzy
• Rumble
Note: You may noticed that CGC and CBCS both credit different artists for the cover, however Bob Budiansky (editor at the time) did clarify it was, indeed, Mark Texeira. I’ll likely run into both sometime this year at conventions, so I’ll be sure to confirm when I do.
Release Date: November 13th, 1984 Cover art: Mark Texeira Writer: Jim Salicrup
Synopsis
The cover of this issue diminishes its importance, as it’s actually the first (and “full”) appearances of several major and popular characters in the Transformers universe, including the Dinobots. Granted the Dinobots are “flashbacks” on a TV screen.
The cover also includes a few firsts. Huffer is not obstructed this time. Once again, it’s impossible to tell who the seeker (jet) is, as it’s half Thundercracker’s colors, and half Skywarp’s. So we’ll pass on that one.
Release Date: January 12th, 1985 Cover art: John Ridgway Writer: Steve Parkhouse
At this point the US Marvel issues went on hiatus as the series was only planned for 4 issues. Issue #5 would not come out until March of 1985, but the UK issues carried forward. So this issues marks the first original UK story, “The Man of Iron” which carried on for 4 UK issues and takes place in England (vice Oregon, where the US series was based) to avoid any conflicts with future US story telling. It’s a tale of a rescue ship to find the Autobots, which included the Man of Iron character and his companion called The Navigator, who is basically shown to be a twin (clone).
A couple things to note, this UK story, which features Optimus Prime, would be reprinted in the Marvel US comics #33 and #34, so was out of sequence. For the US readers (like myself), likely found this confusing if we did not see the disclaimer on the top of Page 1 (below) as Optimus Prime had been destroyed (died) 9 issue prior, issue #24. The disclaimer notes this story took place “a while back”.
Release Date: February 23rd, 1985 Cover art: Mike Collins Writer: Steve Parkhouse
Concluding the story that started in UK Issue #9, the actual Man of Iron or Navigator doesn’t appear until this issue. These characters will be revisited 30+ years later in the IDW universe, and retconned to imply the Man of Iron and The Navigator are the Autobot Clones Fastlane and and Cloudraker, respectively. However since not all continuities follow this logic, nor do these characters really resemble them.
First Appearances (Autobots)
Man of Iron (retconned to be Fastlane, IDW Universe)
The Navigator (retconned to be Cloudraker, IDW Universe)
Release Date: March 9th, 1985 Cover art: John Ridgeway Writer: Simon Furman
Issue #5 of the US series was about to hit stands, so the UK still had a few more weeks or original stories. So at Bob Budiansky’s recommendation, Simon Furman was hired to write the UK stories starting with this book, and much like Larry Hama of GI Joe, he’s been a mainstay in writing Transformers books 40 years later.
Release Date: April 6th, 1985 Cover art: Mike Collins Writer: Simon Furman
Continuing the story arc that started with issue #13. This book’s claim to fame is a first appearance of a Transformer from toy releases before appearing in the US comics. Red Alert makes a brief appearance (three panels), ready to pounce on a disgruntled Brawn. Interestingly, he does not appear again in a comic for a long time. When the rest of the 1985 cars are introduced in US issue #14, he is not amongst them.
Release Date: June 15th, 1985 Cover art: Mike Collins Writer: Simon Furman
Although the US series has started up again, this issues technically comes before in continuity. But no one new appears in this book. Highlighting this for its’ first cover appearance.
Release Date: March 19th, 1985 Cover art: Mark Bright Writer: Bob Budiansky
Transformers officially becomes a continuing series, and Bob Budiansky joins as writer for the long haul. No significant appearances within, however this cover may be the most iconic of all Transformers covers…instantly recognizable, possibly more than issue #1 as it’s been homaged several times since. It is also the first cover appearance of fan favorite Shockwave.
First Appearances (Autobots)
None
Cover Appearances (1st)
Shockwave
Note: The art of this cover was also re-used for issue #22 of the UK series, very difficult to find in high grade.
Release Date: June 18th, 1985 Cover art: Mark Bright & Kyle Baker Writer: Bob Budiansky
Many mistakenly see this issue as the first appearance of the Dinobots, or first “full” appearance. However they previously appeared in several panels in issue #4 (albeit on a computer screen/flash back), but they were also individually identified by name in that book. They also appeared in issue #7. But this is an iconic cover, and is the first cover for three of the 5 dinobots.
Release Date: September 17th, 1985 Cover art: Herb Trimpe Writer: Bob Budiansky
This book saw some heat with the introduction of Void Rivals. First appearance and first cover of Jetfire (who went by the name Skyfire in the cartoon). Young kids like myself who watched the cartoon and then read the comics were likely confused. And on top of that, the toy on store shelves had the comic character name, not the cartoon’s. But there is a reason…a legal one, why they went by different names.
It seems to be related to a licensing dispute (or concern for one) where Hasbro had a deal with Takara, but Jetfire’s original design was acquired by Hasbro through Bandai/Macross. Well…it’s rumored Takara didn’t like Hasbro using anything but their designs, especially since the cartoon was to air in Japan…and that meant if the cartoon called him Jetfire, it would basically be advertising a toy of Takara’s competitor. So…the name was altered for the cartoon to Skyfire (while the toy character in the US kept the Jetfire name).
Release Date: September 28th, 1985 Cover art: John Ridgeway Writer: Simon Furman
We’re going to take a small divergence from the US issues, as they won’t see any more firsts for several months at this point. And the UK issues are running weekly, and with their own stories while waiting for new material from US issues.
Highlighting this cover as it’s inspired by the iconic battle between Prime and Megatron from episode 2 of the cartoon series. So just a great cover.
