Release Date: October 5th, 1985
Cover art: Mike Collins
Writer: Simon Furman
This issue actually contains the first appearance of Inferno. The second of the 1985 cars releases that appeared first in the UK comics. Although it’s a one panel cameo (unnamed)
Release Date: October 12th, 1985
Cover art: Will Simpson
Writer: Simon Furman
The best part about this issue may be the reference to the Alice Cooper song. But it’s also a nice Dinobot team cover (although missing is Swoop) and is the first cover appearance of Snarl, who was left off the cover of US issue #8. It will be a while before Swoop gets his shot.
Release Date: October 26th, 1985
Cover art: John Higgins
Writer: Bob Budiansky
This issue is the first part of US Issue #9, however it is the first relevant cover appearance of Wheeljack (part of his arms could be seen hanging in UK issue #23).
Release Date: December 17th, 1985
Cover art: Bob Budiansky & Mike Esposito
Writer: Bob Budiansky
Issue #14 we get officially introduced to the 1985 release of the autobot cars. Interestingly, Red Alert and Inferno are not among them (however they did appear in prior UK issues).
Release Date: December 21st, 1985
Cover art: Mike Collins
Writer: James Hill
One thing the UK issues did, that the US issues did not, was provide Christmas themed covers and stories, typically around mid to late December. This one was the first in the series.
Release Date: Late 1985
Cover art: John Higgins
Writer: Various
Another thing the UK issues did, that the US issues did not, were annuals. Hasbro wanted to sell some toys that Christmas, so this annual introduces the Insecticons in one of several stories contained within.
UK Annuals typically were released later in the year, so exact release dates are unknown. But since the Insecticons in the US series were in 1986, we can safely conclude the 1985 Annual is their first true appearance in comics.
Release Date: January 25th, 1986
Cover art: Jeff Anderson
Writer: Simon Furman
Swoop finally gets his cover appearance.
Release Date: January 21st, 1986
Cover art: Herb Trimpe
Writer: Bob Budiansky
A few first cover appearances, albeit in the background and the wrong color. Optimus does say “Transform…and roll out!” for the first time in this issue.
Release Date: March 15th, 1986
Cover art: Robin Smith
Writer: Bob Budianski
This is the same story from US issue #14, which the characters on the cover first appeared. Hoist, Tracks and Skids already made cover appearances in the US comic, but for the other two, this is officially their first cover. Overall, this is a better cover as it features all 5 new characters.
