2ndSndWve: "Sparks" was Firebolt's the name in the Marvel comics (and UK Ladybird storybooks). Since the comics' writer, Bob Budiansky, named most of the characters in the original toyline, it's hard to say whether the original intent was for the character to be named Sparks or Firebolt. Anyway. Returning to our theme of "Optimus Prime blowing up violently", here's the explosive splash page to issue 41, Totaled! http://obscuretf.com/Jose%20Delbo%20Transf...20Page%20.jpg Plus, as a Thanksgiving treat, here's an additional NINE pages from issue 42, "People Power!" - including Darkwing, Dreadwind, and the debut of Optimus Prime in his Powermaster Super Mode! http://obscuretf.com/Jose%20Delbo%20Transf...20Page%2002.jpg http://obscuretf.com/Jose%20Delbo%20Transf...20Page%2003.jpg http://obscuretf.com/Jose%20Delbo%20Transf...20Page%2004.jpg
Okay, I left this out last time... here's the COVER to issue 42! As far as I know, this is the only other Transformers cover to show up on Heritage Auctions, making it a rather special piece. It can! It is! Optimus Prime is back! (For, uh, like the third time overall...) http://obscuretf.com/Jose Delbo Transformers 42 Page 05.jpg We'll end this week's round of offerings with the final set of pages from issue 45, Monstercon from Mars! Sky Lynx! A rampaging Skullgrin! Plus the opening splash page, which - while not featuring any TFs - is still kinda a rare thing to see. http://obscuretf.com/Jose Delbo Transformers 45 Pages.jpg http://obscuretf.com/Jose Delbo Transformers 45 Pages 02.jpg
For this week's round, boys and girls, here's... way more of the Roadjammers than anyone wants to see, but also the hilarious trio of Mr. L, Mr. K and Mr. B, plus the Sparkabots and the Triggerbots! Look, it's Guzzle! In Marvel G1! http://obscuretf.com/Jose Delbo Transformers 46 Pages.jpg http://obscuretf.com/Jose Delbo Transformers 46 Pages 02.jpg Since I'm dividing the pages from issue 46, Ca$h and Car-nage!, over two weeks, here's a bonus single panel of Blaster by Don Perlin scanned from an issue of Marvel's Transformers digest series. http://obscuretf.com/scan0010.jpg
Completing our run of Ca$h and Car-Nage!, here are the last two sets of pages from the story. The Small Decepticon Headmasters transform and combine! A nice, big panel of Scorponok in beast mode... AND a splash panel of Scorponok getting shot by all the remote-controlled Transformers! http://obscuretf.com/Jose Delbo Transformers 46 Pages 03.jpg http://obscuretf.com/Jose Delbo Transformers 46 Pages 04.jpg Now, to get the taste of Skunge, Felix, Burn-Out and Mr. T - er, Randy "Roadhog" Horton out of our mouths, here's another gem scanned from the Transformers digests: the cover of The Headmasters #1, with art by none other than Bob Budiansky HIMSELF! http://obscuretf.com/scan0005.jpg Aw yeaah.
And now, the rest of "The Flames of Boltax", including Delbo's mouthed Soundwave, Optimus Prime's (second) Cybertronian mode, and... a very nicely inked panel of Starscream and Ratbat? Oh, that's right - Danny Bulanadi is back on inks! Hurray! http://obscuretf.com/Jose%20Delbo%20Transf...0Pages%2002.jpg http://obscuretf.com/Jose%20Delbo%20Transf...0Pages%2003.jpg Plus, here's the only OTHER page in the Heritage Auction archives that isn't by Jose Delbo. All the way from issue #2, "Power Play!", here's a page by FRANK SPRINGER! http://obscuretf.com/Frank%20Springer%20Tr...2002%20Page.jpg Happy holidays, all!
And now, from the blockbuster-sized fiftieth issue of Transformers, "Dark Star", comes a whole lot of death and destruction! Also, Kirby Dots. http://obscuretf.com/Jose%20Delbo%20Transf...2050%20Page.jpg http://obscuretf.com/Jose%20Delbo%20Transf...20Page%2002.jpg http://obscuretf.com/Jose%20Delbo%20Transf...20Page%2003.jpg
And now, the explosive conclusion of "Dark Star"... http://obscuretf.com/Jose%20Delbo%20Transf...20Page%2004.jpg http://obscuretf.com/Jose%20Delbo%20Transf...20Page%2005.jpg ... and two pages from nobody's favorite issue, "The Man in the Machine!" http://obscuretf.com/Jose Delbo Transformers 51 Page 02.jpg http://obscuretf.com/Jose Delbo Transformers 51 Page.jpg Clifford Dietz for all!
And now, "Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?"! http://obscuretf.com/Jose Delbo Transformers 52 Pages.jpg Cloudburst and Landmine! The Grand Central Space Station! Blaster and Goldbug's decapitated heads! http://obscuretf.com/Jose Delbo Transformers 52 Pages 02.jpg Berko! Hi-Test and Throttle! A space hooker by way of Dr. Seuss! http://obscuretf.com/Jose Delbo Transformers 52 Pages 03.jpg Landmine versus Mecannibals! Some of these pages might actually be from "Recipe for Disaster!". I don't quite remember how the stories break down.
For this week, here's the rest of "Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?"... http://obscuretf.com/Jose Delbo Transformers 52 Pages 04.jpg http://obscuretf.com/Jose Delbo Transformers 52 Pages 05.jpg ... and the splash page for "Recipe for Disaster", with Master Mouth! http://obscuretf.com/Jose Delbo Transformers 53 Page.jpg So much toothyness.
It CAN! It IS! Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached the Furman era of the US comic! Our first stop: The Resurrection Gambit! http://obscuretf.com/Jose Delbo Transformers 57 Pages.jpg http://obscuretf.com/Jose Delbo Transformers 59 Pages 02.jpg http://obscuretf.com/Jose Delbo Transformers 59 Pages 03.jpg
Okay, been a while! First, let's jump back, because the cover to issue #40 went up on Heritage Auctions again - and they included a new scan that shows the imagery under the trade dress! http://obscuretf.com/Jose Delbo Transformers 40 Page 02.jpg You can compare with the original here. And, before we get back on that ole' Furman train, let's take an aside, because what else has gone up in the meanwhile? A masterpiece, that's what! http://obscuretf.com/Herb Trimpe Transformers Universe 2 Cv 01.jpg http://obscuretf.com/Herb Trimpe Transformers Universe 2 Cv 02.jpg http://obscuretf.com/Herb Trimpe Transformers Universe 2 Cv 03.jpg Bask in the glory of Herb Trimpe, mortals!
... so it turns out that while I did post the first image from The Resurrection Gambit!, images two and three there were from Skin Deep. Oops. So for this week, here's the rest of The Resurrection Gambit!... http://obscuretf.com/Jose Delbo Transformers 57 Pages 02.jpg http://obscuretf.com/Jose Delbo Transformers 57 Pages 03.jpg And the first set of pages from Skin Deep: http://obscuretf.com/Jose Delbo Transformers 59 Pages.jpg Hurray, Pretender Bumblebee reveal!
Look out, Decepticons! 'Cause here come Yesterday's Heroes! http://obscuretf.com/Jose Delbo Transformers 60 Pages.jpg http://obscuretf.com/Jose Delbo Transformers 60 Pages 02.jpg http://obscuretf.com/Jose Delbo Transformers 60 Pages 03.jpg http://obscuretf.com/Jose Delbo Transformers 60 Pages 04.jpg