Did you know, Transformers fans, that today marks another 30th anniversary milestone in the history of Transformers? Yes indeed, today is the 30th anniversary of what is thought to be the first ever post about Transformers on the internet – or rather, the proto-internet Usenet groups.
You can check out the archived post here, via Google Groups.
Sadly the first post ever about Transformers on the internet was in fact, complaining about Transformers! The post, a review of Marvel Comics’ Transformers #1, picks fault with Bill Mantlo’s plot and Ralph Macchio’s script, and the massive amount of infodumping used to introduce the characters – valid complaints, particularly the infodumping (check out an example at left). The final verdict?
My vote for worst comic of the year would have to go to Marvel’sTRANSFORMERS #1. Has anyone out there seen it? I’m still trying
to figure out why I wanted to spend $.75 on it in the first place,
but any reason I may have had was inadequate.
Or, to borrow a turn of phrase from the TFwiki: “The Transformers launched in 1984 and was ruined FOREVER!”
In all seriousness, much as the original creative team behind the Transformers in the 1980s could not foresee the huge phenomenon that Transformers would become, neither could those reading that first comic and sharing their thoughts about its humble beginnings begin to imagine where it all might finally lead to, 30 years later, with fans ever ready to lend a similarly critical eye to all new Transformers media.
Here’s to 30 years of talk about the Transformers on the internet! None of this – this website, our fan community, and indeed even many of the fan-oriented releases from Hasbro – would exist without you coming together and discussing Transformers – and like the Transformers franchise itself, it all came from a humble beginning, 30 years ago this day.
Autovolt 127
I wonder what the guy who posted that 30 years ago has to say now about this franchise?
LegendAntihero
hm, I always thought the first post was Dreamwave's comic website
Sean Whitmore
No, cause it kinda was crap.
cappeca
So, if that guy said the comic was crap, and 30 years later the franchise is still going on thanks to that particular comic, does that mean he was the first fan to be wrong on the internet?
EightiesKid
Love the history here. We have come a long way in 30 years, but the fandom seems to stay the same. Great stuff.
RKillian
Technically, Usenet is not a proto-internet. You're confusing the internet with the world wide web. Kind of like being in a Google+ chat and calling IRC a proto-chat.
Interesting find, though.
taterx
I was made aware that the comic was coming when I saw the animated commercial for issue 1 which led me to Marvel comics GI Joe that month and on one of the last pages had an ad for the Transformers comic coming soon. It was a scene from the mini series that showed the silhouettes of Prime, Prowl, & some other Autobots viewing some monitors. It said The Transformers are coming. I remember that got me jacked. I didn't find a copy of the book until issue 4 or 5. I was pissed. It kept selling out despite this Ted Nolans disapproval. lol
My 9 year old self was quite happy with the book, always liked it better than the toon too. As for the heretics dissing the Primus origin in the comics beware. Star Saber is monitoring these boards & will not suffer the blaspheme of fools
Tresob
Just for context, Wikipedia has a page describing the year in comics…
Nevermore
Just out of curiosity, what would you consider the worst comic of the year as of May 22, 1984?
LegendAntihero
Worst comic of the year? What a moron.
BEASTWARS101
For a complaint, that was very well written. If it was written by a random person from today it would've probably ended up saying this comic sucks balls. Or something of that nature.
Gingerchris
We're only happy when we're not happy.
Negativedark
Heck considering how much comics coverprices are today, 70 cents seems a steal.
Let us be proud of this man. He was a visionary, a forebearer to all us fans who will always find something to bitch about. Like how right now I bitch about not being able to find Generations Cosmos. Well hopefully BBTS will get some in soon and ship my preorder.
I definitly remember my introduction to transformers being either the first episode of the cartoon, or getting Bumblebee at a Karls drugstore. I'm guessing issue five or six was my first comic. All I remember is Rachet arriving at the Ark and finding everyone's mutilated bodies hanging from the ceiling. Yep, between that and the smelting pit, the comics truamitized me. Though seeing Alien at age 8 was worse.
So when was the first flame war about which was better, the show or the comic?
RADimus prime
I know I also bought this comic when it came out. My mom threw it away when all that held it together was scotch tape and hope. I just replaced it for $200. 70 cents is looking like a steal LOL.
BTW did he really put his address in his post? That takes some balls. No anonymous trolling from this guy.
RADimus Prime
1254 Iacon Ln
Sea of Rust, Cybertron 42355
EnergonWaffles
Somebody needs to contact Ted Nolan and inform him that we, the fandom, have proudly followed in his footsteps and continue to complain on the internet to this day.
AngusDF
I wonder where this Ted Nolan dude is today, and what he thinks of the Transformers now, after 30 years. It would be an interesting interview to read!
Thyme
Agreed.
nobleboivin
interesting
GizmoTron
The first issue is terrible, but to be fair, they had to info dump because at the time there was only going to be four issues to tell the whole story about 20 characters.
If they knew there were going to be 80 issues (and then 20 more slapped on just this past year), they might have saved some of the background information on say less important characters like Buzzsaw for later.
Ephland
exactly.