comics: The Transformers UK guide:

issue nr: 150 series: The Transformers UK cover date: 1988-01-30 writer: Simon Furman penciler: Jeff Anderson inker: Stephen Baskerville colorist: Steve White Autobots/Maximals featured: Inferno, Smokescreen, Rodimus Prime, Grimlock, Ultra Magnus, Sentinel Prime Decepticons/Predacons featured: Scourge, Cyclonus, Galvatron Neutralists/Aliens/Humans featured: Death’s Head, Unicron, Wreck-Gar, Primus Locations featured: Junk First appearance of: Sentinel Prime, Primus

Story synopsis
We start the penultimate issue of the Legacy of Unicron story arc with Wreck-Gar deep below Unicron, carefully setting up a massive amount of explosives. Wreck-Gar realises that should this fail, his fellow Junkions will be doomed for eternity. However, Wreck-Gar is surprised that Unicron has not mentally detected him and can only assume the Chaos Bringer is occupied with other problems.

True to form, Death’s Head is the one causing those problems as he tumbles endlessly through Unicron’s mind in the Psychic Plane. Although Death’s Head is unable to make sense of the situation and balance himself, Unicron is still highly impressed that Death’s Head was not only able to break Unicron’s mental hold, but simultaneously invade his mind.

Death’s Head, in a last ditch effort to buy time before Unicron sends him back to his physical body, tells Unicron that “despite your size and power thought you were essentially a normal being. Thought wrong eh?”. Unicron muses over Death’s Head’s statement, and then decides that as a reward for presenting such a unique challenge, Death’s Head will be able to hear the origin story of Unicron!

Meanwhile on the Autobot shuttle that is en route to Junk, Rodimus Prime is wondering the same thing, namely, just what is Unicron? He also has his doubts about the Matrix being able to defeat Unicron again, and whether it was wise for him to leave the Autobots on Cybertron at such a dire hour to go to Junk. Finally, Rodimus mourns the loss of Wreck-Gar, as for all he knows the Junkion died at the hands of Death’s Head. Smokescreen is also saddened by having let Rodimus down by letting Wreck-Gar 'die' earlier, and vows to avenge both Inferno and the Junkion.

Back in Unicron’s mind, Unicron begins his tale of the past: During the birth of the universe, when life was just beginning to spread throughout the galaxy, there existed two powerful beings - Unicron the Chaos Bringer, and Primus, Lord of the Light Gods. The two fought and the universe bore the brunt of the damage from their battles. The longer the two fought, the more Primus realised that in beating Unicron, he very well may destroy that which he vowed to protect. Primus then shifted the battle to the Astral Plane, but Unicron was too strong and Primus was losing badly.

Primus then opened a gateway back to the physical world and Unicron followed, but it was a trap! The two beings rematerialised in two giant asteroids, and shortly thereafter Primus sealed the gateway back to the Astral Plane, thus preventing Unicron or Primus from ever regaining their energy forms.

After countless millennia of drifting through the cosmos, Unicron used his rage at Primus to assist in restructuring his asteroid into a metal planet, and then became the first Transformer by having an alternate robotic mode. Primus however had done something similar, and molded himself into that of Cybertron. In addition he facilitated the creation of beings that could mimic Unicron’s transformation abilities, and thus were born the first Cybertronians/Transformers as we know them.

Primus also inputted his essence into a Matrix that was capable of not only creating life, but destroying the life of Unicron. From leader to leader, the Matrix was passed, until Galvatron captured it from Ultra Magnus in Transformers: the Movie. However, in the nick of time Hot Rod recovered the Matrix and used it to destroy Unicron. But unbeknownst to Rodimus Prime and Primus, Unicron had survived the explosion, and with a small spark of life surviving he landed on Junk where he began his plans for revenge...

Just as Unicron finishes his story he notices something is amiss, and as we pan to the physical world we see that the Autobot shuttle has arrived and is beginning its attack on Unicron! Death’s Head has managed to return to his physical form, and despite what he has just learned, once again picks up his weapon and prepares to fire!

Deep below, Wreck-Gar has finished setting up the explosives and activates the timer for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, Death’s Head picks up his weapon and once again defies Unicron, as he fires the cannon at his face. Unicron, clearly annoyed that Death’s Head has once again attacked him, fires his eye beams at the bounty hunter, but Death’s Head dodges at the last moment, surviving to continue the fight. However, the explosion collapses the tunnel that Wreck-Gar is in, leaving him trapped next to the explosives that are set to go off in 9 minutes!

Remarks
A fantastic issue from start to finish that gives us what many consider to be the true origin story of the Transformers. Rather than the insulting 'consumer appliance' origin story that the cartoon put forward, Furman creates a much more epic battle between life and anti-life, tying it to primal forces of good and evil that go all the way back to the beginning of time. As such, the Transformers, Autobot and Decepticon, are themselves Primus’ last hope against Unicron. Not only is this a fascinating history for the Transformers to have, it allows for great discussion into the origins of the Great War. Were the Decepticons inevitable? And did Primus indirectly create them in order to toughen up his creations so that they were ready to combat Unicron?

A small Marvel outpost in England was leading the way forward for the entire Transformers mythos, and though the gods and mystical stuff threatens to be corny, it has survived the test of time to be pretty much the definitive origin story of the Transformers (since detailed in Marvel US, Dreamwave and the Ultimate Guide). Furman skilfully and effortlessly ties the destinies of Unicron, Cybertron and the Matrix together and it sure beats the, "naturally occuring gears, levers and pulleys," explanation offered in issue 1. Suddenly the Transformers are at the centre of the universe and are a last line against an evil from beyond time.

Furthermore, despite this new epic environment, the characters do not suffer, as everyone involved gets lovely characterisation - from Smokescreen's rage, to Death's Head's vengeance and Unicron's arrogance, no character is left out.

Furman also does an excellent job with the dialogue of Unicron’s origin story, simultaneously invoking feelings of arrogance and rage in Unicron’s story as the Chaos Bringer recalls his falling for Primus’ trap and his promises of revenge against the light gods.

Artwise Anderson’s pencils do an excellent job throughout the issue and for some would be a welcome change from Reed’s more 'fluid' art. Anderson does a great job in visualising Primus and in creating a sense of infinity in Unicron’s mind. Baskerville bears mentioning as well, for his inking allows the shuttle scene to really come to life, much to the happiness of the reader.

Some examples of great art in the issue occur on Page 6, panel 1 as it shows a positively menacing Unicron closing in for the kill against Primus. Another example occurs on page 3 as Death’s Head falls endlessly through Unicron’s mind. Anderson does a good job of showcasing Death’s Head nearly losing his sanity when faced with the sheer evil and power of Unicron’s mind.

On a side note it is interesting to note that Primus looks an awful lot like Rodimus Prime and Hot Rod. Or perhaps more accurately, Rodimus looks very similar to Primus. Whether this is intentional and has any deeper meaning or not is up for grabs.

This issue was reprinted in issues 298 and 299, as well as the Titan trade paperback 'Legacy of Unicron.'

Character development
Rodimus Prime is still worried that this time Unicron may be unstoppable. In addition he is worried about the Autobot forces back on Cybertron who are facing the Decepticons without him. He is angry that Wreck-Gar is quite possibly dead, and although he doesn’t blame Smokescreen, he still steals long glances at Smokescreen as if subconsciously he does: "My head tells me Smokescreen made the right - the only - decision, but my heart tells me otherwise. Wreck-Gar was my friend."

Rodimus also knows next to nothing about Unicron's origins, and wishes he knew more. Later he does his leader bit, telling Smokescreen to, "come around for another attack," and advising him to stay on the right side of Unicron's head, where he can't reach them with his lethal eye beams.

Smokescreen is enraged at Unicron for having killed Inferno and possibly Wreck-Gar and vows to get vengeance: "If you're dead, Wreck-Gar, someone will pay - I swear it!" His guilt is palpable: "Rodimus Prime's been glaring at me since we left Cybertron! Guess he blames me for leaving Wreck-Gar. And why not? Even I blame me!"

Back when the universe was in its infancy, "Unicron was chaos and fury given form; a primal force of evil none could stand against," and who wanted, "total domination of the universe."

Unicron is highly impressed at Death’s Head’s ability to enter the Psychic Plane and combat Unicron in the Chaos Bringer’s mind. He also vows vengeance (a running theme…) against Primus and his creations for the loss of his energy form ages ago, and more recently his near death.

Unicron's tone is patronising and mocking as he toys with Death's Head, and he finds the whole situation very amusing: "Ha, ha, ha! I don't know whether to admire you... or pity you!" He also loves talking about himself, treating Death's Head to a story, "unheard by any mortal creature... the origin of Unicron!" He tells this to the bounty hunter as a last request, and is obviously so supremely overconfident that he can give so much information (as well as allow the bounnty hunter a temporary reprieve). Classic villain mistake that.

But he also makes clear that Death's Head has run out of lives: "This was your last transgression. I will return you to your physical body and then annihilate you!" Of course, he doesn't get the chance, as the Autobot assault means Unicron needs Death's Head's talents once more, but when the mercenary defies him yet again, he fires at him with the intention of killing him off.

Death’s Head is either brave or recklessly foolish. Despite now realising the full extent of Unicron’s powers, the bounty hunter still picks up a weapon and fires on Unicron. Quite courageous. He almost loses his grasp on sanity when tumbling through Unicron's mind. It's possibly the most vulnerable we ever see him. He's got balls of steel though, as despite facing insurmountable odds, he still has the cheek to tell the demi-god: "Eventually I will find a way to destroy you! You'll pay for the indignities you've heaped on me... I swear it! You're dead yes?" He then cleverly keeps Unicron talking so that in the meantime he can find some weakness or flaw to enable him to still triumph.

Primus' concern for life handicapped his ability to fight back against Unicron effectively. However, his cunning made up for it by trapping Unicron in an asteroid for millennia. It says something of Primus' foresight and ambition, creating both the Transformers and the Matrix to destroy Unicron. He puts his power towards good and giving life, as opposed to Unicron who just destroys.

Wreck-Gar's a Junkion on a mission, laying the explosives that will spell Unicron's doom. Failure is not an option: "Should you fail, your fellow Junkions... will disavow all knowledge of you or your mission!" He doesn't take kindly to his planet and race being enslaved by the dark god: "This would-be world conqueror... will self-destruct in five seconds!"

Trivia
Unicron is able to do nearly anything in the Psychic Plane as he fights Death’s Head in his mind.

Unicron has the ability to forcibly reunite Death’s Head psychic form with that of his physical body at will.

The battle between Primus and Unicron resulted in the destruction of large portions of the universe.

Wreck-Gar's dialogue mentions Star Trek at one point. It's amusing that he should mention Mr Spock, as of course Leonard Nimoy, the actor who played Spock, also did the voice of Galvatron in Transformers: The Movie. There's a 'Mission: Impossible' parody in there as well, and a catchphrase from 'The Two Ronnies.'

The Transformers in this reality/time do not know Unicron's origins, or his connection to Cybertron and the Matrix.

When in his energy form, Unicron is equipped with a ball and chain and shield. The shield is in the shape of the Decepticon insignia. Primus has a sword and shield.

It is inferred that Primus and Unicron were not the only divine beings. Unicron has an army, and Primus is Lord of the Light Gods.

Primus effectively lost to Unicron - his physical form was rendered inert, and he fared no better on the Astral Plane where he was near to his "final Great Void."

Once leading Unicron and himself into barren asteroids, Primus was able to seal the path behind them, seperating them from their energy forms forever. As for reforming their prisons, in Unicron's case his hatred gave him strength, and over many millenia he was able to psychically restructure himself into the form we know today. Unicron was in essence the first Transformer.

It's safe to say that the timespan of Primus and Unicron's duel (both in and out of the Psychic Plane), their incarceration in asteroids, and the time it took to restructure themselves into robot planets, took place over countless millions of years.

Primus creates living beings (the Transformers are designed to mimic Unicron's ability) as he is a force for life - he also instills his essence into a 'genetic matrix' capable of creating life, and destroying Unicron's. On the other hand, Unicron's goal is, "nothing less than the destruction of the whole universe," so he does not populate himself, and instead devours worlds one after another. Notably, his servants (Galvatron, Cyclonus and Scourge) were recreations, not creations.

A Transformer is pictured passing the Matrix to Prime. In Dark Creation (issue 290) we are given a list of Matrix holders, with Sentinel Prime as Optimus' predecessor. No doubt it is he that we see here.

Although Unicron is presently just a head, he can still utilise his eye beams.

Unicron appears to feel pain when his time portal is damaged.

Memorable quotes
“Save it, yes? Eventually I will find a way to destroy you! You’ll pay for the indignities you’ve heaped on me… I swear it!” Death’s Head.

Unicron – “Junkions, Death’s Head, attack! Wipe them out!”
Death’s Head – “Nuh… No… I… am… not… your… slave!”

"I will destroy you shortly... when I have dealt with these bothersome insects!" Unicron.

"I am your executioner, yes?" Death's Head.

reviewed by: Computron