review by justin anderson

the plot: Marvel never planned for the initial four-part Transformers series to launch into an 80-issue run. If they had, this story may not even have happened. But given the fact Hasbro's part in the line, at the time, was selling the toys(licensed from Takara), Marvel came up with the characrers based on the toys, and the plots. Throw in Spider-Man.

Keep in mind, the comics were HIGHLY different from the cartoon episodes. The lot was much different, some characters acted different, some plot devices weren't even close.

Sparkplug Witwicky has been kidnapped by Starscream. Taken to Decepticon headquarters, Megatron revels Sparkplug is needed for his ability to convert Earth fuels to fuel that the Decepticons can use to power themselves. The Autobots and buster Witwicky, looking over the loss of Sparkplug at the battle site, return to their base to refuel. Sparkplus is forced to comply with Megatron after being threatened. The Decepticons steal what they need for him to work. This prompts response from the White House, Moscow, SHIELD (featuring a cameo by Nick Fury), and the Daily Bugle (Joe Robertson the editor-in-chief).

Peter Parker is flown into Oregon to cover the Decepticon base. Guarantee he'll do it as Spider-Man. The Decepticons proceed to rip the surrounding US Army apart, while Autobot Gears arrives. Spider-Man labels him as "one of them". He changes his mind as Gears catches a thrown tank. The Autobots arrive, they and Spidey drive up to the ecepticon base. The Autobots take a beating, while Spidey and Gears infiltrate. Saving Sparkplug, they run, but Megatron shoots the floor out. Gears falls, Spidey catches him. Sparkplug is pulled up, gears falls and shatters.

Pieces gathered, gears is repaired, Buster and Sparkplug are reunited. The end. Oh, and the fuel the Decepticons ended up with was bad.

the review: Two out of five stars.

The dialog is average to downright bad at times. Yes, this was made for kids, but Spider-Man followers picking it up probably won't get it. It also features many stereotypical moments, with "the robots controlled by Russians" and similar lines. Spider-Man's inclusion was also poorly done. He would get yelled at by a loved one for going to fight Dr. Octopus. And no one sees fault in him going to Oregon with killer robots? But we didn't get to see that. He's just there all of a sudden. Not to mention an almost hilaroius scene where Spidey webs Megatron completely, only to see the Decepticon leader immediately tear out.

Marvel took an official stance later that the Transformers series was NOT part of the Marvel universe afterwards. I've heard of them saying the Spider-Man seen was an imposter, but that's killed by the fact he was sent by Robertson, and has the symbiote. And we would later see the Dinobots rescued from a tar pit in the Savage Land.

It's a poor book. It's poor for Spider-Man standards, poor for Transformer standards.

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