From: marks@castle.ed.ac.uk (Mark Steyn)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics
Subject: UK Tranformers
Date: 12 Aug 92 14:32:49 GMT
Distribution: rec
Organization: Edinburgh University

Did Marvel USA ever print any of the UK TranFormers stories written by
Simon Furman?  Because the UK TF series was weekly (and printed at a4
size for that matter) the UK crew had to intertwine their own stories
with their American counterparts, and although the seems did
occaisonally show they still managed to produce some wonderful stories -
Target 2006 was my personal favourite.

This was released at the same time as the movie and tried to merge plots
with it.  The basic plot was the Galvatron, Cyclonus and Scourge
travelled back in time to devise a plot to destroy Unicron in the
future.  To do this he buried Megatron under a mountain and wrested control
of the Decepticons.  However at the same time Optimus Prime, Prowl and
Rachet mystiously disappeared.  To further complicate matters on
Cybertron the Autobots, led by someone who name I can't remember and
who never appeared in th US comic, were planning a major revolt.  Their
plan was built around Ultra Magnus - The most powerful Autobot created
(spot the inevitable confrontation :-).  Upon discovering the loss of
ol' Oppy and the Creation Matrix, Ultra Magnus was sent back to earth to
try to discover what had happened, with a time limit of 5 days before
the revolt was due to begin.

Fairly convoluted plot, huh?

However this was not a standard Good Guys save the day scenario.
Galvatron, after his recreation at the hands of Unicron was incredibly
powerful.  Despite several attacks on him, the Autobots never even
managed to scratch him!  Thus the Autobots were forced to rescue and aid
Megatron in order to defeat him.  They still didn't make it.

Then to further complicate matters three Autobots travelled back to the
past (mentally enlisted by Unicron) to get Galvatron back.  Realising
they couldn't defeat Galvatron they set up a trap to make him believe
that he had travelled back into an alternate universe where his action
would have no effect on his own future.  Of course they needed time to
set up their plan - Enter the Great Galvatron vs Ultra Magnus
confrontation which you had been waiting for for several weeks.
But this was not a clash of equals.  Galvatron gave UM the kind of
pounding to rend every childs heart.  Having apparently nothing to stand
in his way Galvatron returned to his plan which was to create a giant
solar cannon which would destory Unicron in the future.  StarScream
confronted him and was subsequently destroyed.  Given that StarScream
was responsible for his creation Galvatron came the alternate universe
conclusion and left (with the remains of Cyclonus and Scourge in tow -
Megatron hadn't been that lazy:-).

Of course this was just a replicate StarScream created by the Autobots. 
With Galvatron gone Oppy and company returned and all was well - Not!

Magnus had missed revolt.  Given the importance of the revolt they were
forced to go ahead without Magnus.  It failed and cost the life of one
Magnus dearest friends.

	The End

It really was a good story with wonderful scripting and artwork.
-- 
? As long as the youngest child is free to dream,  ? Mark Steyn :          ?
? In the forest that we call imagination,          ? marks@castle.ed.ac.uk ?
? There shall always be a Unicorn.                 ? mpjs@dcs.ed.ac.uk     ?