Transformers Vol. 12

Bob Budiansky / Herb TrimpeNew Star Press2017

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Series: Transformers (Marvel Original Comics)

Summary

This is Volume 12 of the series. It corresponds to Issue 12 of the main Marvel Transformers US series, "Prime Time!" ("The Return of Optimus Prime"). In the previous episode, young human Buster Witwicky returned with the crippled Jetfire and piloted the aircraft to the Decepticon base, attempting to rescue Optimus Prime, who was reduced to a head and had lost the Matrix. But in the air he was intercepted by the US Air Force; a series of evasive maneuvers caused him to lose consciousness, and Jetfire, following his original programming, delivered him straight to the Decepticons. Shockwave discovered that the Autobots were tapping his communications and turned this to his advantage, spreading word that he would throw Optimus Prime's head into a swamp. The Autobots arrived with the repaired headless body, expecting to restore their leader on the spot, but what was dropped to them was only a fake head arranged by Shockwave. Once attached, the revived "Optimus Prime" began attacking the Autobots, while Soundwave and the cassette troops joined the assault, throwing the Autobots into chaos. At the critical moment, Buster regained consciousness and, using the power of the Matrix, turned Jetfire against the Decepticons and reversed the situation; Jetfire then returned to the battlefield with the real head, Optimus Prime reclaimed his body, defeated Soundwave's forces in turn, and threw Shockwave into the swamp. This volume also marks the conclusion of the Shockwave-in-power storyline and serves as the dividing point between the departure of the Ark elders and the arrival of new characters.

Editor's review

本册是该系列第12册，单独拿出这一册，也能看出一个完整段落。它收束了“震荡波趁擎天柱失能而掌权”这一年多以来的主线，擎天柱终于夺回身体，领导模块也回到他手中。但作者没有让胜利来得轻松：由于震荡波的假头计谋，一批最早从方舟苏醒的元老在混战中相继倒下，此后在美版故事里长期不再出现。这种“领袖回归，却由同伴付出代价”的写法，在当年的商业漫画中相当少见。阅读时还能看到1980年代美漫的典型面貌：画面线条硬朗，人机双方的力量调配略显粗放，但剧情节奏紧凑，几乎每一页都有信息量的变化。人类少年巴斯特从被动的旁观者，变成靠意念操控天火的参与者；这条“弱小者在巨人战争中发挥作用”的支线，是本册的另一条情感线。对想看G1元祖漫画完整脉络的读者来说，这一册是承上启下的关键环节。

Who it's for

A good fit for

正在系统收集漫威元祖G1漫画的变形金刚迷
想了解擎天柱如何从只有一个头部恢复到完整状态的读者
喜欢1980年代美漫画风与叙事节奏的怀旧读者
读过前几册，想跟进震荡波与擎天柱对决后续的人

Not a good fit for

第一次接触变形金刚、想从零开始读的读者
只想看现代画风或电影版设定的读者
期待单册即可独立成篇、无需前情的人

Reading tips

建议先读本系列前几册，尤其要读“领航者”与“震荡波掌权”相关篇章，否则会遇到大量不明来由的人物
留意真假头颅这一设计：它同时涉及叙事悬疑和领导模块设定，可顺带对照G1动画的相似桥段
书中不少角色在战斗里阵亡，阅读时可对照角色表了解谁是哪一批“方舟元老”

About the publisher

New Star Press China · Founded in 1989

New Star Press focuses on classic works, mystery and detective fiction, science fiction, history, foreign literature and art, and its 602 titles in the library show a balance between popular reading and humanistic depth. Representative books include The Complete Works of Shakespeare: Illustrated Collector's Edition, And Then There Were None, Murder on the Orient Express, The Player of Games, Local Government in Qing China, A Good Man Is Hard to Find and A Collection of Fine Ukiyo-e Prints, spanning classic literature, detective fiction, science fiction, local history and visual art. Its authors and contributors include William Shakespeare, Agatha Christie and Iain M. Banks, as well as translators such as Zhu Shenghao and Su Fuzhong and illustrators such as John Gilbert and George Cruikshank. Known for the detective series Midnight Library and for social-science and humanities titles, the press emphasizes edition design and reading experience; public information is limited, so this profile highlights the publishing features reflected in the library's books.

FAQ

这一册讲的是哪一段故事？

它对应漫威版《变形金刚》美国版正传第12期《Prime Time!》，主角是只剩头部、失去领导模块的擎天柱。他在巴斯特与天火的帮助下夺回身体，并与掌权的震荡波正面对决。

没读过前面的可以单独读吗？

不建议。本册承接前几册中“擎天柱头部被夺”和“震荡波掌权”两条线索，还牵涉此前建立的人物关系；单独读会难以分辨角色和事件的前因。

书里“元老全部退场”是怎么回事？

因震荡波设下的假头颅计谋，伪装的擎天柱攻击车队，多名方舟元老落败，此后在美版故事中基本不再出现，由一批新角色接替登场。英版剧情处理略有不同。

这一册是完整80集之中的第几期？

漫威元祖漫画正传共80集，本册对应的第12期是其中较早期的一册。完整80集的中文版由新星出版社以合集形式整体推出，本册属于其中的第12册部分。

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About the author

Bob Budiansky Author

Bob Budiansky is a comics author closely associated with the Transformers series. Public information about him is limited, and his nationality and dates of birth and death are not confirmed, but the 38 titles by him in the catalog center mainly on Transformers, including individual volumes of the main Transformers series, the Transformers Classics series, the Transformers G1 original comics, and Transformers: Classics. These works are mostly classified under children's books, comics and cartoons, select fiction, film and television tie-ins, and art, indicating that his readership covers young readers as well as nostalgic comics fans and film and television enthusiasts. His writing draws on the Transformers universe and characters and is notable for continuous storytelling combined with visuals. Chinese readers chiefly know him through these translated works, which have helped spread Transformers comics in China.

Herb Trimpe Author

Herb Trimpe is an author associated with comic creation. Public information about him is currently limited, and details such as his nationality and dates of birth and death remain unclear. Judging from the holdings in our catalog, his works fall into the categories of children's books and comics/cartoons, with Transformers Volume 12 as a representative title. This classification and the work information suggest that his creations are aimed at children and young readers, using visual storytelling as the main mode of expression and advancing the story through comic panels and illustrations, balancing readability with visual appeal. On the available evidence, it is difficult to give a complete account of his career as a whole; what can be confirmed is that his work has reached Chinese readers through the well-known Transformers theme, giving him a place in the field of children's books and comics and offering young readers who enjoy mecha and science-fiction themes an option for reading.