Transformers Comic issue 3

Transformers comic #3 was published by Titan Magazines.

Magazine Credits
Editor: Steve White Designer: Martin Stiff Deputy Editors: Andrew James & Ned Hartley Assistant Editor: Den Patrick Publishing Manager: Darryl Curtis

Prelude: Ratchet

 * Script: Simon Furman
 * Art: Andrew Wildman

Due to the foldspace detonation from last issue, Ratchet has been transported to an alien planet in the grip of genocidal war between the Thraal and the Aovan - a war that strikes Ratchet as hauntingly similar to Cybertron's. Ratchet attempts to defend himself non-lethally but this just increases the violence; to avoid getting involved further, he scans a local vehicle, adapts his alternate mode and transforms in order to blend in. He establishes a signal beacon in the hope of signalling Jazz and Ironhide. Afterwards, unable to stand by and let the Aovan be massacred, Ratchet attacks and defeats the Thrall leader (who he views as the same "type" as Megatron). This causes Ratchet to technically become ruler of the Thrall Imperium, and he negotiates a ceasefire and eventually an alliance between the two factions. He warns them he'll be back one day to see how they're doing - if he can get home...

Articles & features

 * Character Profile: Ratchet — Shortened version of the profile from Transformers: The Movie Guide.
 * Cybertron Smackdown: Ironhide v. Starscream — Write-ups of the skills and weaknesses of the two 'bots in question, leaving the reader to decide who would win in a head-to-head. Written by Simon Furman.
 * Transformers: The Game review
 * Top Gear — Win Transformers Movie soundtrack, Transformers Blasters toys and Leader Megatron toy.
 * Competition to win Transformers: The Ultimate Guide, Transformers: The Movie Guide and You Can Draw Transformers.
 * Bumblebee poster (Dreamwave stock image)
 * Mech Mail - Letters and art from readers

Free Gift

 * Transformers Keychain/Keyring (called both on the cover), a large foam rubber Decepticon or Autobot symbol ("2 To Collect!")

Reprints
Reprinted stories are only a portion of their respective issues.
 * Transformers: Movie Prequel, part 1c (7 pages)
 * Beast Wars: The Gathering, part 1c (10 pages)

Errors

 * Ratchet is coloured cream-beige instead of green and now has a mouthplate - which is not only off-model but means he looks completely different to how he did in the previous issue.

Items of note

 * Ratchet as he appears in Prelude also appears in the IDW reprint, recovering the injured Bumblebee. Since Ratchet has been off-world long enough to establish a power-sharing government, this implies Bumblebee was abandoned for a considerable length of time. (This on top of a suicide mission. Do the Autobots secretly hate Bumblebee?)