#1 - "First Encounter!"

Credits

Script - Simon Furman / Pencils - Jon Mitchell / Inks - Bambous Georgiou and Martin Griffiths / Lettering - Neil Porter

Story

On the war-torn planet of Cybertron, Optimus Prime and his Autobots are under attack by the Decepticons Starscream and Cyclonus. Though Starscream has Hotshot and Red Alert on the run, Prime manages to shoot him down, and the Autobots escape in the confusion.

Hotshot grouses about fleeing from the battle, but Prime reminds him that they're at a disadvantage without any power-boosting Minicons of their own. Most of the Minicons fled Cybertron years ago to parts unknown, and Prime admits it's better for them to be gone than for them to be in Megatron's hands.

On the planet Earth, the humans Rad and Carlos are exploring a cave that Rad found -- one that's filled with strange alien machinery. Outside, the local bullies Fred and Billy collapse the entrance; as Rad and Carlos dodge the cave-in, they bump the alien machines, which instantly sends a cosmic signal across the galaxy to Cybertron.

Outside the cave, a girl named Alexis checks up on Carlos and Rad -- who emerge from the cave with a strange robot in tow! As it is trying to learn their language, Megatron teleports nearby, and announces his intentions to raid the planet and sieze its Minicons. Scanning Rad's nearby bicycle, the robot then transforms into a bicycle itself and rides off with the kids. As Megatron gives chase, Optimus Prime teleports into the area, and the two begin to fight.

The three kids ride into a nearby clearing, where they run into other robots who introduce themselves as Minicons -- Sureshock, Grindor, Sparkplug, Jolt, Longarm, and High Wire. Sureshock explains that they had fled exploitation on Cybertron four million years ago, but during their escape, their ship crash-landed on the Moon, scattering Minicons across the Earth. And though Optimus Prime is getting crushed by Megatron, they won't intervene in the Cybertronian civil war once more...

Notes and Comments

• Each issue of the UK comic contained various extras -- puzzles, posters, contests, coloring pages, character profiles, and a free gift. The first issue contained:
  • A Panini Transformers G1 sticker album and sticker pack
  • Profiles of Optimus Prime and Sparkplug
  • A feature page, "How To Draw Megatron"
• The cover was drawn by Geoff Senior.
• In the vein of the original Marvel UK comic, a Transformer hosts the letters page for each issue. In this case, it's Hot Shot, though the letters and pictures are not above suspicion, as one comes from "Daniel Whitwicky" and another from Richard "O" Johnson -- references to Spike Witwicky's son from the original Transformers cartoon series, and Buster's friend "O" from the original Marvel comics.