HEADMASTERS (1987-1988)

The final Transformers crossover I'll be focusing on features one of the more bizarre and inexplicable concepts that was clearly a struggle to logically explain in the Marvel comics.

While the feud between the Autobots and Decepticons trapped on Earth (Earth-91274, to be precise) continues, their homeworld of Cybertron still hasn't found peace, either. One group of Autobots quest to find peace on an alien world will just spread their war ever further across the galaxy and take the Transformers to a new evolutionary level by binary bonding with inhabitants of Nebulos.

By this time, Hasbro were expecting writer Bob Budiansky to add an inordinate amount of new characters to the ongoing series that it forced Marvel to create a mini-series dedicated to the origin of the Headmasters and Targetmasters. This wasn't necessarily a creative highlight for anyone involved and produced a pretty bizarre tale that, to this day, leaves me wondering what made someone think this concept was a good idea. Even as an old school Transformers fan, this saga is tough to recommend.

• Headmasters #1-2
• Transformers #37 (tie-in)
• Headmasters #3-4
• Transformers #38

See how this story fits into overall Transformers continuity:
[TRANSFORMERS READING ORDER: Marvel US, Earth-91274]

Headmasters #1
Fortress Maximus and his team rescue a slew of captured Autobots from the clutches of Scorponok and decides to take them all away from the war on Cybertron. They travel to Nebulos on search of a fresh start, but Highbrow's efforts to make contact with the natives of that planet result in the Nebulan called Gort accidentally slipping of a precipice. Misconstrued as an attack, Lord Zarak pounces on the opportunity to unleash the planet's war machines and sending Galen to lead an attack on the Autobots. As a sign of their peaceful intentions, Fortress Maximus and four other Autobots remove their heads while the rest lay down their weapons. Galen announces there will be no war...

Headmasters #2
Time passes and Lord Zarak has successfully rallied the Nebulans against the Autobots, including those who remain headless. In order to incite the war he desperately craves, Zarak alerts Scorponok and his Decepticons to Fortress Maximus' whereabouts, but quickly realises he's out of his depth when they arrive and attack their capital city. Galan and a number of volunteers agree to binary bond with the Autobots, gaining cybertic parts that allow them to transform into the heads of the Autobots. The enhancements make them a superior force and they successfully drive the Decepticons away. But Galen's girlfriend, Llyra (who's also Zarak's daughter) believes Galen has given in to the urge to wage war...

Transformers #37 (tie-in)
On Earth, the Intelligence & Information Institute (III) head, Walter Forsythe, tires of the raids carried out by Ratbat's Decepticons and announces the captive Throttlebots will be killed unless they come forward. III agent Walter Barnett fails to convince Forsythe that there are two factions and the evil Decepticons are carrying out the thefts. He sneaks the tiny brains of the Throttlebots into toy cars before Forsythe publically crushes their bodies. Ratbat sends the Predacons to claim the Throttlebots' corpses and discover the brains missing. Barnett finds Buster Witwicky and asks for his help in returning the brain modules to the Ark while the Predacons follow their trail to a shopping mall to buy batteries to keep the Throttlebots alive. Separated, Buster takes Goldbug's toy car to Mount St Hilary, but find the Ark missing. Goldbug tells Buster how to alert the Autobots before Ratbat crushes Goldbug and captures Buster...

Headmasters #3
More time has passed and the Autobot Headmasters continue to defend Nebulos from the Decepticons. Lord Zarak calls Galen for help when he's captured by Scorponok. Instead, the Autobots are greeted by Decepticon Headmasters, including Zarak who has binary bonded with Scorponok. The Decepticons overpower the Autobots and Zarak wins back his daughter's affections...

Headmasters #4
Now that Lord Zarak and the Decepticons have gained the upper hand and captured Fortress Maximus and the other Headmasters, the remaining Autobots are in hiding with no weapons. A group of Nebulans agree to go through the binary bonding process, this time with the Autobots' guns becoming Targetmasters. Zarak realises the bonding process has allowed Scorponok to influence his persona and he frees Galen while he still has some control. The Decepticons create their own Targetmasters and the war reaches a stalemate. In order to return peace to Nebulos, the Autobots and their new Nebulan partners leave the planet when they pick up Goldbug's distress call. As they make their way towards Earth, the Decepticons give chase...

Transformers #38
On the way to Earth, the Autobots upgrade Fortress Maximus to a more formidable size. Buster's brother, Spike Witwicky, returns from college and goes in search of his missing brother. The trail takes him to Mount St Hilary where he's discovered by Fortress Maximus' team. Scorponok and his crew arrives soon after and war breaks out in the empty cave. Scorponok tries to claim Spike, eventually sending Lord Zarak after him. Galen saves Spike, but it costs him his life. Having proved his bravery, Galen gives Spike the helmet that allows him to commune with Fortress Maximus before he dies. The Autobots decide to make Spike Witwicky one of them, taking Galen's place as their leader...

Transformers #151 (Marvel UK, 1988)
On Earth-120185, the Cyclonus and Scourge (former minions of Galvatron) travel back from their future and join Scorponok's crew of Decepticons (it's never implied on Earth-91274 that Cyclonus and Scourge are from the future) during THE LEGACY OF UNICRON.

Transformers #39-42 (1988)

Spike Witwicky binary bonds as the head of Cerebros, who transforms to become the head of Fortress Maximus; on his first mission, Spike's recklessness leaves Fortress Maximus seriously injured when he tries to rescue his brother, Buster, from the flying Decepticon Island; it's revealed that the Decepticons were stealing items that allowed them to construct their new Decepticon Island base; Goldbug is rebuilt and travels to Nebulos where the binary bonding process is used to rebuild Optimus Prime as a Powermaster, with Nebulan Hi-Q transforming into his engine; more Autobots and Decepticons would bond with Nebulans to become Powermasters.

Transformers #44-45 (1988)

Optimus Prime and Goldbug rescue 

Transformers #46 (1988)

More Headmasters emerge, though the origins of the Nebulan counterparts are never explained.

Transformers #47 (1988)

It's revealed that Optimus Prime has re-established himself as Autobot leader; the plans for Decepticon Island are finally revealed.

Transformers #50 (1989)

The Throttlebots are rebuilt but are soon destroyed by Starscream when he gains the power of the Underbase; Ratbat is shot in the back by Scorponok when he tries to claim the Underbase; Scorponok becomes leader of the Earth-based Decepticons.

Transformers #51 (1989)

Buster Witwicky returns to a normal life away from the Autobots and Spike WItwicky decides to do the same, walking away from his role as the head of Fortress Maximus.

Transformers #58 (1989)

Ratchet turns Goldbug into a Pretender, transforming him back to his Bumblebee form in the process.

Transformers #71-75 (1991)

Optimus Prime surrenders to Scorponok in order to make peace between the Autobots and Decepticons in order to combat Unicron; rebel Decepticons led by Shockwave attack Scorponok's team, but their differences are put aside to deal with the threat of Unicron; despite their alliance, Scorponok is destroyed by Unicron.

Transformers #79 (1991)

After separating for some time, Spike Witwicky and Fortress Maximus make amends in order to defeat Galvatron.

Transformers Classics vol.3 (IDW)
Includes Transformers #37-38.

Transformers Classics vol.7 (IDW)
Includes Headmasters #1-4.

Classic Transformers vol.3 (IDW)
Includes Transformers #37-38.

Classic Transformers vol.6 (IDW)
Includes Headmasters #1-4.

Transformers: Treason (Titan)
Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection vol.9: Toy Soldiers (Hachette)
Includes Transformers #37.

Transformers: Trial By Fire (Titan)
Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection vol.9: Trial By Fire (Hachette)
Include Headmasters #1-4 and Transformers #38.