1st team appearance of the Autobots: Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Prowl, Ironhide, Huffer, Cliffjumper, Sideswipe, Hound, Gears, Brawn, Sunstreaker, Bluestreak, Windcharger, Ratchet, Wheeljack, Trailbreaker, Mirage
1st team appearance of the the Decepticons: Megatron, Starscream, Buzzsaw, Thundercracker, Laserbeak, Frenzy, Skywarp, Rumble, Ravage, Soundwave
1st appearance of Buster and Sparkplug Witwicky, human allies of the Autobots
🏅#9 on the Hot 10
Transactions from this week that sold for higher than the previous twelve-month average:
9.8 sold for $1,037 vs the average $936 (+11%)
3 copies outsold the average
9.6 sold for $350 vs the average $304 (+15%)
9.4 sold for $225 vs the average $208 (+8%)
9.2 sold for $227 vs the average $179 (+27%)
9.0 sold for $185 vs the average $157 (+18%)
NEWSSTAND 9.0 sold for $203 vs the average $173 (+17%)
8.5 sold for $190 vs the average $121 (+57%)
3RD PRINTING 8.0 sold for $125 vs the average $118 (+6%)
Much can be owed to comic books for the popularity of Transformers, which will celebrate their 50-year anniversary in 2034
When Hasbro launched Transformers in 1984, Marvel Comics gave the characters personalities, names, motivations, and an ongoing mythos that the toys themselves didn’t have
The comics introduced foundational ideas such as Cybertron’s civil war, Autobot vs. Decepticon ideology, meaningful character deaths, and long-form storytelling that readers could follow month to month
UK Transformers comics went even further, adding deeper lore, original characters, and a more serialized, sometimes darker tone that influenced later interpretations of the franchise and resonated with older readers
Today, Skybound’s Energon Universe (Transformers and G.I. Joe) continues to revitalize interest, keeping Transformers culturally relevant while feeding ideas back into animation, games, and movies
Speaking of movies, there have been seven live-action Transformers films beginning in 2007, with the most recent released in 2023
Paramount currently has several Transformers projects in development, though most remain in early stages
One such project is a new live-action Transformers film reportedly in the works with Michael Bay, who directed the first five films over a ten-year period
In addition to Bay’s potential return, Paramount announced a Transformers / G.I. Joe crossover movie in April 2024, though no updates have been provided since