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The Transformers #40 cover
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Marvel (US) ISSUE #40

Pretender to the Throne!

The Transformers #40

WriterBob Budiansky
ArtJosé Delbo (inks by Dave Hunt)
Cover dateMay 1988
PublisherMarvel (US)

The story

Optimus Prime, alive only as software in Ethan Zachary's video game, hacks a Decepticon lab and steals Scorponok's Pretender designs. Goldbug builds Autobot Pretenders from the data, but Optimus still cannot believe he was ever real.

Why this issue matters

First appearance of the Pretenders and the start of Optimus Prime's resurrection arc.

First appearances

  • the Autobot Pretenders
  • Cloudburst
  • Landmine

Scoped to this title. Several characters debuted in the G.I. Joe crossover, the Headmasters miniseries or Marvel UK material first.

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