Marvel Comics (both in the US and UK) ran Transformers titles in the 1980s which essentially made up part of the Marvel Multiverse, at the time.
On Earth-88945 – the possible future timeline of Earth-120185 in the Marvel UK comics – we discover what happened to some of the key players following Transformers: The Movie (as seen in TARGET: 2006, 1986-1987). Rodimus Prime is convinced that Galatron is still alive and puts a price on his head that attracts the attention of a certain time-travelling freelance peacekeeping agent (don’t call him a bounty hunter)!
This is the story that many consider to be the point where the timeline truly diverged from the version shown in the US Transformers series set on Earth-91274. Before this arc, most of the UK stores fit in and around the US stories fairly neatly, but Bumblebee‘s transformation into Goldbug is completely different in UK continuity (see G.I.JOE VS THE TRANSFORMERS, 1987).
And, of course, this story introduces Death’s Head who goes on to make his way out of the Earth-88945 and Earth-120185 timelines and, eventually, into Earth-616 – truly becoming a part of the Marvel Universe!
Event Title: ‘Wanted: Galvatron – Dead or Alive’ isn’t an officially recognised Transformers event; the Omniverse Comics Guide has named the event ‘Wanted: Galvatron: Dead or Alive’ after the two-part story featured in Transformers #113-114.
Crossover: One of the few Marvel UK crossovers, with the arc concluding in 1987’s Transformers Annual.
Must-Reads: In the Fallout section, issues/story arcs marked with a ✔ are essential reading.
Spoilers: The issue descriptions and fallout section contain spoilers, so be warned!
Previous events that directly impact this story:
- TARGET: 2006 (1986-1987) – The Autobots of two time periods face Galvatron
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the chronological reading order without story descriptions, or spoilers:
- Transformers #113 [1/2]
- Transformers #114 [1/2]
- Transformers #115 [1/2]
- Transformers #116 [1/2]
- Transformers #117 [1/2]
- Transformers #118 [1/2]
- Transformers #119 [1/2]
- Transformers #120 [1/2]
- Transformers Annual 1987 [3/6]
| Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| Transformers #113 [1/2] In the year 2007, Rodimus Prime wants to confirm the death of the new Decepticon leader, Galvatron, unaware that he’s jumped back in time to our present (during TARGET: 2006, 1986-1987), Freelance peace-keeping agent Death’s Head decides to pick the bounty up and, after beating answers out of Cyclonus and Scourge, uses the Autobots time machine to escape Earth-88945 and go after his prey in the past! 1st appearance: Death’s Head |
| Transformers #114 [1/2] Rodimus Prime tries to get the war on Cybertron under control, but decides to abandon it when he learns Galvatron has escaped to the past. Death’s Head arrives on Earth-120185, circa 1987, and immediately kills Bumblebee to cover his arrival. 1st appearance: Nautilus |
| Transformers #115 [1/2] Stranded on Earth – far away from his home planet Cybertron – 1987’s Ultra Magnus finds himself rescuing three female humans whose camper van has flipped over following a nearby explosion. One of the women, Cindy Newell, takes a shine to Magnus while he tries to put out a forest fire. But she inadvertently leads Galvatron straight to him. In 2007, the future version of Ultra Magnus oversees Rodimus, Kup and Blurr‘s use of the time machine. Just as they’re making the jump, Wreck-Gar leaps in at the last second! 1st appearance: Cindy Newell |
| Transformers #116 [1/2] Ultra Magnus fights hard against Galvatron, but knows he doesn’t stand a chance. Galvatron drags Magnus to the top of a volcano to show him the power siphon he’s built to utilise the power of the Earth’s core to turn himself into a god! Elsewhere, Cindy witnesses the arrival of Rodimus Prime, Kup and Blurr. |
| Transformers #117 [1/2] Death’s Head heads to Decepticon headquarters where he makes short work of Soundwave and Laserbeak in his search for Galvatron. Meanwhile, Rodimus, Kup and Blurr arrive at the power siphon in time to stop Galvatron from throwing Ultra Magnus into the volcano. Death’s Head gets to the siphon where he warns Rodimus not to get in the way of him claiming the bounty on Galvatron! |
| Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| Transformers #118 [1/2] Galvatron shoots at Death’s Head, disabling his arm, then launches himself at Rodimus. Cindy wakes Ultra Magnus who proceeds to open fire at the siphon, earning Galvatron’s attention. Elsewhere, Wreck-Gar finds the pieces of Bumblebee and rebuilds him. Admiring his new form, Bumblebee takes the name Goldbug! New identity: Bumblebee as Goldbug |
| Transformers #119 [1/2] Cindy explains to the assembled Autobots that activating the siphon would destroy the entire west coast of America. Instead, they plan to use the time travel tech to send everyone back to the future in one hit. Goldbug rides Wreck-Gar up the volcano to assault Galvatron and keep him busy. Wreck-Gar customises Galvatron’s time travel device. Ultra Magnus takes his shot at Galvatron only to be sent plummeting into the volcano… |
| Transformers #120 [1/2] Believing Ultra Magnus is dead, Galvatron sets his sights on Rodimus Prime. The power Galvatron has already gained from the siphon proves to be enough to defeat Rodimus. Death’s Head steps in to save the Autobot leader and make sure he gets his money. Wreck-Gar activates the device and everyone but Galvatron (who tampered with his device) is returned to their own timeline. |
| Transformers Annual 1987 [3/6] Goldbug talks Ultra Magnus into making one last attempt to stop Galvatron. Goldbug is taken out easily and Magnus holds his own until Goldbug reveals the siphon is damaged. Ultra Magnus orders Goldbug to flee while he keeps Galvatron busy. The volcano explodes, consuming them both. Goldbug walks away the only survivor. |
See how this event fits into the wider Marvel Multiverse with these reading orders:
- DEATH’S HEAD, 1987-Present – Freelance Peacekeeping Agent
- TRANSFORMERS, 1984-1992 – The Marvel UK Years
| Must Read | Issue(s) & Fallout | Event / Crossover |
| GI Joe and the Transformers #1-4 (US, 1986) The of Bumblebee of Earth- 91274 into Goldbug is different; Bumblebee is destroyed by G.I.Joe who believe him to be a threat; Ratchet rebuilds Bumblebee with a new look and he decides to call himself Goldbug. | G.I.JOE VS THE TRANSFORMERS | |
| Transformers #28 (US, 1987) Goldbug is reunited with the Autobots (the continuity converges again). | ||
| ✔ | Transformers #133-134 (UK, 1987) In the future, Shockwave hires Death’s Head to kill Rodimus Prime and sets Cyclonus and Scourge up to interfere so Death’s Head will kill them too for free; Rodimus Prime lures Death’s Head into a trap and hires him to kill Cyclonus and Scourge, instead. | |
| ✔ | Transformers #137-138 (UK, 1987) Galvatron and Ultra Magnus are revealed to be trapped in the hardened lava in Mount Verona; Cindy Newell tries in vain to free Ultra Magnus. | |
| Transformers #32 (US, 1987) First Aid is revealed to have returned from Limbo, despite Galvatron still being in the present. | ||
| ✔ | Transformers #146-151 (UK, 1988) Death’s Head’s pursuit of Cyclonus and Scourge leads to him assisting the Autobots in destroying the recreated head of Unicron and getting thrown through time; Cyclonus and Scourge travel through time to the present day. | THE LEGACY OF UNICRON |
| ✔ | Doctor Who Magazine #135 (UK, 1988) Death’s Head crosses paths with the Doctor who shrinks him down to human size and sends him into the future. | THE LEGACY OF UNICRON |
| ✔ | Transformers #160-161 (UK, 1988) Ultra Magnus is freed from Mount Verona by the Sparkabots. | |
| Transformers #50 (US, 1988) Goldbug is among the Transformers destroyed by the Underbase-powered Starscream. | ||
| ✔ | Dragon’s Claws #4-5 (UK, 1988) Death’s Head arrives on Earth-5555 in the year 8162; Death’s Head is destroyed during a clash with Dragon’s Claws. | HERE’S DEATH’S HEAD |
| Death’s Head #1-2 (UK, 1988-1989) Death’s Head is rebuilt by Tuck and given a new look; after a rematch with Dragon’s Claws, Death’s Head decides to set up shop in 8162. | HERE’S DEATH’S HEAD | |
| ✔ | Transformers #199-205 (UK, 1989) Galvatron, Scourge and Cyclonus’ presence in the present day creates a time-rift; Galvatron teams up with ‘Megatron‘ (actually Lord Straxus in a cloned Megatron body) against the Autobots; Rodimus Prime leads a team back to the present day to present to put things right before the rift destroys reality; Galvatron is ripped apart by the time-rift; Cyclonus’ body and Scourge enter the rift to end the threat; Rodimus returns to the future and has all the time machines destroyed. | TIME WARS |
| ✔ | Transformers #58 (US, 1989) Ratchet rebuilds Goldbug as Bumblebee. | |
| ✔ | Death’s Head #8-10 (1989) After pursuing the Doctor, Death’s Head is dumped on Earth-616 where he faces the Fantastic Four, then Iron Man (Arno Stark) of Earth-8410. | |
| ✔ | Death’s Head: The Body in Question (UK, 1990) Death’s Head’s origin is revealed. | |
| Fantastic Four #338 (1990) Death’s Head bumps into Earth-616’s Fantastic Four again (this time when they both end up on Earth-8810). | INTO THE TIME STREAM! | |
| Sensational She-Hulk #24 (1991) Death’s Head clashes with She-Hulk when he returns to Earth-616. | ||
| ✔ | Death’s Head II #1-4 (UK, 1992) Death’s Head is killed by Dr Evenlyn Necker‘s Minion cyborg; Death’s Head’s programming scrambles Minion’s mind, giving him free will and leading to him taking the name Death’s Head. |
| Collected Edition Title | Collects… |
| Transformers Classics UK vol.4 (IDW) | Action Force #24-27 Transformers #113-120, 125, 130-138, 145 Transformers Annual 1987 |
| Transformers: Fallen Angel (Titan) | ‘High Noon, Tex’ (house ad) Transformers #102-103, 113-120 Transformers Annual 1987 |
| Collected Edition Title | Includes… |
| Transformers: Til All Are One Box Set (Image) Transformers UK Compendium vol.1 (Image) | Transformers #113-120 Transformers Annual 1987 |
Reading Order © Omniverse Comics Guide 2025
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