CATALOG RECORD

The Transformers #39

Marvel · Series began 1984 · April 1988

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WHY COLLECTORS WANT IT

Fortress Maximus (Spike Witwicky/Cerebros, Transformers, Marvel) — introduction with Cerebros and Spike Witwicky as head

Dates

Cover date: April 1988
On sale: December 29, 1987
Pages: 36

Editions and covers (2)

Copies of #39 are not all the same book. Here is how to tell each one apart.

Direct edition

Direct

No UPC barcode in the corner box: direct editions show artwork, a logo or a blank box there.
Source ↗
Newsstand edition

Newsstand

A UPC barcode in the cover's corner box.

Barcode 07148602379104
This edition’s page

Creators

pencils: José Delbo, Rodney Ramosinks: Dave Hunt, Rodney Ramosscript: Bob Budiansky, Janet Pezzuto, Bob Harrascolors: Nel Yomtovletters: Bill Oakley

Stories

The Desert Island of Space! · 22 pages
Spike Witwicky takes Galen's place and is bonded with Cerebros, as well as with Fortress Maximus. The Targetmasters along with Fortress Maximus storm the Decepticons island base to rescue Buster, but the island turns into a huge rocket ship and heads into space. Fortress Maximus follows, but is shot and severely damaged, so Spike disengages from Cerebros and makes contact with Buster. Shockwave arrives to kill Spike, but Spike activates Fortress Maximus' weapons by radio and shoots down Shockwave, who appears to burn up in Earth's atmosphere. The rocket with Buster disappears into space.

Characters

SoundwaveShockwaveBuster WitwickySparkplug WitwickyRumbleHot RodKupRatbatSpike WitwickyBombshellRazorclawBlurrVortexGortDurosHookOnslaughtWalter BarnettKickbackRollbarArcanaScavengerShrapnelPointblankSureshotStylorCrosshairsBreakdownWildriderBrainstorm

Reprinted in

The Transformers (1984), Transformers (2001), Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection (2016), Transformers Compendium (2025)