The Transformers #1 - First Appearance of Optimus Prime, Printings and Contents

Identification plate

Series: The Transformers (Marvel, 1984 series)
Issue: #1
Publication date: September 1984
Key date: September 1984
On-sale date: April 3, 1984
Indicia publisher: Marvel Comics Group
Price: $0.75; 0.50 GBP; 1.00 CAD
Pages: 36

Match the book in your hand against this plate before paying an edition-specific price.

Why this issue matters

First appearance (cover) of Optimus Prime - the earliest appearance on record is a cover, not an interior story.

First appearance of Bumblebee - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Megatron - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Starscream - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Soundwave - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Ratchet - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Prowl - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Jazz - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Wheeljack - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Ravage - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Buster Witwicky - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Laserbeak - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Thundercracker - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Skywarp - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Frenzy - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Ironhide - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Buzzsaw - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Rumble - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Sparkplug Witwicky - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Hound - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance (cover) of Gears - the earliest appearance on record is a cover, not an interior story.

First appearance of Sideswipe - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Huffer - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Brawn - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Blue Streak - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Cliffjumper - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Sunstreaker - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Mirage - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Jessie - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Trailbreaker - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of Windcharger - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

First appearance of "O" - the earliest non-flashback appearance on record for this character.

The evidence

Claims here come from the story records for this issue, listed under Sources at the bottom of the file. Character hubs with full evidence tables are coming to this site.

Seq	Story	Type	Pages	Credits	Characters
0	-	cover	1	pencils: Bill Sienkiewicz; inks: Bill Sienkiewicz; colors: Bill Sienkiewicz	Gears First, Laserbeak First, Optimus Prime First, Buster Witwicky First, Sparkplug Witwicky First
1	The Transformers	comic story	25	script: Bill Mantlo, Ralph Macchio; pencils: Frank Springer; inks: Kim DeMulder; colors: Nelson Yomtov; letters: Higgins, Parker	Blue Streak First, Brawn First, Bumblebee First, Buzzsaw First, Cliffjumper First, Frenzy First, Gears First, Hound First, Huffer First, Ironhide First, Jazz First, Jessie First, Laserbeak First, Megatron First
2	Bonus Certificate from Marvel!	promo (ad from the publisher)	1	pencils: John Byrne; inks: John Byrne	Ben Grimm, Human Torch, Invisible Woman, Willie Lumpkin, Mister Fantastic, Franklin Richards, Reed Richards, Susan Storm Richards, She-Hulk, Johnny Storm, The Thing, Jennifer Walters

Printings and variants

Edition	How to tell
Newsstand	price 0.75 USD; barcode 0714860237909
Canadian	price 1.00 CAD; barcode 0714860237909

Where to read it

Collection	Year
The Transformers Comics Magazine #1	1987	On eBay ›
Hundred Penny Press: Transformers Classics #1	2011	On eBay ›
The Transformers Classics #1 ISBN 978-1-60010-935-5	2011	On eBay ›

Reading the story costs a fraction of owning the issue. Both routes are on every file.

Before you buy

Canadian and Whitman editions exist for many bronze books; match the barcode area to the plate.
Look for Mark Jewelers inserts and date stamps - they affect collector preference, not authenticity.

Series context

1 of 80#2 ›

Sources

Grand Comics Database, issue record (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Wikidata, Q2200623 (Jessie), first-appearance property (CC0)

Found an error in this file? corrections@comicrecord.com