The Transformers #61 - First Appearance of Unicron, Printings and Contents

Identification plate

Series: The Transformers (Marvel, 1984 series)
Issue: #61
Publication date: Mid December 1989
Key date: December 1989
Indicia publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $1.00; 1.25 CAD; 0.60 GBP
Pages: 36
Rating: Approved by the Comics Code Authority

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

Why this issue matters

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

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

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

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

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

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

First appearance (profile) of Landfill - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

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

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

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

First appearance (profile) of Silencer - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

First appearance (profile) of Flintlock - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

First appearance (profile) of Ricochet - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

First appearance (profile) of Boomer - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

First appearance (profile) of Tracer - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

First appearance (profile) of Holepunch - the earliest appearance on record is a character profile, not a story.

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	The Primal Scream!!	cover	1	pencils: Don Perlin; inks: Vince Mielcarek	Bumblebee, Grimlock, Jazz, Primus First
1	Primal Scream	comic story	18	script: Simon Furman; pencils: Geoff Senior; inks: Geoff Senior; colors: Nel Yomtov; letters: Jim Massara	Bludgeon, Bumblebee, Doubleheader First, Fixit First, Grimlock, Jazz, Mindwipe, Octopunch, Primus First, Red Hot First, Scorponok, Seawatch First, Slugslinger, Soundwave
3	Triggerhappy	character profile	1	script: Bob Budiansky	Blowpipe, Triggerhappy
4	-	in-house column	1	pencils: Lisa Trusiani; inks: Lisa Trusiani; colors: Lisa Trusiani
5	Landfill	character profile	1	script: Bob Budiansky	Flintlock First, Landfill First, Silencer First
6	Quickmix	character profile	1	script: Bob Budiansky	Boomer First, Quickmix, Ricochet First
7	Scoop	character profile	1	script: Bob Budiansky	Holepunch First, Scoop, Tracer First
8	-	letters page	1	script: Don Daley, Rob Tokar

Plus 1 page of advertisements and other matter across 1 sequence, as published.

Printings and variants

Edition	How to tell
Newsstand	price 1.00 USD; 1.25 CAD; barcode 07148602379114

Where to read it

Collection	Year
Transformers Compendium #2 ISBN 9781534331976	2025	On eBay ›

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

Before you buy

Confirm the UPC box: a publisher mark instead of a barcode means direct edition, a barcode means newsstand.
Glossy covers of this era show edge chipping easily. Check black edges closely in the photos.
Check the staples and centerfold; heavily read anniversary and key issues loosen there first.

Series context

‹ #6061 of 80#62 ›

Sources

Grand Comics Database, issue record (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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