![\"\"](\"https:\/\/oink.blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/xm2-tf40-cover.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\nIt\u2019s been a long time coming but finally it\u2019s time for the next instalment of Transformers at Christmas<\/mark><\/strong>, my yearly look at the Yuletide issues of Marvel UK\u2019s<\/strong> epic G1 comic on their 40th anniversaries. Well, it\u2019s almost time. There are still seven days to go but first let\u2019s take a look at how 1985\u2019s special issue was promoted in the previous issue. In fact, this issue includes its own holiday highlights on the editorial page too.<\/p>\n Jeff Anderson\u2019s<\/em> exciting cover leads to a bit of a damp squib inside, the build up over the weeks to this confrontation led to an anti-climactic one-page fight where Optimus Prime<\/strong> simply tosses Shockwave<\/strong> into a deep swamp. There\u2019s a neat double meaning on the cover though; for a few weeks Shockwave had had Prime\u2019s head separated from his body, so the headline made me chuckle. The Christmas<\/mark><\/strong> fun kicks off with an early celebratory Robo-Capers<\/strong> by Lew Stringer<\/em> and a quick Hasbro<\/strong> Q&A for the kids before Santa brought them their latest (or first) Robots in Disguise.<\/p>\n There\u2019s nothing else marking the season until we get to the final pages and that all-important Next Issue Promo with a very jolly-looking, fully costumed Optimus promoting the very first Transformers Christmas<\/mark><\/strong> strip. Plus the return of Circuit Breaker<\/strong>! PLUS the Iron Man of 2020<\/strong>! Then there\u2019s Prime dressed up as Santa Claus! What\u2019s not to look forward to?<\/p>\n When I read this as part of the blog\u2019s real time read through<\/a> over on Instagram this promo really had me hyped as it took me right back to discovering the comic myself as a kid via this story, albeit a few years later in a Winter Special<\/strong> reprint<\/a>. Even Prime\u2019s choice of costume, while seemingly silly to begin with, adds a surprising amount of depth to the character. I\u2019ll explain all next week.<\/p>\n But that\u2019s not all this year. There\u2019s something else coming this Christmas<\/mark><\/strong> as part of these special anniversary reviews, namely the first Transformers Annual<\/strong>. Not appearing until the comic\u2019s second festive season, the exciting arrival of the comic\u2019s first annual was met with zero advertisements and only one mention in #37\u2019s<\/a> editorial at the end of November.<\/p>\n Soundwave<\/strong> was the letter answerer at the time and he\u2019d written the announcement for the book, sounding suitably unimpressed. For fans though, the introduction of the Insecticons<\/strong> and just the news of the book existing would\u2019ve been more than enough! Although I\u2019m sure they\u2019d have known about it long before then. With the way our newsagents would\u2019ve had tables or shelves crammed with annuals every year, the lack of promos wouldn\u2019t have had much of an impact on such a hit property. You can actually check out the adverts for all of the Transformers annuals in a special post from earlier this holiday season.<\/p>\n That\u2019s us ready for Christmas<\/mark> 1985<\/strong> in the world of The Transformers<\/strong>. So #41 will be right here in just seven days on Sunday 21st December 2025<\/strong>, my 48th birthday! (It originally went on sale on my 8th. Eek!) Then just four days later on Christmas Day<\/mark><\/strong> itself the first in-depth review of a classic Transformers Annual<\/strong>. Don\u2019t miss either. They\u2019re both fantastic!<\/p>\n BACK TO iSSUE SEVEN<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n TRANSFORMERS AT CHRiSTMAS MENU<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n