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{{Superteambox
|image=Megalitho 20thanniv.jpg
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|caption=A battle between the [[Autobots]] and [[Decepticons]]. In the center are [[Optimus Prime]] (right) and [[Megatron]] (left). Artwork by [[Don Figueroa]], 2004.
|team_name= Transformers
|debut= 1984
|creators= [[Takara]]/[[Hasbro]]
|base= [[Cybertron]]
|subcat=
|hero=
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}}
'''Transformers''' are [[fictional character|fictional]] [[Extraterrestrial life in popular culture|alien]] [[robot]]s and the titular characters of a popular<ref>The Transformers were voted the second most popular toys in a UK [[Toys 'R' Us]] poll: {{cite web | title = Coolest Toys | publisher = Sky News | date = [[2007-01-30]] | url = http://news.sky.com/skynews/picture_gallery/picture_gallery/0,,70141-1249441-2,00.html | accessdate = 2007-01-31}}</ref> [[Hasbro]] [[Transformers (toy line)|toy line]] and its [[spin-offs]]. They come from the planet [[Cybertron]] and are divided into the heroic [[Autobot]]s, led by [[Optimus Prime]], and the evil [[Decepticon]]s, led by [[Megatron]]. They are able to "transform", rearranging their bodies into common or innocuous forms, including vehicles, devices or animals. Beyond that, they can displace mass (i.e. shrink and expand), combine with one another, and apply synthetic flesh (see: [[Transformers technology]]). This ability to transform is reflected in the programs' taglines "More Than Meets the Eye" and "Robots in Disguise". All Transformers stories and characters, in a range of media, have been based around this core concept since their debut in [[1984]].

The largest Transformers story arc, retroactively known as ''[[Transformers: Generation 1]]'', includes both the [[The Transformers (TV series)|TV series]] and [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel comic]], which further divided into Japanese and UK spin-offs respectively. Sequels followed, such as the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2|Generation 2]]'' comic book and ''[[Beast Wars]]'' TV series which became its own mini-universe. Generation 1 characters underwent two [[Reboot (continuity)|reboots]] with [[Dreamwave]] in 2002 and [[IDW Publishing]] in 2006. There have been other incarnations of the story based on different toy lines during the 2000s. The first was the ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' series, followed by three shows that consist of the "[[Unicron]] Trilogy" (consisting of ''[[Transformers: Armada|Armada]], [[Transformers: Energon|Energon]]'', and ''[[Transformers: Cybertron|Cybertron]]''). A [[Transformers (film)|live-action film]] was also released in 2007, again distinct from previous incarnations, while the ''[[Transformers Animated]]'' series merged concepts of G1 and the film in the same year.

==''Generation One'' (1984–1992)==
{{main|Transformers: Generation 1}}
[[Image:Spider-ManvsMegatron.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Spider-Man]] battles [[Megatron]] on the cover of ''The Transformers'' #3]]

''Generation One'' (G1) is a [[retroactive]] term for the Transformers characters that appeared between 1984 and 1992. The Transformers began with the 1970s Japanese toy lines [[Microman]] and [[Diaclone]]. The former utilized varying humanoid-type figures while the middle presented robots able to transform into vehicular modes, with the latter robots mimicking everyday electronic items or replica weapons. [[Hasbro]], fresh from the success of the ''[[G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero]]'' toyline, which utilised the Microman technology to great success, bought the Diaclone toys, and partnered with [[Takara]].<ref>{{cite news | title = Hasbro Publishes Transformers Timeline to Movie | publisher = TFormers | date = [[2007-02-09]] | url = http://tformers.com/Hasbro-Publishes-Transformers-Timeline-to-Movie/7132/news.html | accessdate = 2007-02-10}}</ref> [[Jim Shooter]] and [[Dennis O'Neil]] were hired by Hasbro to create the backstory, the latter of whom christened [[Optimus Prime]].<ref>{{cite web | author = Matthew Karpowich | title = A Little Q&A With Bob Budiansky | publisher = ASM | date = [[2004-07-26]] | url = http://www.alteredstatesmag.com/features/qanda/bbudiansky_2.php | accessdate = 2007-02-08}}</ref> Afterwards, [[Bob Budiansky]] created most of the Transformers characters, giving names and personalities to many unnamed Diaclone figures.<ref>{{cite web | title = Bob Budiansky | publisher = TransFans.net | date = September 2006 | url = http://transfans.net/interviews_budiansky.php | accessdate = 2007-02-08}}</ref> The primary concept of G1 is that the heroic [[Optimus Prime]], the villainous [[Megatron]], and their finest soldiers crash land on [[pre-historic]] Earth in the ''[[Ark (Transformers)|Ark]]'' and the ''[[Nemesis (Transformers)|Nemesis]]'' before awakening in 1984. [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Marvel comic]] was originally part of the main [[Marvel Universe]], with an appearance from [[Spider-Man]] and [[Nick Fury]]<ref>{{Comic book reference | writer = Jim Salicrup | penciller = Frank Springer | story = Prisoner of War! | title = [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Transformers]] | issue = 3 | date = January 1985 | publisher = [[Marvel comics]]}}</ref> as well as a visit to the [[Savage Land]].<ref>{{Comic book reference | writer = [[Bob Budiansky]] | penciller = William Johnson | story = Repeat Performance! | title = The Transformers (U.S.A) | issue = 8 | date = September 1985 | publisher = [[Marvel comics]]}}</ref>

[[The Transformers (TV series)|''The Transformers'' TV series]] began around the same time. Produced by [[Sunbow Productions]], from the start it contradicted Budiansky's backstories. The TV series shows the [[Autobots]] looking for new energy sources, and crash landing as the [[Decepticons]] attack.<ref>{{cite episode | title = More than Meets the Eye | episodelink = More Than Meets the Eye#Part 1 | series = The Transformers | serieslink = The Transformers (TV series) | airdate = 1984-09-17}}</ref> Marvel interpreted the Autobots as destroying a rogue [[asteroid]] approaching [[Cybertron]].<ref>{{Comic book reference | writer = Bill Mantlo | penciller = Ralph Macchio | title = [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Transformers (U.S.A.)]] | issue = 1 | date = September 1984 | publisher = [[Marvel comics]]}}</ref> [[Shockwave (Transformers)|Shockwave]] is loyal to Megatron in the TV series, keeping Cybertron in a stalemate during his absence,<ref>{{cite episode | title = Transport to Oblivion | episodelink = Transport to Oblivion | series = The Transformers | serieslink = The Transformers (TV series) | airdate = 1984-10-06}}</ref> but in the comic book he attempts to take command of the Decepticons.<ref>{{Comic book reference | writer = [[Bob Budiansky]] | penciller = Alan Kupperberg | story = The New Order | title = [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Transformers (U.S.A)]] | issue = 5 | date = June 1985 | publisher = [[Marvel comics]]}}</ref> The TV series would also differentiate wildly from the origins Budiansky had created for the [[Dinobots]],<ref>{{Comic book reference | writer = Jim Salicrup | penciller = Frank Springer | story = The Last Stand | title = [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Transformers (U.S.A.)]] |issue=4|date=March 1984|publisher=[[Marvel comics]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode | title = S.O.S. Dinobots | episodelink = SOS Dinobots | series = The Transformers | serieslink = The Transformers (TV series) | airdate = 1984-10-27 | season = 1}}</ref> the Decepticon turned Autobot [[Jetfire]],<ref>{{Comic book reference | writer = [[Bob Budiansky]] | penciller = Herb Trimpe | story = Brainstorm! | title = [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Transformers (U.S.A.)]] | issue = 11 | date = December 1985 | publisher = [[Marvel comics]]}}</ref> known as Skyfire on TV,<ref>{{cite episode | title = Fire in the Sky | series = The Transformers | serieslink = The Transformers (TV series) | airdate = 1984-12-08}}</ref> the [[Constructicons]] (who combine to form Devastator),<ref name="secret">{{cite episode | title = The Secret of Omega Supreme | series = The Transformers | serieslink = The Transformers (TV series) | airdate = 1985-11-06}}</ref><ref>{{Comic book reference | writer = [[Bob Budiansky]] | penciller = Ricardo Villamonte | story = The Next Best Thing to Being There! | title = [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Transformers (U.S.A.)]] | issue = 9 | date = November 1985 | publisher = [[Marvel comics]]}}</ref> and [[Omega Supreme]].<ref name="secret" /><ref>{{Comic book reference | writer = Bob Budiansky | penciller = Don Perlin | story = Command Performances | title = [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Transformers (U.S.A.)]] | issue = 19 | date = August 1986 | publisher = [[Marvel comics]]}}</ref> The Marvel comic establishes early on that Prime wields the [[Creation Matrix]], which gives life to machines. In the second season, the two-part episode [[The Key to Vector Sigma]] introduced the ancient [[Vector Sigma]] computer, which served the same original purpose as the Creation Matrix (giving life to Transformers), and its guardian [[Alpha Trion]].

In 1986, the cartoon became a film titled [[The Transformers: The Movie|''The Transformers: The Movie'']], which is set in the year 2005. It introduced the Matrix as the "[[Autobot Matrix of Leadership]]", as a fatally wounded Prime gives it to [[Ultra Magnus]]. [[Unicron]], a transformer who devours planets, fears its power and recreates a dying Megatron as [[Galvatron]]. Eventually, [[Rodimus Prime]] takes up the Matrix and destroys Unicron.<ref>{{cite web | title = The Transformers: The Movie (1986) | publisher = The Internet Movie Database | url = http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092106/ | accessdate = 2007-02-02}}</ref> In the [[United Kingdom]], the weekly comic book interspliced original material to keep up with US reprints,<ref>{{cite web | author = James Roberts | title = The Rise and Fall of Transformers UK | publisher = The Underbase | url = http://www.theunderbase.co.uk/wiki.asp?db=tfdb2000&o=The%20Rise%20and%20Fall%20of%20Transformers%20UK | accessdate = 2007-02-16}}</ref> and ''The Movie'' provided much new material. Writer [[Simon Furman]] proceeded to expand the continuity with movie spin-offs involving the [[time travel]]ling Galvatron.<ref>[[Simon Furman]] (w), Jeff Anderson, [[Geoff Senior]], [[Will Simpson]], [[Ron Smith]] (p), "[[Target: 2006]]" ''The Transformers (U.K)'' #78-88 [[1986-09-13]] - [[1986-11-22]] [[Marvel UK]]</ref><ref>[[Simon Furman]] (w), [[Andrew Wildman]], Robin Smith, Dan Reed, Lee Sullivan (p), "Time Wars" ''The Transformers (U.K)'' #199-205 [[1989-01-07]] - [[1989-02-18]] [[Marvel UK]]</ref>

The third season followed up ''The Movie'', with the revelation of the [[Quintessons]] having used Cybertron as a factory. Their robots rebel, and in time the workers become the Autobots and the soldiers become the Decepticons. It is the Autobots who develop transformation.<ref>{{cite episode | title = Five Faces of Darkness - Part 4 | episodelink = Five Faces of Darkness#Part 4 | series = The Transformers | serieslink = The Transformers (TV series) | airdate = 1986-09-18}}</ref> Due to popular demand,<ref>{{cite news | author = Lane Crockett | title = Hasbro Can't Toy with Optimus Prime | publisher = The Shreveport Times | date = [[1987-03-28]] | url = http://www.electric-escape.net/node/587 | accessdate = 2007-02-06}}</ref> Optimus Prime is resurrected at the conclusion of the third season,<ref>{{cite episode | title = The Return of Optimus Prime | episodelink = The Return of Optimus Prime | series = The Transformers | serieslink = The Transformers (TV series) | airdate = 1987-02-24}}</ref> and the series ended with a three-episode story arc. However, the Japanese broadcast of the series was supplemented with a newly-produced [[OVA]], ''[[Scramble City]]'', before creating entirely new series to continue the storyline, ignoring the 1987 end of the American series. The extended Japanese run consisted of ''[[Transformers: The Headmasters|The Headmasters]]'', ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce|Super-God Masterforce]]'', ''[[Transformers: Victory|Victory]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Zone|Zone]]'', then in illustrated magazine form as ''[[Battlestars: Return of Convoy]]'' and ''Operation: Combination''. Just as the TV series was wrapping up, Marvel continued to expand its continuity. It followed ''The Movie'''s example by killing Prime<ref>{{Comic book reference | writer = [[Bob Budiansky]] | penciller = Don Perlin | story = Afterdeath! | title = [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Transformers (U.S.A.)]] | issue = 24 | date = January 1987 | publisher = [[Marvel comics]]}}</ref> and Megatron,<ref>{{Comic book reference | writer = [[Bob Budiansky]] | penciller = Don Perlin | story = Gone But Not Forgotten! | title = [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Transformers (U.S.A.)]] |issue = 25| date = February 1987 | publisher = [[Marvel comics]]}}</ref> albeit in the present day. Dinobot leader [[Grimlock]] takes over as Autobot leader.<ref>{{Comic book reference | writer = [[Bob Budiansky]] | penciller = Don Perlin | story = King of the Hill! | title = [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Transformers (U.S.A.)]] |issue = 27| date = April 1987| publisher = [[Marvel comics]]}}</ref> There was a ''G.I. Joe'' crossover<ref>{{Comic book reference | writer = Michael Higgins | penciller = Herb Trimpe | story = Blood on the Tracks, Power Struggle, Ashes, Ashes... All Fall Down | title = G.I. Joe and the Transformers | issue = 1-4 | date = January-April 1987 | publisher = [[Marvel comics]]}}</ref> and the limited series ''[[The Transformers: Headmasters]]'' which further expanded the scope to the planet [[Nebulon]].<ref>{{Comic book reference | writer = [[Bob Budiansky]] | penciller = Frank Springer | story = Ring of Hate! Broken Glass! Love and Steel! Brothers in Armor! | title = [[The Transformers: Headmasters]] | issue = 1-4 | date = July-October 1987 | publisher = [[Marvel comics]]}}</ref> It led on to the main title resurrecting Prime as a [[Powermaster]].<ref>{{Comic book reference | writer = [[Bob Budiansky]] | penciller = Jose Delbo | story = People Power! | title = [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Transformers (U.S.A.)]] | issue = 42 | date=July 1988 | publisher = [[Marvel comics]]}}</ref>

Over in the UK, the mythology continued to grow. [[Primus (Transformers)|Primus]] was introduced as the creator of the Transformers, to serve his material body that is planet [[Cybertron (Marvel Comics)|Cybertron]] and fight his nemesis [[Unicron]].<ref>{{Comic book reference | writer = [[Simon Furman]] | penciller = Jeff Anderson | story = The Legacy of Unicron (Part 5) | title = The Transformers (UK) | issue = 150 | date = [[1988-01-30]] | publisher = [[Marvel UK]]}}</ref> Female Autobot [[Arcee]] also appeared, despite the comic book stating the Transformers had no concept of gender, with her backstory of being built by the Autobots to quell human accusations of sexism.<ref>{{Comic book reference | Writer = [[Simon Furman]] | Penciller = [[Andrew Wildman]] | Story = Prime's Rib! | Title = [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Transformers]] | Issue = 234 | Date = [[1989-09-09]] | Publisher = [[Marvel UK]]}}</ref> [[Soundwave (Transformers)|Soundwave]], Megatron's second-in-command, also [[broke the fourth wall]] in the letters page, criticising the cartoon continuity as an inaccurate representation of history.<ref>{{cite web | title = Sound waves Vs the Transformers cartoon | publisher = The Hub | url = http://www.the-hub.co.uk/comics/transformersmarvel/features/soundwaves/index.html | accessdate = 2007-02-16}}</ref> The UK also had a crossover in ''Action Force'', the UK counterpart to G.I. Joe.<ref>[[Simon Furman]] (w), [[Geoff Senior]] (p), "Ancient Relics!" ''Action Force'' #24-27 [[1987-08-15]] - [[1987-09-05]] [[Marvel UK]]</ref> The comic book featured a resurrected Megatron,<ref>{{Comic book reference | Writer = [[Simon Furman]] | Penciller = [[Geoff Senior]] | Story = Ancient Relics Part 1 | Title = [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Transformers (U.K.)]] | Issue = 125 | Date = [[1987-08-08]] | Publisher = [[Marvel UK]]}}</ref> whom Furman [[retcon]]ned to be a [[Cloning|clone]]<ref>{{Comic book reference | writer = [[Simon Furman]] | penciller = [[Geoff Senior]] | story = Two Megatrons! | title = [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Transformers (U.K.)]] | issue = 244 | date = [[1987-11-18]] | publisher = [[Marvel UK]]}}</ref> when he took over the US comic book which depicted Megatron as still dead.<ref>{{Comic book reference | writer = [[Simon Furman]] | penciller = Jose Delbo | story = Back from the Dead! | title = [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Transformers (U.S.A.)]] | issue = 56 | date=September 1989 | publisher=[[Marvel comics]]}}</ref> The US comic would last for 80 issues until 1991, and the UK comic lasted 332 issues and several [[Annual publication|annuals]].

===''Generation 2'' (1992–1995)===
{{main|Transformers: Generation 2}}

It was five issues<ref>{{Comic book reference | writer = [[Larry Hama]] | penciller = [[Andrew Wildman]], Stephen Baskerville, Chris Batista, Jesse Orozco, William Rosado | story = Unfoldings!, Realignments, Goin' South, Sucker Punch, Final Transformations | title = G.I. Joe | issue = 138-142 | date = July-November 1993 | publisher = [[Marvel comics]]}}</ref> of the ''G.I. Joe'' comic in 1993 that would springboard a return for Marvel's Transformers, with a new twelve-issue series entitled ''[[Transformers: Generation 2]]'', to market a new toy line. The UK comic came back for five issues and an annual. This story revealed that the Transformers originally breed [[asexually]], though it is stopped by Primus as it produced the evil [[Swarm (Transformers)|Swarm]].<ref>{{Comic book reference | writer = [[Simon Furman]] | penciller = Manny Galan | story = The Power and the Glory | title = [[Transformers: Generation 2]] | issue = 5 | date = March 1994 | publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]}}</ref> A new empire, neither Autobot or Decepticon, is bringing it back though. Though the year-long arc wrapped itself up with an alliance between [[Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron]], the final panel introduced the [[Liege Maximo]], ancestor of the Decepticons.<ref>{{Comic book reference | Writer = [[Simon Furman]] | penciller = Manny Galan | Story = A Rage in Heaven! | Title = [[Transformers: Generation 2]] | Issue = 12 | Date = October 1994 | Publisher = [[Marvel comics]]}}</ref> This minor cliffhanger was not resolved until 2001 and 2002's Transforce convention when writer [[Simon Furman]] concluded his story in the exclusive novella ''Alignment''.<ref>{{cite web | title = Alignment | publisher = Transforce | url = http://www.transforce.org.uk/alignmentbook.swf | accessdate=2007-02-22}}</ref>

===''Beast Wars''/''Machines'' (1996–2001)===
{{main|Beast Wars|Beast Machines}}

Unlike the various contradictory and separate G1 universes, the 1996 TV series ''Beast Wars'' and its spin-offs form an extended and cohesive story. The story focused on a small group of [[Maximals]] (led by [[Optimus Primal]]) and [[Predacon (Transformers)|Predacons]] (led by [[Megatron (Beast Wars and Beast Machines)|Megatron]]), 300 years after the "Great War". They crash land on a planet similar to Earth, but with two moons and a dangerous level of energon, which forces them to take organic beast forms.<ref>{{cite episode | title = Pilot (Part 1) | series = Beast Wars | serieslink = Beast Wars | airdate = 1996-09-16 | season = 1}}</ref> After writing this first episode, [[Bob Forward]] and [[Larry DiTillio]] learned of the G1 Transformers, and began to use elements of it as a historical backstory to their scripts,<ref>{{cite video | people = Bob Forward | title = Interview with writer Bob Forward | medium = DVD | publisher = Rhino | date = [[2003-08-12]]}}</ref> establishing ''Beast Wars'' as a part of the ''Generation 1'' universe through numerous callbacks to both the cartoon and Marvel comic. By the end of the first season, the second moon and the energon are revealed to have been constructed by the [[Vok]].
[[Image:G1Prime BWMegs.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Megatron (Beast Wars and Beast Machines)|Megatron]] attacks [[Optimus Prime]], in a clash of generations.]]
The destruction of the second moon releases mysterious energies that make some of the characters "[[transmetals|transmetal]]" and the planet is revealed to be prehistoric Earth, leading to the discovery of the ''Ark''. Megatron attempts to kill the original [[Optimus Prime]],<ref name="agenda">{{cite episode | title = The Agenda | episodelink = The Agenda (Beast Wars) | series = Beast Wars | serieslink = Beast Wars | airdate = [[1997-03-11]] - [[1997-03-13]] | season 2}}</ref> but at the beginning of the third season, Primal manages to preserve his spark. In the two-season follow-up, ''Beast Machines'', Cybertron is revealed to have organic origins, which Megatron attempts to stamp out. Although the organic origin of Cybertron, the presence of female characters and [[Starscream]]'s appearance hinting at his demise in ''The Transformers: The Movie'' brought the series closer to the G1 TV series, the appearance of [[Ravage (Transformers)|Ravage]]'s intelligent Marvel incarnation<ref name="agenda" /> and the comics only terms the ''Ark'' left the show in a gray area of "a" ''Generation 1''.

Since then, the saga has been increased. After the first season of ''Beast Wars'' (comprising 26 episodes) aired in Japan, the Japanese were faced with a problem — the second Canadian season was only 13 episodes long, not enough to warrant airing on Japanese TV. So, while they waited for the third Canadian season to be completed (thereby making 26 episodes in total when added to season 2), they produced two exclusive cel-animated series of their own, ''[[Beast Wars II]]'' (also called ''Beast Wars Second'') and ''[[Beast Wars Neo]],'' to fill in the gap. Dreamwave [[retroactive]]ly revealed ''Beast Wars'' to be the future of their G1 universe,<ref name="dream beasts" /> and the 2006 IDW comic book ''[[Beast Wars: The Gathering]]'' eventually confirmed the canonicity of the Japanese series with appearances of the Japanese characters<ref>{{Comic book reference | writer = [[Simon Furman]] | penciller = [[Don Figueroa]] | title = [[Beast Wars: The Gathering]] | issue = 1 | date = [[2006-02-15]] | publisher = [[IDW Publishing]]}}</ref> within a story set during Season 3.<ref>{{cite news | title = Interview - IDWs Ryall & Furman Talk Beast Wars Comic | publisher = Comic News International | date = [[2005-10-25]] | url = http://comicnewsi.com/article.php?catid=208&itemid=7960 | accessdate = 2007-01-31}}</ref>

===Dreamwave Productions (2002–2005)===
In 2002, [[Dreamwave Productions]] began a new universe of comics adapted from Marvel, but also included elements of the cartoon. The Dreamwave stories followed the concept of the Autobots defeating the Decepticons on Earth, but their 1999 return journey to [[Cybertron]] on the ''Ark II''<ref>{{Comic book reference | writer = Chris Sarracini | penciller = [[Pat Lee]] | title = [[Transformers: Generation One (Dreamwave)#Prime Directive (Volume 1)|Transformers: Prime Directive]] | issue = 1 | date = April 2002 | publisher = [[Dreamwave]]}}</ref> is destroyed by [[Shockwave (Transformers)|Shockwave]], now ruler of the planet.<ref name="war and peace">{{Comic book reference | writer = Brad Mick | penciller = [[Pat Lee]] | title = [[Transformers: Generation One (Dreamwave)#War and Peace (Volume 2)|Transformers: War and Peace]] | issue = 6 | date = September 2003 | publisher = [[Dreamwave]]}}</ref> The story follows on from there, and was told in [[Transformers: Generation One (Dreamwave)|two six-issue limited series, then a ten-issue ongoing series]]. The series also added extra complexities such as not all Transformers believing in the existence of [[Primus (Transformers)|Primus]],<ref>Brad Mick, Adam Patyk (w), [[Don Figueroa]] (p), "Original Sin" ''[[Transformers: Generation One (Dreamwave)#Generation One (Ongoing title)|Transformers: Generation One]]'' #5, May 2004, [[Dreamwave Productions]]</ref> corruption in the Cybertronian government that first lead [[Megatron]] to begin his war<ref>James McDonough, Adam Patykand (w), [[Don Figueroa]] (p), "The Route of All Evil" ''[[Transformers: Generation One (Dreamwave)#Generation One (Ongoing title)|Transformers: Generation One]]'' #10, December 2004, [[Dreamwave Productions]]</ref> and Earth having an unknown relevance to Cybertron.<ref name="war and peace"/><ref>Brad Mick, Adam Patyk (w), [[Don Figueroa]] (p), "Atonement" ''[[Transformers: Generation One (Dreamwave)#Generation One (Ongoing title)|Transformers: Generation One]]'' #6, June 2004, [[Dreamwave Productions]]</ref>

Three ''[[Transformers: The War Within]]'' limited series were also published. These are set at the beginning of the Great War, and identify Prime as once being a clerk named Optronix.<ref>{{Comic book reference | writer = [[Simon Furman]] | penciller = [[Don Figueroa]] | title = [[Transformers: The War Within]] | issue=1 | date = October 2002 | publisher = [[Dreamwave Productions]]}}</ref> ''Beast Wars'' was also [[retroactive]]ly stated as the future of this continuity, with the profile series ''More than Meets the Eye'' showing the [[Predacon]] [[Megatron (Beast Wars and Beast Machines)|Megatron]] looking at historical files detailing Dreamwave's characters and taking his name from the original Megatron.<ref name="dream beasts">{{Comic book reference | writer = Adam Patyk, Brad Mick | penciller = Joe Ng, James Raiz, Edwin Garcia, [[Don Figueroa]], Alex Lin | title = Transformers: More than Meets the Eye | issue = 8 | date = November 2003 | publisher = [[Dreamwave]]}}</ref> In 2004, this fictional universe also inspired three novels<ref>{{cite web | title=The Transformers Trilogy|publisher=Amazon.com|url=http://www.amazon.com/Transformers-Trilogy-volumes-one/dp/0739445626/sr=1-4/qid=1172601112/ref=sr_1_4/002-8197477-7228035?ie=UTF8&s=books|accessdate=2007-02-27}}</ref> and a [[Dorling Kindersley]] guide, which focused on Dreamwave as the "true" continuity when discussing in-universe elements of the characters. In a new twist, Primus and Unicron are siblings, formerly a being known as The One. ''[[Transformers: Micromasters]]'', set after the <em>Ark</em>'s disappearance, was also published. The fictional universe was disrupted when Dreamwave went bankrupt in 2005.<ref>{{cite news | title = Immediate Press Release - Dreamwave will be ceasing operations! | publisher = Seibertron | date = [[2005-01-04]] | url = http://www.seibertron.com/news/view.php?id=4495 | accessdate = 2007-01-31}}</ref> This left the ''Generation One'' story hanging and the third volume of ''The War Within'' half finished. Plans for a comic book set between ''Beast Wars'' and ''Beast Machines'' were also left unrealized.<ref>{{cite news | author = Benjamin Ong Pang Kean | title = STARTING THE BEAST WAR: DREAMWAVE TALKS TFORMERS: BEAST WAR | publisher = Newsarama | date = [[2004-07-12]] | url = http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22884 | accessdate = 2007-01-31}}</ref>

===G.I. Joe crossovers (2003 onwards)===
Throughout the years, the G1 characters have also starred in crossovers with fellow Hasbro property [[G.I. Joe]], but whereas those crossovers published by Marvel were in continuity with their larger storyline, those released by Dreamwave and G.I. Joe publisher [[Devil's Due Publishing]] occupy their own separate fictional universes. In Devil's Due, the terrorist organization [[Cobra Organization|Cobra]] is responsible for finding and reactivating the Transformers. Dreamwave's version remagines the familiar G1 and G.I. Joe characters in a [[World War II]] setting, and a second limited series was released set in the present day, though Dreamwave's bankruptcy meant it was cancelled after a single issue. Devil's Due had Cobra re-engineer the Transformers to turn into familiar Cobra vehicles, and released further mini-series that sent the characters travelling through time, battling [[Serpentor]] and being faced with the combined menace of [[Cobra-La]] and [[Unicron]].

[[IDW Publishing]] have expressed interest in their own crossover.<ref>{{cite news|title=BotCon 2006 - Transformers Comics: Past, Present & Future|publisher=TFormers.com|date=[[2006-09-30]]|url=http://tformers.com/article.php?sid=6608|accessdate=2007-02-27}}</ref>

===IDW publishing (2005 onwards)===
{{main|The Transformers (IDW Publishing)}}
The following year, [[IDW Publishing]] [[reboot (continuity)|rebooted]] the G1 series from scratch within various [[The Transformers (IDW Publishing)|limited series]] and [[The Transformers: Spotlight|one shots]]. This allowed long-time writer of Marvel and Dreamwave comics, [[Simon Furman]] to create his own universe without continuity hindrance, similar to [[Ultimate Marvel]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Simon Furman talks Stormbringer | publisher = Comics News International | date = [[2006-06-22]] | url = http://comicnewsi.com/article.php?catid=208&itemid=8746 | accessdate = 2006-12-21}}</ref> Furman's story depicts a Cybertron that the rogue [[Pretenders (Transformers)|Pretender]] [[Thunderwing]] destroys,<ref>{{Comic book reference | writer = [[Simon Furman]] | penciller = [[Don Figueroa]] | title = [[The Transformers: Stormbringer]] | Issue = 1 | date = July 2006 | publisher = [[IDW Publishing]]}}</ref> so the [[Autobots]] and [[Decepticons]] have to infiltrate various planets for their resources. [[Earth]] comes under particular scrutiny due to a particularly potent form of [[Energon (power source)|energon]] which [[Shockwave (Transformers)|Shockwave]] had seeded millions of years ago,<ref>{{Comic book reference | Writer = [[Simon Furman]] | penciller = Nick Roche | Title = [[The Transformers: Spotlight#Issue 1: Shockwave|The Transformers Spotlight: Shockwave]] | Issue = 1 | Date = September 2006 | Publisher = [[IDW Publishing]]}}</ref> with the Decepticons escalating political tensions by replacing people with clones.<ref>{{Comic book reference | writer = [[Simon Furman]] | penciller = [[E.J. Su]] | title = [[The Transformers: Escalation]] | issue = 2 | date = December 2006 | publisher = [[IDW Publishing]]}}</ref> The ''Ark'' origin is absent in this series, and female Transformers do not exist either*, as Furman felt that "Every time I try and rationalize gender in giant robots it makes my head hurt."<ref>{{cite news | author = Iain Burnside | title = Caught in the Nexus: Simon Furman | publisher = Comics Nexus | date = [[2006-08-04]] | url = http://comicsnexus.insidepulse.com/articles/50140 | accessdate = 2007-02-02}}</ref> The continuity was also the first to acknowledge the existence of {{ml|Transformers_technology|Mass_displacement|mass displacement}} in transformations, such as when Megatron downsizes himself into a gun.<ref>{{Comic book reference | writer = [[Simon Furman]] | penciller = [[E.J. Su]] | title = [[The Transformers: Escalation]] | issue = 3 | date = January 2007 | publisher = [[IDW Publishing]]}}</ref>

*'''Note''': Female Transformers were seen in ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin]]'' miniseries, so it remains to be seen if Furman will integrate them into the main universe.<ref>{{Comic book reference | writer = [[Eric Holmes (videogame designer)|Eric Holmes]] | penciller = [[Alex Milne]] | title = [[The Transformers: Megatron Origin]] | issue = 3 | date = August 2007 | publisher = [[IDW Publishing]]}}</ref>

===Alternative stories===
In January 2006, the ''Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club'' comic wrote a story based on the [[Transformers Classics]] toy line, set in the Marvel Comics universe, but excluding the ''Generation 2'' comic. Fifteen years after [[Megatron]] crash lands in the ''[[Ark (Transformers)|Ark]]'' with [[Ratchet (Transformers)|Ratchet]], the war continues with the characters in their ''Classics'' bodies.<ref>{{Comic book reference | writer=Forest Lee|penciller=Dan Khanna|story=Crossing Over|title=[[Hasbro]] Transformers Collectors' Club|date=January/February 2006|issue=13|publisher=Fun Publications}}</ref>

IDW Publishing introduced ''[[The Transformers: Evolutions]]'' in 2006, a collection of mini-series that re-imagine and reinterpret the G1 characters in various ways. To date, only one miniseries has been published, ''Hearts of Steel'', placing the characters in an [[Industrial Revolution]]-era setting. The series was delayed as [[Hasbro]] did not want to confuse newcomers with too many fictional universes before the release of the [[Transformers (film)|live-action film]].<ref>{{cite news|title = IDW's Plans For Transformers Revealed At The 2006 San Diego Comic Con|publisher=Comics News International|date=[[2006-07-26]]|url=http://comicnewsi.com/article.php?catid=245&itemid=8842|accessdate=2007-02-26}}</ref>

However, IDW and the original publisher [[Marvel Comics]] announced a crossover storyline with the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] to coincide with the film, entitled ''[[New Avengers/Transformers]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Avengers/Transformers|publisher=IDW Publishing|url=http://www.idwpublishing.com/news/tf-na.shtml|accessdate=2007-02-26}}</ref> The story is set on the borders of [[Symkaria]] and [[Latveria]], and its [[fictional universe]] is set between the first two ''[[New Avengers]]'' storylines, as well in between the ''[[The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]'' phase of IDW's ''[[The Transformers (IDW Publishing)|The Transformers]]''.<ref>{{cite news | author=Jay | title=Stuart Moore Talks New Avengers/Transformers|publisher=Comics News International|date=[[2007-03-02]]|url=http://comicnewsi.com/article.php?catid=99&itemid=9440|accessdate=2007-03-03}}</ref> IDW editor-in-chief, Chris Ryall hinted at elements of it being carried over into the main continuities,<ref>{{cite news|title =Ryall answers fans' questions on TF/Avengers crossover|publisher=TFormers|date=[[2007-02-26]]|url=http://tformers.com/Ryall-Answers-Fans-Questions-On-TFAvengers-Crossover/7231/news.html|accessdate=2007-02-27}}</ref> and that a [[sequel]] is possible.<ref>{{cite news|author=Dave Richards|title=NYCC, DAY 2: MOORE, ROSEMANN AND RYALL TALK “NEW AVENGERS/ TRANSFORMERS”|publisher=Comic Book Resources|date=[[2007-02-24]]|url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=9791|accessdate=2007-02-27}}</ref>

==''Robots in Disguise'' (2000–2002)==
{{main|Transformers: Robots in Disguise}}

Broadcast in 2001, ''Robots in Disguise'' was a single animated series, imported from Japan (where it was broadcast the previous year), consisting of thirty-nine episodes. In this continuity, Megatron creates the Decepticons as a subfaction of the Predacons on Earth, a potential reference to the return to the vehicle-based characters following the previous dominance of the animal-based characters of the ''Beast'' eras. It is a stand-alone universe with no ties to any other Transformers fiction, though some of the characters from ''Robots in Disguise'' did eventually make appearances in ''[[Transformers: Universe]]'', including Optimus Prime, [[Side Burn]] and [[Prowl (Transformers)|Prowl]].

==The Unicron Trilogy (2002–2006)==
{{main|Transformers: Armada|Transformers: Energon|Transformers: Cybertron}}
These three lines, launched in 2002 and dubbed the "[[Unicron Trilogy]]" by ''Transformers'' designer [[Aaron Archer]],<ref>{{cite news | title = Hasbro Cartoon Creation Panel | publisher = The Allspark | date = [[2006-09-30]] | url = http://www.allspark.com/content/view/69/20/ | accessdate = 2007-02-04}}</ref> are co-productions between Hasbro and Takara, simultaneously released in both countries, each lasting 52 episodes. ''Armada'' followed the Autobots and Decepticons discovering the powerful [[Mini-Cons]] on Earth, which are revealed by the end to be weapons of [[Unicron]]. ''Energon'', set ten years later, followed the Autobots stopping the Decepticons from resurrecting Unicron with [[energon (power source)|energon]].

In Japan, the series ''Transformers: Cybertron'' showed no ties to the previous two series, telling its own story. This caused continuity problems when Hasbro sold ''Cybertron'' as a follow-up to ''Armada/Energon''. Plot elements have been changed from the Japanese story into references to the previous shows to enhance continuity, but they largely only add up to mentioning Unicron once or twice.

Just as Marvel produced a companion comic to ''Generation One'', [[Dreamwave Productions]] published a comic entitled ''Transformers Armada'' set in a different continuity to the cartoon. At #19, it became ''Transformers Energon''. Dreamwave went bankrupt and ceased all publications before the storyline could be completed at #30. However, the Transformers Fan Club published a few stories it in the ''Cybertron'' era.<ref>{{cite news | title = Transformers Comics For April 2007 From IDW | publisher = Comics News International | date = [[2007-01-08]] | url = http://comicnewsi.com/article.php?catid=208&itemid=9249 | accessdate = 2007-02-02}}</ref>

==''Transformers: Universe'' (2003–2006)==
{{main|Transformers: Universe}}

The storyline of ''[[Transformers: Universe]]'', mainly set following ''[[Beast Machines]]'', sees characters from many assorted alternate continuities, including existing and new ones, encountering each other. The story was told in an unfinished comic book exclusive to the Official Transformers Collectors' Convention.

==Film franchise (2007-present)==
{{main|Transformers (film)}}
In 2007, a [[live action]] film of Transformers was directed by [[Michael Bay]] and written by [[Roberto Orci]] and [[Alex Kurtzman]]. The main focus of the film revolved around the creator of the Transformers, as well as [[Cybertron]], which in the film is described as the [[Allspark]]. The film portrayed the Allspark as a large cube of energy that can create life from mechanical objects. During the Cybertronian Civil War, the Allspark was sent off the planet and eventually landed on Earth, where it was discovered by the U.S. government and the [[Hoover Dam]] was built over it as a top-secret research facility and government base. Megatron searched for the Allspark and eventually found Earth, but he crash-landed in the Arctic and was frozen. Many years later he was found and also brought to the same facility as the Allspark. With their homeworld ravaged by war, the Autobots were dispersed throughout space. But a group of autobots led by Optimus Prime traveled to Earth in search of the Allspark, in an attempt to revitalize their planet. However, the Decepticons also race towards Earth to find the Allspark, as well as their leader, Megatron. The film depicts the battle over the Allspark on Earth. The Transformers are depicted as mechanical beings that can reconstruct their outside appearance through scanning or touching a mechanical object of relative size to each Transformer's body. <ref>{{cite video | people = [[Michael Bay]] (director) | title = [[Transformers (film)|Transformers]] | format = [[film]] | publisher = [[Dreamworks]] | year = 2007}}</ref>

To market the film, [[IDW Publishing]] published ''[[Transformers: Movie Prequel]]''. The comic expanded upon [[Optimus Prime]]'s referral to Megatron as "brother", revealing they co-ruled [[Cybertron]] before Megatron's corruption. Furthermore, Optimus sent the All Spark into space in a last-ditch attempt to defeat Megatron. Megatron is responsible for [[Bumblebee (Transformers)|Bumblebee]]'s [[muteness]] in the film, as a direct result of distracting him from the All Spark's launch.<ref>{{Comic book reference | writer = [[Simon Furman]], Chris Ryall | penciller = [[Don Figueroa]] | title= Transformers: The Movie Prequel | issue=1 | date=[[2007-03-06]] | publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]}}</ref> [[Alan Dean Foster]] also wrote a prequel novel entitled ''[[Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday]]''. The novel shows that [[Starscream]] hated Megatron and wanted him to never be found, so he could remain as leader, explaining Megatron's line in the film: "You failed me, yet again, Starscream." [[Blackout (Transformers)|Blackout]] is also depicted as deeply loyal to Megatron, explaining his line "All hail Megatron!" However, the novel contradicts the film with Megatron's body moved into the [[Hoover Dam]] in 1969, instead of the 1930s.<ref>{{cite book | last = Dean Foster | first = Alan | authorlink = Alan Dean Foster | coauthors = David Cian | title = Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday | publisher = Del Ray | date = 2007 | pages = 286 | id = ISBN 978-0-345-49798-7}}</ref> IDW plans to continue the film's fictional universe with additional prequels and sequels.<ref>{{cite news | author = Matt Brady | title = SDCC '07: IDW PANEL REPORT | publisher = [[Newsarama]] | date = [[2007-07-27]] | url = http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=122899 | accessdate=2007-08-02}}</ref>

==''Transformers: Animated'' (2008)==
{{main|Transformers: Animated}}
The [[Cartoon Network]]-produced ''[[Transformers: Animated]]'' is a cartoon that aired in early 2008.<ref name="back to tv"/> Originally scheduled for late 2007 under the title of ''Transformers: Heroes'',<ref name="heroes">{{cite news | title = Next TF Cartoon Series: "Transformers Heroes"? | publisher = Seibertron | date = [[2006-09-02]] | url = http://www.seibertron.com/news/view.php?id=8312 | accessdate = 2007-02-02}}</ref> ''Transformers: Animated'' is set in the [[22nd Century]] [[Detroit]],<ref name="back to tv">{{cite news | title = ‘TRANSFORMERS’ BACK TO TV | publisher = [[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]] | date = [[2007-06-25]] | url = http://www.wizarduniverse.com/television/tvother/004962732.cfm | accessdate=2007-06-26}}</ref> when robots and humans live side-by-side.<ref name="heroes"/> The [[Autobot]]s come to Earth and assume [[superhero]] roles, battling evil humans with the [[Decepticons]] having a smaller role.<ref>{{cite news | author = Eric Goldman | title = New Transformers Series Coming to Cartoon Network | publisher = [[IGN]] | date = [[2007-06-25]] | url = http://tv.ign.com/articles/799/799046p1.html | accessdate=2007-06-27}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.transformers.com/ Transformers.com] - Official Hasbro Transformers Site
* [http://transformers.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page Teletraan-1: The Transformers Wiki] - A guide to the fictional aspects of the franchise
* [http://www.tfw2005.com/ Transformer World 2005] - (2005 is a reference to the year ''Transformers: The Movie'' is set in)
* [http://www.seibertron.com/ Seibertron]
* [http://www.tfarchive.com/ The Transformers Archive]
* [http://tformers.com/ TFormers]
* [http://www.unicron.com/ Lukis Bros. Transformers Collector Site] - Collector site with character bios from all universes.
* [http://transformers.ugo.com Transformers World] - Information, images, videos of the Transformers comics, cartoons and movies.
*[http://www.blockbuster.co.uk/BBSiteContent/Editorial/Promotions/July07/TransformersHistorypart1.aspx A History of Transformers] at Blockbuster UK
*[http://www.transformersvideo.net/ Transformers video's archive]

{{Transformers}}

[[Category:Transformers| ]]
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Revision as of 17:32, 21 May 2008

Transformers
File:Megalitho 20thanniv.jpg
A battle between the Autobots and Decepticons. In the center are Optimus Prime (right) and Megatron (left). Artwork by Don Figueroa, 2004.
Publication information
First appearance1984
Created byTakara/Hasbro
In-story information
Base(s)Cybertron

Transformers are fictional alien robots and the titular characters of a popular[1] Hasbro toy line and its spin-offs. They come from the planet Cybertron and are divided into the heroic Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, and the evil Decepticons, led by Megatron. They are able to "transform", rearranging their bodies into common or innocuous forms, including vehicles, devices or animals. Beyond that, they can displace mass (i.e. shrink and expand), combine with one another, and apply synthetic flesh (see: Transformers technology). This ability to transform is reflected in the programs' taglines "More Than Meets the Eye" and "Robots in Disguise". All Transformers stories and characters, in a range of media, have been based around this core concept since their debut in 1984.

The largest Transformers story arc, retroactively known as Transformers: Generation 1, includes both the TV series and Marvel comic, which further divided into Japanese and UK spin-offs respectively. Sequels followed, such as the Generation 2 comic book and Beast Wars TV series which became its own mini-universe. Generation 1 characters underwent two reboots with Dreamwave in 2002 and IDW Publishing in 2006. There have been other incarnations of the story based on different toy lines during the 2000s. The first was the Robots in Disguise series, followed by three shows that consist of the "Unicron Trilogy" (consisting of Armada, Energon, and Cybertron). A live-action film was also released in 2007, again distinct from previous incarnations, while the Transformers Animated series merged concepts of G1 and the film in the same year.

Generation One (1984–1992)

Main article: Transformers: Generation 1
Spider-Man battles Megatron on the cover of The Transformers #3

Generation One (G1) is a retroactive term for the Transformers characters that appeared between 1984 and 1992. The Transformers began with the 1970s Japanese toy lines Microman and Diaclone. The former utilized varying humanoid-type figures while the middle presented robots able to transform into vehicular modes, with the latter robots mimicking everyday electronic items or replica weapons. Hasbro, fresh from the success of the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline, which utilised the Microman technology to great success, bought the Diaclone toys, and partnered with Takara.[2] Jim Shooter and Dennis O'Neil were hired by Hasbro to create the backstory, the latter of whom christened Optimus Prime.[3] Afterwards, Bob Budiansky created most of the Transformers characters, giving names and personalities to many unnamed Diaclone figures.[4] The primary concept of G1 is that the heroic Optimus Prime, the villainous Megatron, and their finest soldiers crash land on pre-historic Earth in the Ark and the Nemesis before awakening in 1984. The Marvel comic was originally part of the main Marvel Universe, with an appearance from Spider-Man and Nick Fury[5] as well as a visit to the Savage Land.[6]

The Transformers TV series began around the same time. Produced by Sunbow Productions, from the start it contradicted Budiansky's backstories. The TV series shows the Autobots looking for new energy sources, and crash landing as the Decepticons attack.[7] Marvel interpreted the Autobots as destroying a rogue asteroid approaching Cybertron.[8] Shockwave is loyal to Megatron in the TV series, keeping Cybertron in a stalemate during his absence,[9] but in the comic book he attempts to take command of the Decepticons.[10] The TV series would also differentiate wildly from the origins Budiansky had created for the Dinobots,[11][12] the Decepticon turned Autobot Jetfire,[13] known as Skyfire on TV,[14] the Constructicons (who combine to form Devastator),[15][16] and Omega Supreme.[15][17] The Marvel comic establishes early on that Prime wields the Creation Matrix, which gives life to machines. In the second season, the two-part episode The Key to Vector Sigma introduced the ancient Vector Sigma computer, which served the same original purpose as the Creation Matrix (giving life to Transformers), and its guardian Alpha Trion.

In 1986, the cartoon became a film titled The Transformers: The Movie, which is set in the year 2005. It introduced the Matrix as the "Autobot Matrix of Leadership", as a fatally wounded Prime gives it to Ultra Magnus. Unicron, a transformer who devours planets, fears its power and recreates a dying Megatron as Galvatron. Eventually, Rodimus Prime takes up the Matrix and destroys Unicron.[18] In the United Kingdom, the weekly comic book interspliced original material to keep up with US reprints,[19] and The Movie provided much new material. Writer Simon Furman proceeded to expand the continuity with movie spin-offs involving the time travelling Galvatron.[20][21]

The third season followed up The Movie, with the revelation of the Quintessons having used Cybertron as a factory. Their robots rebel, and in time the workers become the Autobots and the soldiers become the Decepticons. It is the Autobots who develop transformation.[22] Due to popular demand,[23] Optimus Prime is resurrected at the conclusion of the third season,[24] and the series ended with a three-episode story arc. However, the Japanese broadcast of the series was supplemented with a newly-produced OVA, Scramble City, before creating entirely new series to continue the storyline, ignoring the 1987 end of the American series. The extended Japanese run consisted of The Headmasters, Super-God Masterforce, Victory and Zone, then in illustrated magazine form as Battlestars: Return of Convoy and Operation: Combination. Just as the TV series was wrapping up, Marvel continued to expand its continuity. It followed The Movie's example by killing Prime[25] and Megatron,[26] albeit in the present day. Dinobot leader Grimlock takes over as Autobot leader.[27] There was a G.I. Joe crossover[28] and the limited series The Transformers: Headmasters which further expanded the scope to the planet Nebulon.[29] It led on to the main title resurrecting Prime as a Powermaster.[30]

Over in the UK, the mythology continued to grow. Primus was introduced as the creator of the Transformers, to serve his material body that is planet Cybertron and fight his nemesis Unicron.[31] Female Autobot Arcee also appeared, despite the comic book stating the Transformers had no concept of gender, with her backstory of being built by the Autobots to quell human accusations of sexism.[32] Soundwave, Megatron's second-in-command, also broke the fourth wall in the letters page, criticising the cartoon continuity as an inaccurate representation of history.[33] The UK also had a crossover in Action Force, the UK counterpart to G.I. Joe.[34] The comic book featured a resurrected Megatron,[35] whom Furman retconned to be a clone[36] when he took over the US comic book which depicted Megatron as still dead.[37] The US comic would last for 80 issues until 1991, and the UK comic lasted 332 issues and several annuals.

Generation 2 (1992–1995)

Main article: Transformers: Generation 2

It was five issues[38] of the G.I. Joe comic in 1993 that would springboard a return for Marvel's Transformers, with a new twelve-issue series entitled Transformers: Generation 2, to market a new toy line. The UK comic came back for five issues and an annual. This story revealed that the Transformers originally breed asexually, though it is stopped by Primus as it produced the evil Swarm.[39] A new empire, neither Autobot or Decepticon, is bringing it back though. Though the year-long arc wrapped itself up with an alliance between Optimus Prime and Megatron, the final panel introduced the Liege Maximo, ancestor of the Decepticons.[40] This minor cliffhanger was not resolved until 2001 and 2002's Transforce convention when writer Simon Furman concluded his story in the exclusive novella Alignment.[41]

Beast Wars/Machines (1996–2001)

Main articles: Beast Wars and Beast Machines

Unlike the various contradictory and separate G1 universes, the 1996 TV series Beast Wars and its spin-offs form an extended and cohesive story. The story focused on a small group of Maximals (led by Optimus Primal) and Predacons (led by Megatron), 300 years after the "Great War". They crash land on a planet similar to Earth, but with two moons and a dangerous level of energon, which forces them to take organic beast forms.[42] After writing this first episode, Bob Forward and Larry DiTillio learned of the G1 Transformers, and began to use elements of it as a historical backstory to their scripts,[43] establishing Beast Wars as a part of the Generation 1 universe through numerous callbacks to both the cartoon and Marvel comic. By the end of the first season, the second moon and the energon are revealed to have been constructed by the Vok.

Megatron attacks Optimus Prime, in a clash of generations.

The destruction of the second moon releases mysterious energies that make some of the characters "transmetal" and the planet is revealed to be prehistoric Earth, leading to the discovery of the Ark. Megatron attempts to kill the original Optimus Prime,[44] but at the beginning of the third season, Primal manages to preserve his spark. In the two-season follow-up, Beast Machines, Cybertron is revealed to have organic origins, which Megatron attempts to stamp out. Although the organic origin of Cybertron, the presence of female characters and Starscream's appearance hinting at his demise in The Transformers: The Movie brought the series closer to the G1 TV series, the appearance of Ravage's intelligent Marvel incarnation[44] and the comics only terms the Ark left the show in a gray area of "a" Generation 1.

Since then, the saga has been increased. After the first season of Beast Wars (comprising 26 episodes) aired in Japan, the Japanese were faced with a problem — the second Canadian season was only 13 episodes long, not enough to warrant airing on Japanese TV. So, while they waited for the third Canadian season to be completed (thereby making 26 episodes in total when added to season 2), they produced two exclusive cel-animated series of their own, Beast Wars II (also called Beast Wars Second) and Beast Wars Neo, to fill in the gap. Dreamwave retroactively revealed Beast Wars to be the future of their G1 universe,[45] and the 2006 IDW comic book Beast Wars: The Gathering eventually confirmed the canonicity of the Japanese series with appearances of the Japanese characters[46] within a story set during Season 3.[47]

Dreamwave Productions (2002–2005)

In 2002, Dreamwave Productions began a new universe of comics adapted from Marvel, but also included elements of the cartoon. The Dreamwave stories followed the concept of the Autobots defeating the Decepticons on Earth, but their 1999 return journey to Cybertron on the Ark II[48] is destroyed by Shockwave, now ruler of the planet.[49] The story follows on from there, and was told in two six-issue limited series, then a ten-issue ongoing series. The series also added extra complexities such as not all Transformers believing in the existence of Primus,[50] corruption in the Cybertronian government that first lead Megatron to begin his war[51] and Earth having an unknown relevance to Cybertron.[49][52]

Three Transformers: The War Within limited series were also published. These are set at the beginning of the Great War, and identify Prime as once being a clerk named Optronix.[53] Beast Wars was also retroactively stated as the future of this continuity, with the profile series More than Meets the Eye showing the Predacon Megatron looking at historical files detailing Dreamwave's characters and taking his name from the original Megatron.[45] In 2004, this fictional universe also inspired three novels[54] and a Dorling Kindersley guide, which focused on Dreamwave as the "true" continuity when discussing in-universe elements of the characters. In a new twist, Primus and Unicron are siblings, formerly a being known as The One. Transformers: Micromasters, set after the Ark's disappearance, was also published. The fictional universe was disrupted when Dreamwave went bankrupt in 2005.[55] This left the Generation One story hanging and the third volume of The War Within half finished. Plans for a comic book set between Beast Wars and Beast Machines were also left unrealized.[56]

G.I. Joe crossovers (2003 onwards)

Throughout the years, the G1 characters have also starred in crossovers with fellow Hasbro property G.I. Joe, but whereas those crossovers published by Marvel were in continuity with their larger storyline, those released by Dreamwave and G.I. Joe publisher Devil's Due Publishing occupy their own separate fictional universes. In Devil's Due, the terrorist organization Cobra is responsible for finding and reactivating the Transformers. Dreamwave's version remagines the familiar G1 and G.I. Joe characters in a World War II setting, and a second limited series was released set in the present day, though Dreamwave's bankruptcy meant it was cancelled after a single issue. Devil's Due had Cobra re-engineer the Transformers to turn into familiar Cobra vehicles, and released further mini-series that sent the characters travelling through time, battling Serpentor and being faced with the combined menace of Cobra-La and Unicron.

IDW Publishing have expressed interest in their own crossover.[57]

IDW publishing (2005 onwards)

Main article: The Transformers (IDW Publishing)

The following year, IDW Publishing rebooted the G1 series from scratch within various limited series and one shots. This allowed long-time writer of Marvel and Dreamwave comics, Simon Furman to create his own universe without continuity hindrance, similar to Ultimate Marvel.[58] Furman's story depicts a Cybertron that the rogue Pretender Thunderwing destroys,[59] so the Autobots and Decepticons have to infiltrate various planets for their resources. Earth comes under particular scrutiny due to a particularly potent form of energon which Shockwave had seeded millions of years ago,[60] with the Decepticons escalating political tensions by replacing people with clones.[61] The Ark origin is absent in this series, and female Transformers do not exist either*, as Furman felt that "Every time I try and rationalize gender in giant robots it makes my head hurt."[62] The continuity was also the first to acknowledge the existence of {{#invoke:Transformers_technology|Mass_displacement|mass displacement}} in transformations, such as when Megatron downsizes himself into a gun.[63]

Alternative stories

In January 2006, the Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club comic wrote a story based on the Transformers Classics toy line, set in the Marvel Comics universe, but excluding the Generation 2 comic. Fifteen years after Megatron crash lands in the Ark with Ratchet, the war continues with the characters in their Classics bodies.[65]

IDW Publishing introduced The Transformers: Evolutions in 2006, a collection of mini-series that re-imagine and reinterpret the G1 characters in various ways. To date, only one miniseries has been published, Hearts of Steel, placing the characters in an Industrial Revolution-era setting. The series was delayed as Hasbro did not want to confuse newcomers with too many fictional universes before the release of the live-action film.[66]

However, IDW and the original publisher Marvel Comics announced a crossover storyline with the Avengers to coincide with the film, entitled New Avengers/Transformers.[67] The story is set on the borders of Symkaria and Latveria, and its fictional universe is set between the first two New Avengers storylines, as well in between the Infiltration and Escalation phase of IDW's The Transformers.[68] IDW editor-in-chief, Chris Ryall hinted at elements of it being carried over into the main continuities,[69] and that a sequel is possible.[70]

Robots in Disguise (2000–2002)

Main article: Transformers: Robots in Disguise

Broadcast in 2001, Robots in Disguise was a single animated series, imported from Japan (where it was broadcast the previous year), consisting of thirty-nine episodes. In this continuity, Megatron creates the Decepticons as a subfaction of the Predacons on Earth, a potential reference to the return to the vehicle-based characters following the previous dominance of the animal-based characters of the Beast eras. It is a stand-alone universe with no ties to any other Transformers fiction, though some of the characters from Robots in Disguise did eventually make appearances in Transformers: Universe, including Optimus Prime, Side Burn and Prowl.

The Unicron Trilogy (2002–2006)

Main articles: Transformers: Armada, Transformers: Energon, and Transformers: Cybertron

These three lines, launched in 2002 and dubbed the "Unicron Trilogy" by Transformers designer Aaron Archer,[71] are co-productions between Hasbro and Takara, simultaneously released in both countries, each lasting 52 episodes. Armada followed the Autobots and Decepticons discovering the powerful Mini-Cons on Earth, which are revealed by the end to be weapons of Unicron. Energon, set ten years later, followed the Autobots stopping the Decepticons from resurrecting Unicron with energon.

In Japan, the series Transformers: Cybertron showed no ties to the previous two series, telling its own story. This caused continuity problems when Hasbro sold Cybertron as a follow-up to Armada/Energon. Plot elements have been changed from the Japanese story into references to the previous shows to enhance continuity, but they largely only add up to mentioning Unicron once or twice.

Just as Marvel produced a companion comic to Generation One, Dreamwave Productions published a comic entitled Transformers Armada set in a different continuity to the cartoon. At #19, it became Transformers Energon. Dreamwave went bankrupt and ceased all publications before the storyline could be completed at #30. However, the Transformers Fan Club published a few stories it in the Cybertron era.[72]

Transformers: Universe (2003–2006)

Main article: Transformers: Universe

The storyline of Transformers: Universe, mainly set following Beast Machines, sees characters from many assorted alternate continuities, including existing and new ones, encountering each other. The story was told in an unfinished comic book exclusive to the Official Transformers Collectors' Convention.

Film franchise (2007-present)

Main article: Transformers (film)

In 2007, a live action film of Transformers was directed by Michael Bay and written by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. The main focus of the film revolved around the creator of the Transformers, as well as Cybertron, which in the film is described as the Allspark. The film portrayed the Allspark as a large cube of energy that can create life from mechanical objects. During the Cybertronian Civil War, the Allspark was sent off the planet and eventually landed on Earth, where it was discovered by the U.S. government and the Hoover Dam was built over it as a top-secret research facility and government base. Megatron searched for the Allspark and eventually found Earth, but he crash-landed in the Arctic and was frozen. Many years later he was found and also brought to the same facility as the Allspark. With their homeworld ravaged by war, the Autobots were dispersed throughout space. But a group of autobots led by Optimus Prime traveled to Earth in search of the Allspark, in an attempt to revitalize their planet. However, the Decepticons also race towards Earth to find the Allspark, as well as their leader, Megatron. The film depicts the battle over the Allspark on Earth. The Transformers are depicted as mechanical beings that can reconstruct their outside appearance through scanning or touching a mechanical object of relative size to each Transformer's body. [73]

To market the film, IDW Publishing published Transformers: Movie Prequel. The comic expanded upon Optimus Prime's referral to Megatron as "brother", revealing they co-ruled Cybertron before Megatron's corruption. Furthermore, Optimus sent the All Spark into space in a last-ditch attempt to defeat Megatron. Megatron is responsible for Bumblebee's muteness in the film, as a direct result of distracting him from the All Spark's launch.[74] Alan Dean Foster also wrote a prequel novel entitled Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday. The novel shows that Starscream hated Megatron and wanted him to never be found, so he could remain as leader, explaining Megatron's line in the film: "You failed me, yet again, Starscream." Blackout is also depicted as deeply loyal to Megatron, explaining his line "All hail Megatron!" However, the novel contradicts the film with Megatron's body moved into the Hoover Dam in 1969, instead of the 1930s.[75] IDW plans to continue the film's fictional universe with additional prequels and sequels.[76]

Transformers: Animated (2008)

Main article: Transformers: Animated

The Cartoon Network-produced Transformers: Animated is a cartoon that aired in early 2008.[77] Originally scheduled for late 2007 under the title of Transformers: Heroes,[78] Transformers: Animated is set in the 22nd Century Detroit,[77] when robots and humans live side-by-side.[78] The Autobots come to Earth and assume superhero roles, battling evil humans with the Decepticons having a smaller role.[79]

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