Transformers

Since the initial conception of the Transformers in the late 1970s and early '80s, various stories have been written or imagined set in a universe where they exist. These universes existed in a very fragmented way; Early story writers were not concerned with continuity, their audience was too young to understand a deeply interwoven storyline; that issue was taken hold of by the Japanese and later the Dreamwave comic writers.

The Primary universes are:

Generation 1 (or G1)

• The Transformers (original 1980's series, 4 seasons - later repackaged as "Transformers: Generation 2" animated series)
• Transformers The Movie
• Beast Wars (1990's CGI animated series, 3 seasons)
• Beast Machines (late 1990's CGI animated series, 2 seasons)

Japanese Generation 1 (or G1)

• Fight! Super Robot Life Transformers! (seasons 1 & 2 of American Transformers series)
• Scramble City (Japanese-exclusive OVA to bridge seasons 2 & 3)
• Transformers The Movie
• Transformers 2010 (season 3 of American Transformers series)
• Headmasters (Japanese-exclusive series taking the place of the 4th American season in this continuity)
• Super God Masterforce
• Transformers: Victory
• Transformers: Zone (one-episode OVA, story later completed in manga form)
• Beast Wars (Beast Wars season 1)
• Beast Wars II (Japanese-exclusive cel-animated series)
• Beast Wars Neo (as above)
• Bears Wars Metals (Beast Wars seasons 2 & 3)
• Beast Wars Returns (Beast Machines)

Marvel Comics Continuity

• Generation 1 (80 issues, 4-issue "Headmasters" miniseries, 4-issue G.I. Joe crossover miniseries)
• Geneartion 2 (12 issues, preceded by four-issue long crossover in the pages of G.I. Joe)

Dreamwave Continuity

Having obtained the Transformers lisence in 2002, comics company Dreamwave have created a new Generation One continuity which draws on aspects of various past continuities. It comprises:

• "Transformers: Generation One" Vol. 1 (six issues), Vol. 2 (six issues) and Vol. 3 (ongoing)
• "Transformers: The War Within" (six issues) and assorted ensuing subtitled six-issue miniseries, telling tales from Cybertron's past
• "Micromasters" (four issues)

A profile series, "Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye," has also been release for this universe, and the Dorling Kindersly book, "Transformers: The Ultimate Guide" treats it as the main G1 timeline. Three novels have been released set in this timeline.

The "Robots in Disguise" Universe

• A stand-alone universe with no current ties or reprocussions to any other storyline. In this version, Optimus Prime was a fire engine and Megatron/Galvatron a dragon.

The Modern Cartoon Universe

• Includes with it the Armada, Energon and Cybertron series. Dreamwave Comics (above) have also developed a comic book series for this universe, which is entirely different from the cartoon universe (just as the Marvel G1 comic book differed from the G1 cartoon).

The reasons for the incongruities are manifold; including letting marketing have complete hold over the story (a trend which will continue), and several writers given a blank slate on which to work.

Differences within the universes include, but are definitely not limited to:

• The different origins of the planet Cybertron (Formed by Primus (MCG1)) or created by the Quintessons (MTMTE).
• The origin of the headmasters (Nebulons in MTMTE, a subset of Transformers in the Japanese series "Headmasters")
• Within the G1 MTMTE series, different origins for the Constructicons (Created Megatron, then created BY Megatron)
• The sudden appearance of such important plot devices as the Autobot Matrix of Leadership, the Key to Vector Sigma, the Key to the Plasma Energy Chamber, all of which were incorporated into the Dreamwave Comics storyline and books;
• The creation of Optimus Prime (Rebuilt from Orion Pax by Alpha Trion (MTMTE), or evolved from Orion Pax in the Dreamwave Continuum).

Dreamwave, as the current holder (as of 2004) of the comic/novel license, has taken it upon themselves to adapt Transformers for young adult readers and incorporate a deeper storyline, rewriting the generation one universe in a single, unified style and filling in gaps in Transformers history.