Transformers universes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Transformer is an fictional robot that is able to "transform", rearranging itself into a common and innocuous form, such as a car, aircraft, or animal. The taglines "More Than Meets the Eye" and "Robots in Disguise" reflect this ability. The Transformers were introduced in 1984 by Hasbro in a toyline. Since then they have appeared in countless comics, cartoons, video games and films with their own fictional universes, none of which are definitive according to Hasbro or the fans.
The story features two main factions warring for control of their home planet, Cybertron. The heroic Autobots (Cybertrons in the Japanese version) were led by Optimus Prime (known in the Japanese version as Convoy), and their opponents, the Decepticons (Destrons in the Japanese version), were led by Megatron.
All Transformer incarnations have been based around this core concept, with some similarities and differences, ranging from the Transformer's fictional creator (most popular is the deity, Primus), the presence of Female Transformers, to when and why they come to Earth (originally they crashland millions of years ago and awaken in modern times, often now they come due to a plot device).
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[edit] Generation One/Two
The term Generation 1 (G1) originated as an unofficial fan term, retroactively coined after the releasing of the Generation 2 toyline. In the 2000s, however, the term "G1" entered into official use with Hasbro's "commemorative series" re-release toys and Dreamwave's comic books. The term indicates the characters that appeared as toys between 1984 and 1992, and is the only defining aspect of the multiple fictional universes based on this era of the franchise.
In 1984, the Sunbow cartoon and Marvel comic was launched, immediately creating a split. The Sunbow cartoon went on to a film, and tended to depict the story solely as Prime and Megatron leading Autobots and Decepticons against one another. The Marvel comic, which originally was part of the main Marvel Universe, depicted it as more of a mess of factions that fought before uniting once it entered the Generation 2 era. A big difference between the two is their creation: in the TV series, they were formerly slaves of the Quintessons, but in the comic, Primus creates the Transformers to serve his material body that is planet Cybertron. In the Marvel comics, females of the race do not exist due to the rationale for robots being sexless machines.
Both productions were singular entities that also spawned new fictional universes. The Japanese broadcast of the series produced new episodes that sewed in and out of the continuity, before carrying on it's own way, ignoring the end of the American series. Likewise, the movie which soon created material for the Marvel UK comic. Marvel UK's title was weekly, and interspliced original material into US reprints.
In 2002, Dreamwave Productions began a new universe of G1 comics that faithfully pulled together both cartoon and Marvel comic. Also part of this universe were three novels, and a DK guide, as well as plans to make Beast Wars (see below) a part of a definitive continuity. In 2005 however, they went bankrupt, and the following year IDW Publishing rebooted the entire series from scratch within various limited series, beginning with The Transformers: Infiltration. This essentially allowed long time writer of Marvel and Dreamwave comics Simon Furman to create his own universe without continuity hindrance, similiar to Ultimate Marvel.
[edit] Beast Era
The 1996 Beast Wars TV series used elements of the G1 series and comics as a historical backstory. Unlike the various contradictory and seperate G1 universes, its spin-offs form an extended and cohesive story.
The Canadian CGI animated series Beast Wars and its sequel Beast Machines, which ended in 2000, depicted the descendants of the Autobots and Decepticons, Maximals and Predacons, time travel to prehistoric Earth in a battle for the future. It exists in the same universe as "a" Generation One, with references to the comics only God Primus and important female characters, and some appearances from G1 characters too.
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 waiting 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. The 2006 IDW comic book Beast Wars: The Gathering eventually confirmed the canonicity of these series with appearances of the Japanese characters within a story set during Season 3.
The storyline of Transformers: Universe, mainly set following Beast Machines sees characters from many assorted alternate continuities - including existing and new ones - encounter each other. The story was told in an unfinished comic book exclusive to the Official Transformers Collectors' Convention.
[edit] Robots in Disguise
A 2001 39-episode animated series from Japan. In this version, 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 Era. It is a stand alone universe with no ties to any other Transformers fiction. Some of the characters from Robots in Disguise did eventually make appearances in Transformers: Universe, including Optimus Prime, Sideburn and Prowl.
[edit] Unicron Trilogy
- Transformers: Armada (Transformers: Micron Legend, 52 episodes)
- Transformers: Energon (Transformers: Superlink, 52 episodes)
- Transformers: Cybertron (Transformers: Galaxy Force, 52 episodes)
These three lines, dubbed "The Unicron Trilogy" by Transformers designer Aaron Archer, are co-productions between Hasbro and Takara, simultaneously released in both countries.
In Japan, the series “Transformers Galaxy Force” has shown no ties to the Micron Legend/Super Link timeline, telling its own story. The American version, Cybertron, is linked directly 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.
[edit] Dreamwave Comics
Just as Marvel produced a companion comic to Generation One, Dreamwave produced companion comics to the new cartoon series.
- Transformers: Armada (18 issues)
- Transformers: Energon (12 issues)
Unfortunately, Dreamwave went bankrupt and ceased all publications before the storyline could be completed.
[edit] G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers
Two separate continuities have arisen from this concept, one published by Dreamwave Publications, and one by Devil's Due Publishing. Devil's Due's comprises:
- G.I. Joe vs. Transformers (six issues)
- G.I. Joe vs. Transformers II (four issues)
- G.I. Joe/Transformers: The Art of War (five issues)
This universe takes as its starting point the idea that the Cobra Organization uncovered the Transformers' spacecraft and took control of them, giving the series its basis - redesigned Transformers which assumed the forms of established Cobra vehicles. The second series then played with many period alt. modes as G.I. Joe was sent throughout time to recover various lost Transformers to save both their worlds. The third series focused on the repercussions of leaving parts from the defeated Decepticons (from the first crossover) in the hands of the government, leading to the creation of Serpentor. A fourth crossover, entitled Night Horizon is scheduled for January 2007.
Dreamwave's crossover, meanwhile, included:
- Transformers/G.I. Joe (six issue miniseries)
- Transformers/G.I. Joe - Divided Front (six issues planned, only one published)
Similar to Devil's Due's approach, Cobra discovers the Transformers' craft and makes and alliance with the Decepticons, except here, the action is set during World War II, with the Transformers redesigned to transform into contemporary war-era vehicles and weapons. Its sequel series, set in the present day, did not make it beyond its first issue before Dreamwave closed.
[edit] IDW Evolutions
In addition to their new G1 universe and TV-series-compatible Beast Wars: The Gathering comic (mentioned above), IDW are also exploring numerous Elseworlds styled stories in the series The Transformers: Evolutions beginning with Hearts of Steel, a six-issue story which sets the action in the Industrial Revolution era.
[edit] Transformers film (2007)
Like most comic book movies the live-action film is expected to be inspired by previous incarnations to form its own unique story.
The film will feature classic Transformers looking for the Allspark on Earth, with humanity in the balance. Characters included are Optimus Prime, Megatron, Bumblebee, Starscream, Jazz, Frenzy, Ironhide, Scorponok, Ratchet, Brawl, Bonecrusher, Barricade and Blackout.
[edit] Transformers Heroes
In a Cartoon Network 2007 Program Schedule shown at ToonTalk, a new series called Transformers Heroes was included. Its expected to premiere next fall, and it is first the in the series to be produced by CN Studios, and the first US Transformers since Beast Machines. Little is known about it, but it will appear to be stand alone.
It is rumoured that David Kaye will voice Optimus Prime in this series.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Transformers.com - Official Hasbro Transformers Site
- TFU.Info - The most complete toy image gallery on the web.
- TFKenkon.com - Photo galleries of more recent toys.
- Lukis Bros Transformers Collector Site - Transformers collector site with pictures and profiles from all universes.
- Cybertronian-Alliance.com - Character information database, gallery and forums.
- Transformers @ The Moon - Largest Transformers toy gallery, and huge Transformers resource founded in 1999
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