Transformers series - Definition and Overview

This is a partner page to Transformers Universes, listing the various comic and television series and specials that the Transformer toyline has spawned since its creation in 1984.

The successive Transformers series focus on two factions of robots fighting out a civil war which spilled over to the planet Earth. On Earth, the robots could transform into local types of vehicles, such as cars, trucks and airplanes. The protagonists of the series were based on Transformer toys.

An important note regarding the Japanese way of doing television: Many successful Japanese series last only one season, unlike in the United States. Typically, with shows such as Transformers, a successful series will end after one season and a new series based upon a slightly modified universe will begin in the next season. This is why shows such as Headmasters and Car Robots last one season each.

Cartoons

"The Transformers" (G1) 1984-1987, America

AKA Fight! Super Robot Life (Seasons 1-2) and Transformers: 2010 (Season 3) in Japan

This series began with a three-episode story, later titled either More than Meets the Eye or Arrival from Cybertron. In this incarnation the planet Cybertron is running low on energy. The Heroic Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, set out in space to search for more energy but are attacked by the Evil Decepticons led by Megatron. Both races crash on Earth and lie in suspended animation for the next four million years. Awakened by a volcanic eruption, the computer on board, Teletran One, begins repairing Decepticons and Autobots. The Decepticons set out to plunder Earth's energy resources in order to revitalize Cybertron. The Autobots seek to prevent this and so the battle is renewed on Earth, Cybertron and across space.

After sixty-five episodes across two seasons, the status quo of the series received a major shift with Transformers: The Movie, which then led into the third and fourth seasons. However, as the movie was not shown in Japan until 1990, a special episode was written and animated to bridge the gap between the 2nd and 3rd seasons, titled Scramble City, detailing the creation of Metroplex. A second Scramble City episode exists which retells the first, but in stop-motion animation, rather than cel.

Leaders come and go as the years pass. In the fourth and final series, comprising a three-part story titled "The Rebirth," Cybertron is revitalized using energy from the Earth's sun. The Autobots and Decepticons have discovered the world of Nebulos and united with rival groups of Nebulans to become Headmasters and Targetmasters. However, this three-parter was not aired in Japan, where it was opted to continue the Transformer series with further full-length seasons (see below).

When the line was relaunched in the 1993 as Generation 2, the 1984-92 era was retroactively branded "Generation One" by fans, a term that was then adopted for official use. It formed the basis for all Transformers series to come.

The comics produced by Marvel between 1984 and 1991, and again from 1993 to 1994, tell a substantially different version of the story. Both versions were equally authorized by Hasbro.

Transformers: Headmasters, 1987, Japan

Was poorly dubbed in the early 90's and aired on television in Hawaii and Asia, otherwise limited exposure in the west.

In this series (which completely ignored the events of the American 3-part story arc "The Rebirth"), the Transformers, led by Convoy (Optimus Prime), then Rodimus Convoy (Rodimus Prime), and finally Fortress (Fortress Maximus), are joined by a team of Headmasters, small Transformers long ago stranded on a hostile planet. There they were forced to create bodies to endure this environment.

This series is more momentous than most:

• Cybertron is all but destroyed, requiring the Autobots to seek out a new planet to live on
• Convoy dies (again)
• The Matrix is recovered, then makes its last appearance when Rodimus Convoy leaves for parts unknown
• Scorponok (Megazarak) becomes a major player in the Destron power struggle
• Ultra Magnus is murdered by Sixshot
• Blaster and Soundwave kill each other in a duel to the death and are rebuilt into new bodies.
• Galvatron is forever trapped under Arctic ice.

Super God Masterforce, 1988, Japan

Also poorly dubbed and aired in early 90's. The characters used in Masterforce were marketed in America under different names and sometimes colour schemes, using the terms Pretenders and Powermasters; The story of the Pretenders was significantly changed for western audiences.

Super God (Chôjin) Masterforce, hereafter just Masterforce, continues on some time after the events of "Headmasters." The Cybertrons and Destrons have left Earth after the events of that series, but a group of Cybertron Pretenders (who have been hiding amongst Earth's population since men lived in caves, thanks to the powers of their Pretender shells) guard the planet in secret. They are led by Metalhawk (also known as Hawk in his human disguise). Pretenders can take the form of any organic lifeform; Cybertron Pretenders take human forms, while Destron Pretenders take the forms of beasts and demons.

The disguised Cybertrons don their battle suits by touching a special bracelet (Masterbrace) and giving the verbal command "suit on". The Pretenders then show their true giant robot forms by issuing the verbal command "Pretender". Headmasters is referenced here, and a few characters from that series - including Chromedome - make a cameo appearance. However, the true Headmaster stars are what make the series so unusual for a Transformers series - they are not Cybertrons or Destrons, but human children. The children can pilot lifeless Transformer bodies called "Transtectors" by wearing suits that allow them to transform into the Transtectors' heads and control them, and as such, they are named the Headmaster Juniors. A particularly popular character from this team is schoolgirl Minerva, whose toy was released in the US in blue and yellow colours as Nightbeat.

Later, the concept of Godmasters (known as "Powermasters" in the west) is introduced. The strongest Godmaster is Ginrai, a truck driver who powers a Transtector bearing a striking resemblance to Convoy (and whose toy was released in the US as Powermaster Optimus Prime). Ginrai becomes the ultimate Godmaster, combining with his cab and trailer to form Super Ginrai. Later, he combines with Godbomber to form the mighty God Ginrai.

The primary antagonists in this series are the evil energy entity Devil Z, his subordinates Giga and Mega, and their group of Godmasters, Pretenders and Headmaster Juniors.

At the conclusion of the series, after claiming victory, the Transtectors gain sentience and leave the Earth with the Transformers.

Transformers: Victory, 1989, Japan

Barring the appearance of the Micromasters, there was no carryover of this story to America

In the Earth Year 2025, the transformers return to Earth to join with the humans in defense of the galaxy. Led by Star Saber, the Autobots and earth defense force fight decepticon leader Deszaras (Deathsaurus) for control of the galaxys resources.

This storyline included the Brestforce (Breastforce) and Brainmasters.

Transformers: Zone, 1990, Japan

There was little or no carryover of this story to America, where ActionMaster toys were the toyline of choice

Using the Mysterious Zone Energy, nine great Destron generals (The major gestalts, including Devastator and Predaking) are revived under the command of a Destron (Decepticon) leader named Violenjiger. Dai Atlas leads the Cybertrons (The Japanese term for Autobots) in a quest to stop the Destrons. Originally planned to be a complete OVA series, Zone was cancelled after one episode, and the remainder of its story was related in the pages of the Japanese publication, TV Magazine.

Battlestars: Return of Convoy, 1991, Japan

An entirely original Japanese story with no Western carryover

Convoy is revived (yet again) using Zone Energy and reformed into Star Convoy. This story was told entirely in the pages of the Japanese publication, TV Magazine.

Operation Combination, 1992, Japan

An entirely original Japanese story with no Western carryover.

Once again told entirely in the pages of TV Magazine, "Operation Combination" is a story that involves the Autobot and Decepticon combiners, Guard City and Battle Gaea (repaints of Defensor and Bruticus respectivley), and the Autobot Micromaster combiners, Sixtrain, Sixturbo, Sixliner, Sixbuild and Sixwing.

Transformers, Generation 2

A re-release of Generation 1 toys with some new gimmicks and molds

• Megatron is now a tank, due to marketing laws preventing realistic toy handguns. This trend will stay.
• A television show of the same name was aired that took the existing Generation One cartoons and re-cut them with different (computer generated) animation between the acts, where the old decepticon/transformer logo flip would have occurred.
• A new originated comic series was produced by Marvel; see under the Comics section.

Beast Wars: Transformers, 1996-1999, Canada

Initially released in the western world, this series revived the Transformers franchise in Japan as well

The last two seasons of Beast Wars were shown in Japan as Transformers: Beast Wars Metals

The heroic Maximals, descendants of the Autobots, fight the evil Predacons, descendants of the Decepticons, on prehistoric Earth. 3D Animated. See Beast Wars entry.

Beast Wars Second: Super Lifeform Transformers, 1998, Japan

Convoy and Lio Convoy

Released during the airing of the second season of Beast Wars in the US

The Cybertrons (led by Lio Convoy) and Destrons (led by galvatron) square off on a planet called Gaia. The most momentous transformers series in quite a while to reach Japan;

• A new energy source is discovered: Amogolois energy
• Spawned a theatrical Movie
  • Brought Manjin Zarak back in carrier form
  • United Convoy (Optimus Primal) and Lio Convoy.

Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo, 1999, Japan

• Cybertron is now ruled by a Council of Convoys - robots who all look like Convoy (Optimus Prime).
• The newest of these is Big Convoy, chief protagonist of this series.
• The focus of this series is finding sources of Amogolois energy, the same energy that featured prominently in Beast Wars Second. However, a discovery is made about the Amogolois energy; it is actually the power source for Unicron.

Beast Machines: Transformers, 1999-2000, Canada

Shown in Japan as Transformers: Beast Wars Return

• The end of the Beast Wars storyline;
• Megatron and Optimus Primal are more of a "force of nature", both are required to fulfill Cybertron's destiny
• Megatron reforms himself a few times, moving farther away from beast modes; near the end, he inhabits Optimal Optimus' body.
• This series saw Cybertron become a merge of organic and technological life.

See Beast Machines entry.

Transformers: Car Robots, 2000, Japan

Released in the west as Transformers: Robots In Disguise

• Does not interlace with any other continuity. Sort of an interregnum story between G1/G2 and the modern continuity.
• Returns Transformers to its mechanical roots, so to speak; some of the antagonists have beast forms, but most of the alt modes are based on vehicles..
• Includes gestalt teams, including JRX and Valdigus (Bruticus).
• The series emphasized the Cybertrons' (Autobots') role as 'Robots in Disguise'; the heroes are often seen being summoned from their everyday tasks to complete missions and foil the plans of Gigatron.

Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Micron Legend, 2002, Japan

Released in the west as Transformers: Armada. Also, due to the fact America's airing was before that of the Japanese airing, the animation was incomplete, and often, contained many mistakes.

Microns (Mini-Cons in the western version) are a new faction of small Transformers with special powers, who add a Pokémon-esque bent to this series. The Micron Legend universe creates a new canon for the Transformers universe that follows into Transformers: Super Link (2004, Japan). This series takes major elements of Generation 1, and remolds them into a new image; such as the appearance and purpose of Unicron, the purpose and look of the Autobot Matrix of Leadership, and a new level of teamwork between the warring factions during the Unicron Battles.

Transformers: Super Link, 2004, Japan

Released in the west as Transformers: Energon

Set roughly 10 years after the events of Micron Legend, Super Link focuses on the concept of combination - creating gestalts of more than one Transformer to increase power. This series introduces some familiar faces from the Generation 1 universe, such as Laserwave (Shockwave), Megazarak (Scorponok), Rodimus Convoy (Rodimus Prime), and Command Jaguar (Ravage), although the personalities have changed.

Peace has existed between the Cybertrons and Destrons since the death of Megatron on Unicron. However, a creature named Alpha-Q (See Quintesson) has designs to reactivate Unicron, though his reasons were pure. In the process, Megatron was revived as Galvatron & intended to use Unicron to takeover the Universe.

Transformers: Galaxy Force, 2005, Japan

To be released in the west as Transformers: Cybertron

The latest Transformers series, to be released in Japan in 2005. Not much is known about it at the moment.

Comics

Transformers Generation One, Marvel, US (Issues 1 - 4 mini-series)

Autobots and Decepticons land on Earth via the Ark, paralleling the cartoon. Autobots reformatted by the Ark to resemble cars and trucks; Decepticons take the form of jets, weapons or in the case of Soundwave, a cassette deck with tapes.

Decepticons wreak havoc, steal energy and build fortress. Autobots, seen here as very weak underdogs, unsuited for war, fight valiantly to stop their foes.

Ultimately, it's the humans that the Autobots befriend that save the day. Buster Witwicky's dad, captured by the Decepticons to formulate a fuel for them, secretly poisons his captors.

In the final battle, five Autobots take on the entire Decepticon army. On the cusp of defeat, the tainted fuel concocted by Mr. Witwicky kicks in and the Decepticons fall.

The Autobots don't even have time to celebrate however as the 4-part mini-series ends with Shockwave making an appearance at the end, blowing the remaining Autobots to pieces, and thus beginning the run of monthly Marvel comics.

Transformers Generation One, Marvel, UK

• The UK Comic had over 160 stories not included in the US comic.
• Included characters such as Straxus and Emirate Xaaron

Transformers Generation Two, Marvel, US

12 issue series.

Expanded original G1 mythos from the small War on Earth and Cybertron to enclose the whole of the Galaxy that was fast being altered into a likeness of Cybertron itself by the Cybertronian Empire, a race of Decepticon descended Transformers.

The series ended with an epic battle between the 'Generation 1' Transformers, the Cybertronians and an entity known only as the Swarm.

The final page reveals the Empires true scale as its leader dismisses the final battle as insignificant to his Empire as a whole. He also remarks that Megatron, the Decepticon leader, is more like an offspring than an ancestor to him implying the Empire precedes even known Transformer history.

Transformers G1 Volume One: Prime Directive, Dreamwave, US (2002)

• Takes place after the Autobots attempt to leave earth for a second time in a space ship called The Ark II
• Spike Witwicky has been given a piece of the Matrix by Optimus Prime.
• This story does not appear to be a linear progression from any previous transformers mythos.

Transformers G1 Volume Two: War and Peace, Dreamwave, US (2003)

• Chronicles the return to Cybertron of the Ark Transformers
• Shockwave has succeeded in his quest to rule Cybertron
• Ultra Magnus is seen without armor in this series for a brief time.

Transformers G1 Volume Three: Ongoing, Dreamwave, 2004, US

• A new ongoing series from Dreamwave. Discontinued after issue #10 due to bankruptcy of Dreamwave in January 2005.

Transformers: The War Within

• Chronicles the first days of Optimus Prime following his ascension to Prime
• This series set a new precedent and began to rewrite parts of Cybertronian history to streamline it.
• The transformers Cybertronian modes have changed.

The War Within: The Dark Ages

• Optimus Prime and Megatron disappear through an experimental space bridge.
• We are introduced to The Fallen, a character from the prehistory of Cybertron who seems to have it out for Primus.

The War Within: Age of Wrath

• A new miniseries which started in fall 2004. Discontinued after issue #3 due to bankruptcy of Dreamwave in January 2005.

External links

• Transformers (http://www.bcdb.com/cartoons/Other_Studios/M/Marvel_Productions__Ltd_/Transformers/index.html) at the Big Cartoon DataBase