MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

New Avengers/Transformers

2009-08-11T00:44:35Z

24.131.255.225:

{{picsneeded|TPB cover}}
'''''New Avengers/Transformers''''' is a crossover miniseries between comic book companies [[IDW Publishing]] and [[Marvel Comics]]. Within [[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]], the story takes place between the ''[[Infiltration]]'' and ''[[Escalation (IDW)|Escalation]]'' stories and before the ''Civil War'' storyline for Marvel.

{|style="margin:0 auto;padding:0 auto" align=center id=toc
!align=center bgcolor=#6699CC|''' ''Man and Machine'' issues:'''
|-align=center
|| [[Man and Machine, Part One|#1]] | [[Man and Machine, Part Two|#2]] | [[Man and Machine, Part Three|#3]] | [[Man and Machine, Part Four|#4]]
|}

== Overview ==
{{stub}}
== Creative team ==
The title was written by [[Stuart Moore]] and illustrated by [[Tyler Kirkham]]. Moore would later write the [[Spotlight: Ramjet|''Spotlight'' issue for Ramjet]], who made his IDW debut in this series.

== Trivia==
*We might be veering dangerously off-topic if we were to point this out, but it should probably be noted that despite appearances, this story ''isn't'' congruent with the mainstream Marvel Comics universe ("Earth-616"), even beyond the fact that Transformers are present. At the time this story is intended to take place (between the first two story-arcs of ''New Avengers'', circa mid-2005), [[Doctor Doom|Doctor Doom]] is supposed to be dead, and [[Ms. Marvel|Carol Danvers]] was not wearing the costume or going by the codename used in the series. With that said, we now return you to your scheduled dosage of space robots.

== Collections ==
* ''New Avengers/Transformers'' TPB ([[January 16]], 2008) ISBN 978-0785127901
:Bonus material includes each cover.

==External links==
* [http://comicnewsi.com/article.php?catid=99&itemid=9440 Stuart Moore Talks ''New Avengers / Transformers'']

[[Category:IDW titles|New Avengers Transformers]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics|New Avengers Transformers]]
[[Category:Generation 1|New Avengers Transformers]]

Talk:The Transformers: All Hail Megatron

2009-08-11T00:36:14Z

24.131.255.225: /* I thought it was terrible. */

== Evolutions? ==

Since this is yet another "Elseworld" for Transformers, is this series considered under the Evolutions umbrella?--[[User:Rosicrucian|Rosicrucian]][[User Talk:Rosicrucian|Talk]] 00:22, 22 February 2008 (UTC)
::Not an AU. It's part of the main timeline. Basically, Autobots buggered off,and the cons have the run of the place. Far as I know, only bots on Earth are the Dinos, Hot Rod and Sunstreaker
:::Takes place a year later. In reality it WAS written as an Elseworld-style alternate universe storyline, but was vaugley reworked to fit into the current storyline. Judging by the interview with the writer, the decision seemed to be made soley for the purposes of marketing - IDW were evidently worried about turning off new readers with the serialised nature of Furman's storyline, so they essentially put that on the backburner and started a new storyline, that's why the writer remarked that you can just jump into the storyline without prior knowledge of the previous books because, hey, they weren't written with them in mind anyway. --[[User:FFN|FFN]] 13:12, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

==Oh fark==
What the heck happened? --[[User:FFN|FFN]] 01:32, 19 March 2009 (EDT)

:What's up with the copy protection on this page? Do you have to be an admin or something to edit it now? [[User:Rod-E-Mace|Rod-E-Mace]] 19:50, 25 April 2009 (EDT)[[Rod-E-Mace]]
:: It got hit by some angry fans a few days back, so unregistered users are restricted from editing it. It also restricts editing from very new editors. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 19:58, 25 April 2009 (EDT)

==I thought it was terrible.==
I normally don't buy comics, and instead waited for the TPB to read Volume 1 of the Dreamwave comic. After a year of waiting, I thought it was awful; thus I bought the first issue of Infiltration in hopes that I could save money. Three years later, I had begun regularly driving to the comic store so I could buy ANYTHING in IDWs new line, including the numerous spotlight stories.

So personally, I thought this entire series was a (and I'm not sure if obscenities will make me seem hostile and get this deleted so I'll self-censor this) chicken doo doo move on IDW's part. I don't necessarily blame the writers or artists responsible for AHM but somebody at IDW needs to be fired and or murdered for taking such a dump on established readers.

I'm really glad I saw the pattern after buying issue 2 (and being repelled by the concept in general) and didn't support what sounds pretty weak.

I've generally not been fond of the Transformers comic (aside from Generation 2) yet really thought Furman nailed it with Infiltration and Escalation, and by that I mean the man took the property more seriously than any other author or artist who has ever had control of it save for perhaps the creative team behind the original cartoon. The real problem was only the fact that Furman was writing what would have been the best Transformer stories ever in the form of TPBs while selling them monthly.

I guess it doesn't matter anymore, though; I thought Detestation was weak (in large part due to the absence of EJ Su, though the thin plot didn't help) and Revelations was an absolute abortion, thanks probably to the fact that Furman could see the end of his run approaching and probably had no other choice but to condense to the point of ruin what might otherwise have been an excellent narrative.
--[[User:Showka|Showka]] 01:11, July 17 2009 (EDT)

Personally, I thought it really picked up after Issue 4. It wasn't IMHO as good as the Furman run, but I don't think it really deserves the level of negativity that's heaped on its entries around the wiki.
--[[Special:Contributions/24.131.255.225|24.131.255.225]] 20:36, 10 August 2009 (EDT)

Talk:All Hail Megatron issue 12

2009-08-11T00:33:20Z

24.131.255.225:

=="Acceptable loss"?==
''Sideswipe's actions of disconnecting Hunter's life-support machine seem like a kind of mercy killing rather than an "acceptable loss" in a war.'' - {{unsigned|82.155.171.118}}
:While I have my own critique of Hunter's fate, I have to agree that it doesn't fall under the category of a wartime "acceptable loss." In Prime's mind, choosing to leave Earth to the Decepticons had been an "acceptable loss" because the Garrus-9 incident presented what he thought was a greater threat. It was a strategy-based decision. Sideswipe's choice to pull Hunter's plug had seemingly nothing to do with the strategy of war. Granted, we aren't given any window into his thoughts at the time, but the Decepticons had been beaten and were in no position to use Hunter again. Sideswipe was facing no emergency or threat; he could have left Hunter alive with no ill effect except prolonging the experience of Hunter himself. So yeah, I'm going to change that note to something else entirely. - [[User:Jackpot|Jackpot]] 02:11, 6 July 2009 (EDT)

The whole "rejection of Simon Furman's intent" seems harsh and one-sided, more of an editorial than something that belongs on a wiki page - and with a pointlessly snarky comment at the end, to boot. [[Special:Contributions/24.131.255.225|24.131.255.225]] 20:33, 10 August 2009 (EDT)

Talk:All Hail Megatron issue 10

2009-08-11T00:18:36Z

24.131.255.225: New page: The caption on the Megatron/Bombshell quote seems pointlessly negative. ~~~~

The caption on the Megatron/Bombshell quote seems pointlessly negative. [[Special:Contributions/24.131.255.225|24.131.255.225]] 20:18, 10 August 2009 (EDT)

Spotlight: Drift

2009-08-09T19:45:31Z

24.131.255.225: Yep, still not an error.

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[Spotlight (comics)|''The Transformers: Spotlight'']]'' #22''
|prev=Spotlight: Jazz
|next=Spotlight: Cliffjumper
|title="The Transformers Spotlight: Drift"
|image=Spotlight Drift Coller Lafuente.jpg
|caption="Look Scratchy, it's our new friend- Poochie!"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[April 8]], [[2009]]
|coverdate=April 2009
|written by=[[Shane McCarthy]]
|art by=[[Casey Coller]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Chris Mowry]]
|edits by=[[Denton J. Tipton]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline#All Hail Megatron|Pre-All Hail Megatron]]
}}

'''Everyone deserves a second chance.'''

==Synopsis==
On an [[alien]] planet, inside a seedy bar, a female alien and her two cohorts meet with [[Drift (G1) | a shrouded figure]]. She gives him two cards, saying that they would take him so far as to the docking platforms. The cloaked figure thanks her, but she says that the thanks isn't necessary, but just as he's about to walk away, she mentions that the cruiser is [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertronian]]. The stranger confirms it, as the female alien wonders why Cybertronians have docked on their planet. One of the female's cohorts take the time to mention his disgust of all Cybertronian, but the female shuts him up. When the cohort tries to remind her that she hates them as well, the figure mutters the word "[[Decepticon]]s".

The female goes on to say that the cruiser is a Decepticon vessel, and that they apparently came from the outer reaches, damaged and with Autobot prisoners. The alien is curious about the figure's interest in the vessel, and wants him to reconsider, saying that Cybertronians are the plague, bringing death and destruction with them. The figure isn't interested in her concern, but when she touches him, she realizes that he's Cybertronian as well. The figure bows and thanks her, then walks off. Outside the bar, the cloaked Cybertronian looks up and sees the Decepticon vessel above the city. Moments later, on top of the vessel the Cybertronian tosses his cloak away, activates some switches to turn off the vessel's security systems, then jumps inside. Landing quietly, he slides over to a hallway and sees some Decepticons talking. But just as he's about to make a move, a sudden explosion does the job, and the [[Wrecker]]s, led by Kup, enter the vessel. The Cybertronian laments "So much for quiet".

On the bridge, a Decepticon soldier warns Commander Turmoil that the ship has been breached. Turmoil angrily asks who did this, to which the soldier said that it's a small assault force that the sensors didn't pick up. Turmoil slams his fist in anger, realizing that it's Kup. Meanwhile, the Wreckers battle the Decepticon soldiers, all while wondering who the mysterious white Cybertronian is. He doesn't have a [[insignia|faction symbol]] on his chest, and the swords that he wields look familiar. Kup asks him why he's here, to which he replies that he was trying to sneak in. Perceptor examines him and is amazed that he had been recently upgraded in a matter that he hadn't seen since centuries. Kup isn't impressed and orders the Wreckers to move, while asking the Cybertronian to come with them. The Cybertronian insists on taking the lead, since he's here for the same reason.

In a large room, Perceptor senses Turmoil's group behind on of the locked doors, and they're attempting to break in his locks. But then, they suddenly stop. Perceptor decides to add several more blocks to the ones that he had planted in the system, and doesn't imagine that they will break through. Without warning, a beam pierces Perceptor in the chest, as Turmoil and his group fire away at the Wreckers. The Cybertronian rushes at Turmoil, ignoring Kup's orders. The Cybertronian is stopped by a small explosion, and Turmoil recognizes the Cybertronian as Deadlock. Deadlock runs away as Turmoil orders the traitor be destroyed. Turmoil charges his cannon arm and fires at a wall, causing Kup and Deadlock to fall down below.

[[Image:SpotlightDrift Deadlockisdead.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"The name's Poochie D, and I rock the telly. I'm half Joe Camel and a third Fonzarelli. I'm the kung fu hippie from gangsta city; I'm a rappin' surfer, you the fool I pity."]]

When they land, Kup now knows who Deadlock is: a Decepticon who slaughtered quite a few [[Autobot]]s. Deadlock says that he no longer goes by that name, and is no longer a Decepticon. Kup said that long ago, there used to be a third faction (actually more of a faction ''against'' factions), which was a large group of Cybertronians that refused to have any part of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]. Kup believes that this faction either died or went into hiding from Cybertron. Most of the Autobots didn't care about them, because they were concerned about the war. Looking at Deadlock's sword, Kup is beginning to think differently, and asks him if the meeting had to do with him leaving the Decepticons, which Deadlock confirms. Kup thinks he's getting a second chance, but Deadlock says that he already has one. Kup knows, because Perceptor (who normally wouldn't be along with the Wreckers) kept an eye out on Kup, repairing and upgrading his body, making him ''even more'' better. With the talk over, Kup decides to move out, but Deadlock stops him; although he's not an Autobot, he has an idea to bring the ship down, and Kup is listening.

Later, inside the ship's core, Deadlock is finishing setting the core to overload its system in several minutes, which will tear the vessel apart. Kup is amazed that Deadlock knows about the ship, to which he replies that he used to serve under Turmoil. Kup says that Springer and the others made it out (except Perceptor) and are bringing their ship out. Deadlock sets the core system, but Turmoil appears from behind a part of the wall he blew up. Deadlock tells Kup to go, and Kup manages to exit just as Turmoil blasts at them.

Turmoil says that he thought he'd lost Deadlock. Deadlock says that that name is dead—he now wants to be known as Drift. Turmoil doesn't care and fires at him again, but Drift manages to evade the blasts and stabs at Turmoil's shoulders and slashes at his chest. Drift tells Turmoil that they're going about it the wrong way in the Great War. After countless centuries of fighting, the Autobots are a step away from the Decepticons when they started, and the Decepticons became something worse than they could imagine. Turmoil says that the Autobots would never accept an outcast like him, and asks Drift to kill him and run, proving that he's nothing more than when he left the Decepticons. Drift ''knows'' what he came for, then leaves the room just as the core starts to overload. After transforming briefly, Drift grabs Perceptor and they jump off the vessel just as it explodes.

Later on, Springer tells Kup that they will be docking with the ''[[Trion]]'' shortly, and that all six Autobots are accounted for, but Kup corrects him, saying that it's actually ''seven''. Kup tells Drift that he's forming a new unit, and wants him to join. Springer is stunned, but Drift accepts. Springer whispers to Kup that it wasn't wise, but Kup says that Drift proved himself down at the Decepticon vessel, and that there's more to fighting the war than blowing heads off. Besides, as Kup says, "everyone deserves a second chance".

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Drift (G1)|Deadlock/Drift]] (4)
*[[Twin Twist]] (10)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (11)
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (12)
*[[Roadbuster]] (13)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (14)
*[[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] (15)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (16)
*[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] (17)
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (18)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (19)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (20)
|c2=
*[[Turmoil]] (16)
|c4=
*Cohort 1 (1)
*Female alien (2)
*Cohort 2 (3)
}}

==Quotes==
"Cybertronians are a plague. Wherever they go, death and destruction follow."
:—'''Unknown Female Alien Merchant'''

== Items of note ==
* '''Cameos:''' Misc. Decepticon crewmen, misc aliens.
* This issue explains what happened to Kup after his ''[[Spotlight: Kup|Spotlight]]'' and alludes to Perceptor's <s>lobotomy</s> "upgrade" in ''[[All Hail Megatron]]''. It also explains why the Wreckers aren't a group in ''All Hail Megatron'', and shows some of the Autobots that would later be in Kup's group.
* The style of coloring used by [[Joana Lafuente]] in the comic is significantly different than her previously seen styles, seen in "[[Spotlight: Blurr]]" and ''[[Maximum Dinobots]]'' (issues [[Maximum Dinobots issue 3|#3]], [[Maximum Dinobots issue 4|#4]], and [[Maximum Dinobots issue 5|#5]]).

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' Drift, about to draw a sword, against a manga-styled background, art by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]].
* '''Cover B:''' Semi-shadowed Drift, with a half-Decepticon, half-Autobot symbol behind him; art by [[Guido Guidi]] and Joana Lafuente.
* '''Cover RI:''' "Virgin" cover (no titles); Drift with his swords drawn against a red "rising sun" background on top, with Drift in car mode against a black "rising sun" background on bottom; art also by Casey Coller and Joana Lafuente.

<gallery>
Image:Spotlight Drift Coller Lafuente.jpg|"Hey kids, always recycle... ''to the extreme!!'' Bust it!"
Image:Spotlight_Drift_b.jpg|"I have to go now. My planet needs me."
Image:SpotlightDrift coverRI.jpg|Note: Poochie died on the way back to his home planet.
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*"[[Spotlight: Cliffjumper]]"
* ''[[Maximum Dinobots]]'' series
* ''[[Destiny|Transformers: Destiny]]''
* ''Star Trek: Crew''
* ''Angel: Blood and Trenches''
* ''Terminator Salvation'' movie adaptation
* CGC
* ''[[The Arrival]]'' TPB
* ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' movie adaptation
* ''[[G.I. Joe]]: The Best of Larry Hama'' TPB
* ''IDW: The First Decade'' HC
* ''Star Trek: Countdown'' TPB (back cover)

[[Category:Spotlight issues|Drift]]

Female Transformer

2009-08-02T05:45:36Z

24.131.255.225: /* 2007 movie */

{{disambig2|female Transformers in general|the [[Autobot]] resistance group led by [[Elita One]]|Female Autobots}}

{{bigquote|Well, I remember bringing up that question early on with Hasbro, "are any of these female?" And then I think Hasbro's attitude was, 'this is a boy toy. We don't wanna have, you know, girl robots.' So, I said, "OK, just want to clarify that."|[[Bob Budiansky]]|[http://rustingcarcass.yuku.com/topic/954 Rusting Carcass interview]}}

[[Image:ArceeManga1.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Arcee, the most famous female Transformer, poses for the boys. Way to set an example there.]]
Despite being robotic lifeforms with generally non-sexual methods of [[reproduction]], the [[Transformer]] species has almost always been shown to include both male and female gender analogues, at least mentally if not physically. '''Female Transformers''' are usually portrayed as comparatively rare, but are considered an official part of the [[Transformers brand]] in pretty much every continuity.

Click here for a '''[[List of female Transformers]]''' from all continuities.

==Appearance==
[[Image:BMStrika.jpg|left|170px|thumb|Our mechanics assure us this is a woman.]]
The appearance of female Transformers in most continuities would seem to suggest a level of "sexual" dimorphism is present in at least the more humanoid members of the Transformers species (the term sexual is used in a gender-based, rather than physical sense, see the reproduction link above for that whole kettle of robo-fish). In almost all cases female Transformers are portrayed as comparatively more graceful of form, and more rounded and curved in general, than their male counterparts. Often they have a more than passing resemblance to an attractive human female made of metal and wearing armor and [[kibble]].

There are exceptions to this rule, and bulky, less overtly human-female-like characters have become more common, particularly among those who have toys. These are especially common in the [[Unicron Trilogy]] series and in latter expansions of the [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] series out of Japan, when the characters are often assigned to pre-existing "masculine" toys. Perhaps the best counter-example of this type is [[Strika (BM)|Strika]], who is female yet neither looks nor acts stereotypically feminine at all.

==Romance==
Despite their likely non-sexual means of [[reproduction]], romance between Transformers is a well-established factor in pretty much every continuity. Given that Transformers are a social species, this is perhaps not as odd as might initially seem. Harder to explain (at least, in fiction) is why most of these romantic connections are between males and females, what with the ratio female:male being about 1:10 in its most charitable instances.

Regardless of the whys and wherefores many romantic male-female Transformer pairings have appeared over the years, including:

*[[Elita One]] (Ariel) - [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (Orion Pax)
*[[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] - [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] - [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]
*Arcee - [[Springer (G1)|Springer]]
*Arcee - [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] {{storylink|The Headmasters (cartoon)|The Headmasters}}
*Arcee (she gets around) - [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers}}
*[[Nancy]] - [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]]
*[[Octane]] once tried to tune in an image of a [[Cheesecake robot|disturbingly sexualized unnamed female robot]]. Make of that what you will. {{storylink|Starscream's Ghost}}
*[[Esmeral]] - [[Deathsaurus|Deszaras]]
*[[Clipper]] - [[Holi]]
*[[Ragé]] - [[Stampy]]
*[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] - [[Tigatron]]
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] - [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]]
*[[Botanica]] - [[Rattrap]]
*[[Strika (BM)|Strika]] - [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]]<ref>When Obsidian refers to Strika as his consort in [[Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike]] he appears to have been using the less-common "associate" or "partner" definition. There are no displays of affection between them during [[Beast Machines (cartoon)|''Beast Machines'']], and [[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide|secondary information sources]] describe them only as "cohorts".</ref>
*[[Downshift (Energon)|Downshift]] has a female "life partner" whose name has yet to be revealed.
*[[San D-Go]] once had plans to marry [[Discharge]], apparently directly inspired by that aspect of [[human]] culture. Whether there was an actual romantic relationship involved is unknown.
*[[Grimlock (Animated)|Grimlock]] has a one-sided crush on [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]]
*[[Crystal Widow]] had an unnamed lover before becoming stuck in the [[Axiom Nexus]]

==Fandom and Terminology==
Probably because of their rarity in official fiction and toylines, female Transformers are popular plot devices in [[fan fiction]], where the term "femme" is often used to describe them, with "mech"<ref>While "femme" obviously is related to the French word for "woman", it's occasionally claimed that the use of "mech" as a name for male Transformers is derived from "mec", the French word for "guy" or "dude". This is probably more coincidence than anything, though.</ref> likewise being applied to "male" Transformers. In official fiction, the term "fembot" has been used on at least two occasions<ref>[[Rattrap]] refers to [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] as "Ya emasculatin' fembot!" after she cuts the tip from his tail/sword in "[[Nemesis Part 2]]", while ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Animated]]'' [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] wonders in "[[Endgame, Part II]]" what chance he has in flying combat against the [[Lugnut Supreme|Lugnuts Supreme]] if he "couldn't handle [[Slipstream (Animated)|Starscream's fembot clone]]" on [[Endgame, Part I|his test run]].</ref> and "mech" has been used as a gender-neutral common noun for Transformers in various stories.

Likewise, there is a fan term for romantic relationships between Transformers: "[[spark]]mates". This has surprisingly been used in one official source—the end-of-game [[bio]] for [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] (referring to her and [[Tigatron]]) in the Nintendo 64 version of the [[Transformers Beast Wars: Transmetals|Beast Wars Transmetals]] video game.<ref>''Beast Wars Transmetals'' end-of-game bios - [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/756a36c7076a7195?dmode=source transcription]</ref>

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon===
[[Image:G1femmes.jpg|right|450px|thumb|A bunch of Female Autobots from the G1 toon and Alpha Trion. His pimp cane was removed in post-production.]]
Within this continuity, female Transformers are a rarity, but established to have been around from the species' start. A female named [[Beta]] existed back in the slave days under [[Quintesson]] rule, and thus it seems clear females were produced alongside the males as part of the Quintessons' product lines.

No females were explicitly shown to exist among the Decepticon ranks, although the introduction of [[Nightbird (G1)|Nightbird]] and implications of an eventual upgrade didn't raise any questions or remarks, suggesting that female Decepticons exist (or that the Decepticons royally don't care about a soldier's gender).

[[The Search for Alpha Trion|27 episodes after Nightbird's appearance]], female Transformers were introduced formally through the [[Female Autobots]]. [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] at various points expresses surprise they aren't extinct, which would seem to imply females were thought to be no longer part of the Cybertronian race. While at the time a decent (though certainly not perfect) explanation for the scarce appearances of female Transformers, it didn't stop more females from showing up in the movie and season 3. Possibly Shockwave's "statement" could be considered as [[retcon]]ned and overwritten, or one of the following explanations applies:
# They were all built/"discovered" after the events of "The Search for Alpha Trion".
# Shockwave constantly calls them Autobots, never Transformers or Cybertronians. It is possible female [[Neutral]]s' (and the aforementioned female [[Decepticon]]s') existence was never thought over... and that none of them changed allegiance any time recently.
# "Female Autobot" is not used as a description, but as the team's name.
# This is the Generation 1 cartoon. You're not watching it for the flawless storytelling.

Females can be seen here and there among the [[Junkion]] tribe, mostly sharing [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]'s model. [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] has a "[[Nancy|Junkion lady]]" companion according to "[[The Big Broadcast of 2006]]". Just how relationships function in this isolated, media-based Transformers society is unclear, although it's notable that Wreck-Gar and his lady friend "slept" sitting up next to each other on giant thrones between television broadcast cycles. The lady's character model is actually that of a female [[Lithone (planet)|Lithone]], another mechanical race, but whether this is meaningful in any way or simple model recycling is uncertain.

In the French dub of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' (but not in the TV series), both [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] were referred to as female, with [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] calling Starscream "une imbecile" at one point (French articles are gendered), and Shrapnel referred to as "Mademoiselle". The reason for this gender-switch was never fully explained, though it presumably has something to do with both Starscream's and Shrapnel's rather high-pitched voices.
{{-}}

===Generation 1 Marvel Comics continuity===
[[Image:Nomates.jpg|left|200px|thumb|And what will happen is like this.]]
No female ''Transformers'' are ever seen or referred to in the US stories, and when [[Cloudburst]] is pressured into a relationship with the beautiful [[First One]] of [[Femax]], he explains that Transformers, as a species, have no gender. {{storylink|Recipe for Disaster!}} The UK stories corroborate this, and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] is intentionally created by the Autobots to be the sole female Transformer in an attempt to placate [[human]] feminists. {{storylink|Prime's Rib!}} (See her picture above for a hint of how well that went over.)

Despite this, the Marvel continuity was actually the first in introducing a female ''Cybertronian'': [[Auntie]], the onboard computer of the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', who was introduced in [[The Transformers (issue)|the very first issue]]. [[CatSCAN|Theoretically, she is not that different from other Cybertronians]] and one can only guess how to combine her existence and the "no <strike>girls</strike> gender"-statements.

The [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|letter pages]] mentioned another two females: Decepticon [[Clio]] and presumed Autobot [[Karmen]]. Provided they are real and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] didn't just make them up, they might have been built after Arcee's example.

[[BotCon]]'s ''[[Classics (2006)|Classics]]'' fiction, while not including the UK material, introduced [[Elita One]] in a similar manner as UK Arcee. {{storylink|Games of Deception}}

{{-}}
===''Super-God Masterforce''===
A female Transformer was created through the introduction of [[Minerva]] to the ranks of the [[Headmaster Junior]]s. The [[transtector]] she was bonded to [[A Battle... and Then...|eventually]] evolved into a being of ''her'' own.

Meanwhile, the [[Godmaster]] [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] existed out of two humans before becoming sapient: husband [[Giga]] and wife [[Mega]]. Despite the double gender, Overlord is regarded a "he".

===''Victory''===
[[Image:Esmeryl-manga.jpg|right|150px|thumb|This is an official Transformers character. No, really.]]
In the manga, [[Decepticon]] females make their first (yet still to this day very rare) appearance in official fiction as [[Esmeral]] ([[Deathsaurus|Deszaras]]'s wife) and [[Lyzack]] ([[Leozack]]'s [[Relatives|sister]]). Both show up to show the Autobots just what it is Deszaras and his crew have been fighting for all this time: their poor families back home. This spares the Decepticons' lives in the final battle between the two forces. This certainly casts an odd light on the matter of Transformer [[reproduction]] (and on [[Masumi Kaneda|the manga author]]).

Meanwhile, in the animated series, the [[Micromaster]] [[Holi]] is shown to have a girlfriend on the planet [[Micro]], [[Clipper]].
{{-}}

===''Operation Combination''===
''[[Operation Combination (franchise)|Operation Combination]]'' introduced a total of 24 Micromasters, none of which got a [[bio]]. Ten years later, ''[[Micromaster Collection]]'' did provide them, and the Micromasters [[Windy]] and [[Discharge]] were established as females.

===''Beast Wars''===
[[Image:TM2_Blackarachnia.jpg|left|250px|thumb|She was extremely popular with fans, I wonder why...]]

Female Transformers seem to be common here, with no one showing any surprise over their presence. Some of the Transformers also appear to have picked up human-style attitudes of women as a fairer and more vulnerable gender, with [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] refusing to fight a female out of <strike>lust</strike> chivalry. Most of the other Transformers, however, seem unconcerned about this.

[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] both engage in romances with male [[Maximal|Maximals]], the former blatantly and the latter far more subtly.

Over the course of the show Rattrap makes numerous innuendos, especially involving Silverbolt and Blackarachnia's relationship, that suggest that, at least by that era, there may have been something sex-like between Transformers. He also makes references to a bar on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] where the wait-staff go "without their torso-plates on"... which frankly sounds like it'd be really messy.

In the spin-off comics, [[Manta Ray (BW)|Manta Ray]] and [[Sonar (BW)|Sonar]] were both established as female Transformers.

===''Beast Wars II''===
[[Scylla]] is the impetus for a big ridiculous love triangle of hilarity and embarrassment in both the animated and manga continuities. She is in love with the squid-bot [[Scuba]], who wants nothing to do with her. Meanwhile, the Maximal [[Bighorn]] is in love with Scylla, who wants nothing to do with him.

The non-Transformer female robot [[Artemis]] harbors a crush on both Scuba (poor guy) and [[Starscream (BWII)|Starscream]].

===''Beast Machines''===
''Beast Machines''' [[technorganic]] reformatting raises even further questions about what it means to be a "female transformer". It is possible that the technorganic female Transformers, being merged organic and technological life to a cellular level, might actually be ''physically'' female.

[[Rattrap]] and [[Botanica]] end up in a romantic relationship towards the end of ''[[Beast Machines (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' ("So, I'm a tree-hugger!" Rattrap remarks). What this means for his bar-hopping days is never explored.

The [[Vehicon general]] [[Strika (BM)|Strika]] is referred to as the "consort" of [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]], and has been serving by his side, seemingly as an equal, for centuries. Some have taken this to mean the two have a romantic interest in each other, but the show itself does not offer any hints to this.

===Dreamwave comic continuity===
According to DK's ''[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]]'', "Transformers are inherently non-gender specific, and only some quirk of their timelost origins can account for [female Transformers'] difference in appearance and attitude." [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] was [[Unreleased Dreamwave issues|in the process]] of introducing more female Transformers and explicating their links to the Quintessons in this continuity when it went out of business.

===Unicron Trilogy===
[[Image:Twirl-Baby.jpg|right|250px|thumb|But she's got your altmode!]]
The existence of female Transformers throughout the [[Unicron Trilogy]] is portrayed as slightly uncommon (it is a fiction aimed at young boys, after all), but hardly remarkable. They just exist, as do "males", and no special attention is called to them. Quite a few appear in various places in "[[Motorcycle refugee|civilian]]" roles, as [[Autobot nurse|nurses]], and even on [[Velocitron band|colony worlds]].

There are examples and hints of romantic interest between males and females in both ''[[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]'' ([[Redline]] and [[Falcia]] in the [[Linkage (comic)|''Linkage'' comics]], plus [[Nightscream (Armada)|Nightscream]]'s eagerness to appease and defend his [[bulk]] partner [[Airazor (Armada)|Airazor]]), and ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' stories (most obviously [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]]'s intense infatuation with [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], [[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack's]] secret crush on [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]], plus [[Downshift (Energon)|Downshift]] reportedly has an unnamed female "life partner" lost somewhere on [[Earth]]). This too is treated as a fairly common event.

There are female Transformers in positions of very high power as well: in the [[Energon (cartoon)|''Energon'' cartoon]], [[Arcee (Energon)|Arcee]] is the leader of the entire [[Omnicon]] race, while in ''Cybertron'', Override is the leader of the planet [[Velocitron]]. So far, the Unicron Trilogy is the only ''Transformers'' continuity to explicitly ''give'' female Transformers that level of responsibility.

In the French version of the ''Energon'' cartoon, Arcee is dubbed by a man. ''Why'' she was is currently unknown.

===IDW comic continuity===
[[Image:Spotlight_Arcee_b.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Information: you are ALL going to DIE.]]

Originally [[Simon Furman]] stated that he would not use female Transformers in IDW continuity until he came up with a reason for them to exist that made logical sense to him. He did not rule out doing so, as he said he had found a similar justification for the [[Pretender|Pretenders]], which led to the [[Stormbringer (comics)|Stormbringer]] miniseries.

Despite this, in ''[[Megatron Origin]]'' [[Alex Milne]] drew what are clearly intended to be female Transformers in a good number of "easter egg" cameo appearances. (Cameos included female [[Tonka GoBots]] character [[Crasher (G1)|Crasher]], [[Elita One]], [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]], and a number of generic background femmes.)

This was finally resolved in "[[Spotlight: Arcee]]", where it was revealed that the malevolent Golden Age Cybertronian scientist [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] introduced gender to the Cybertronian genome just to see what it'd do. Tampering with the [[CNA]] of the titular character at her creation to make her Female, he discarded his experiment once he was finished, only to find she had an inherent homing instinct for his creations. Arcee's systems were severely messed up by this experiment, causing her to become tremendously unstable to the point of psychosis and fixated on getting revenge on Jhiaxus.

While the story implies that she is something very rare and unique it does not say that she was the ''only'' female Transformer Jhiaxus created, merely the first, leaving it open for the cameos in ''Megatron Origin'' to remain in continuity.

Jhiaxus specifically alters Arcee's CNA to make her female and introduce gender to the species. Exactly how deep these alterations went, how closely her form was designed to match the females of organic species on which she was based (particularly in relation to reproduction) is unknown and will likely remain so.

===2007 movie===
[[Image:Arceemovie.jpg|right|thumb|Comic artists ''cry'' when they see this model sheet.]]

[[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]] was originally going to be featured as part of the cast of the [[Transformers (2007)|''Transformers'' film]], but was cut early on in the movie's development. The script writers felt they would need to explain the presence of a female in an entirely robotic race, and there was not enough time in the film to do so. Arcee was replaced in the movie by [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]]. Even so, Arcee was featured in IDW's [[Movie Prequel (2007)|Movie Prequel comics]] and remains in the movie toyline as both Deluxe and Scout-class toys.

One other female Autobot is featured in the movie continuity family, another Scout-class toy, [[Elita-One]]. Both Elita and Arcee, however, are featured in [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Titan Magazine's]] alternate reality stories as regular characters, with Arcee getting more prominence. Both also appear in IDW's Movie Sequel comic series ''[[The Reign of Starscream]]'', with Arcee playing quite a prominent leadership role. Surprisingly, Elita-One does not fair as well as her sister-in-arms, dying at the claws of [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] himself. Although it is unusual for a female Transformer to die in fiction ([[To sell toys|compared to how often Transformer death happens in general]]), it has [[Manta Ray (BW)|happened]] [[Sonar (BW)|before]].

As for Decepticons, [[Fracture]], based off of the aforementioned Crasher, was recently added to the end of the movie toyline as a Wal-mart exclusive. She has been featured in Titan Magazine's comics, as of issue 18, and in IDW's ''[[Alliance (comic)|Alliance]]'' series as of issue 3.

In all the comics where female Transformers do appear in the Movie continuality, their gender is never considered an issue. This raises questions about just how necessary "explaining" them would be in [[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|future movies]].
{{-}}

===''Animated''===
[[Image:Animated_females.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Did you ever feel like the only original designs in a sea full of homages?]]
Female Transformers were present in ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'' from the very beginning of the cartoon, starting with [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]]. What this meant for the state of females in the continuity at large was not immediately apparent; in "[[Along Came a Spider]]", both [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] and [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] expressed confusion as to ''what'' Blackarachnia was. Though they could have been referring to her [[Technorganic|partially organic]] nature, [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]]'s comment ("Duh, she's a girl.") seems to imply that the two Autobots were confused about Blackarachnia's gender. The fact that no other characters familiar with Blackarachnia ever reacted to her in an unusual way, however, suggests it was more of a misunderstanding on Sari's part used for comedic effect.

As the series proceeded, multiple lady-bots were progressively introduced, among which were a [[Slipstream (Animated)|female clone]] of [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]], the obligatory [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]] and many more. Although they remain distinctly outnumbered by the male Transformers, this makes it clear that while female Transformers may be relatively uncommon, they aren't considered very remarkable or noteworthy—unless you're a young, male Autobot who's spent ''waaaaayy'' too much time fixing space bridges.

Despite Optimus's confusion over where organic babies come from in "[[Transform and Roll Out]]", implying that there is no Cybertronian equivalent to [[Reproduction|sexual reproduction]] in ''Animated'', Transformer ''relationships'' are implied to be a possibility, as in "[[Along Came a Spider]]" and "[[Black Friday (episode)|Black Friday]]", respectively, Blackarachnia takes advantage of [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]]'s and the [[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobots]]' obvious interest in her, especially [[Grimlock (Animated)|Grimlock]]'s.

[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]]'s role as the Autobot medical officer was originally supposed to be assigned to a character named [[Red Alert (Animated)|Red Alert]], who was originally designed as a female, but then turned male. When brought in at the start of Season 3, Red Alert was female once again as an homage to the original design.

==Toys==
''[[Transmetal]]'' [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] is the first Transformer toy featuring slight female mood, but it still doesn't look very female.<ref>Page 62, Toy database section in ''[[Beast Wars Universe]]''</ref> The first truly female Transformers toy is ''Transmetal 2'' [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]].<ref>Page 73, Toy database section in ''[[Beast Wars Universe]]''</ref> Interestingly, these two monumental items in the history of ''[[Transformers brand|The Transformers]]'' toyline are both from the ''[[Beast Wars (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' toyline.

===List of the female Transformer toys===
{{charstubtoys}}


==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Female Transformers| ]]
[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Transformer culture]]
[[Category:Generation 1]]

Size changing

2009-07-31T03:52:04Z

24.131.255.225: /* Pretenders */

Although [[Scale|scale has never exactly been a deep concern]] when it comes to Transformers, given that the series has featured F-15 jets not much larger than sports cars, it is not uncommon for certain Transformers to clearly and deliberately '''change size''' when transforming from one mode to the next. The methods employed for this startling alteration in physicality have differed from timeline to timeline, and have long been a heavily debated aspect of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertronian]] technology.

==Examples==
Note that many of the Transformers named here have also transformed at certain times ''without'' shrinking or enlarging, retaining an alternate mode to scale with their robot mode.

===Shrinking===
The most famous examples of size-changing Transformers are [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], who becomes a pistol, and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], who becomes a stereo cassette player. These two [[Decepticon]]s shrink as they transform, assuming one of two sizes—one that allows another Transformer to wield or operate them, and another, even smaller size, [[Scale|to scale with]] [[human]]s. Other shrinking Transformers include [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]], [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] and the [[Mini-Cassette]]s.

[[Overkill (G1)|Overkill]]'s ''[[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Transformers Universe]]'' bio notes that he has a defect in his transformation circuitry, which often results in him not being able to complete his transformation by not growing back to his [[robot mode]]'s full size.

One of [[Deep Cover]]'s [[ability|abilities]] is being able to shrink to 1/40th his size for brief periods of time.

===Enlarging===
Conversely, Transformers have been known to grow in size when assuming their [[Alternate mode|altmodes]] — the most prominent example is surely [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], whose space shuttle mode could become large enough to convey a whole contingent of Decepticon warriors, and even allow [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] to form inside him. Other Transformers that enlarge in such a manner also generally do so for the purposes of transporting others; they include [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] and [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]]. [[Combiner|Combiners]] are often larger in their combined form than their robot modes would otherwise indicate - in fact, in the episode "[[Chaos (episode)|Chaos]]", [[Predaking]] is explicitly shown to enlarge after his combination is complete. In the original animated series many of the Transformers arguably enlarged or shrank in vehicle mode to a lesser extent, this is most notable among groups such as the [[Seeker (body-type)|Decepticon]] [[Conehead|jets]] and [[Mini Vehicle|minibots]], whose altmodes [[Scale|could not possibly turn into robots that are the size they are depicted otherwise]]. Whether this was truly intended to indicate actual size changes, was merely "lazy animation", or was simply a stylistic choice designed to emphasise the awesome stature of robot-mode Cybertronians, is a matter of individual opinion.

===Implicit size changing===
[[Image:MakeHoistHuffer.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Mass displacement my boron compressor.]]
Transformers that act as transport for other Transformers often implicitly change size to do so. However, size changing is rarely explicitly depicted in these cases. Instead, the following method is used: A character such as [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] transforms in-frame from robot to shuttle with no visible expansion of size relative to his surroundings. Cut. In the following shot his fellow Decepticons are shown running into frame, suddenly relatively tiny in stature so that they can board the shuttle. Although Astrotrain has not been shown to actually grow, one has to infer that this is more likely than that all his confederates have individually shrunk.

The same change-in-scale-via-implicit-size-changing is used with [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] and other characters used as transport. For example, in the episode "[[Make Tracks]]", [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], who is depicted as one of the larger Autobots in robot mode, is shown riding inside [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]], a Minibot whose truck mode is usually depicted as being smaller than Optimus Prime's. So either Huffer is extremely large in that scene, or Hoist is suddenly the size of a human.

(The other explanation is that the animators simply hoped no one would notice the sudden change in scale. Since ''Transformers'' is usually targeted at kids, there's probably some truth to this.)

===Pretenders===
Although the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original American cartoon]] did not feature any [[Pretender|Pretenders]], the Japanese-only continuity did, in their series ''[[Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce]]''. Here the Pretenders did not have outer shells so much as ill-defined holistic transformations which explicitly involved size-changing, allowing the Autobots to convincingly pass themselves off as humans. Also, Autobot Pretenders' shells are able to perform size changing in the ''[[Super-God Masterforce (manga)|Super-God Masterforce]]'' manga. The Decepticons, by comparison, chose to retain their gigantic proportions when in Pretender-mode.

Although never depicted in any of their actual fiction, [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s ''[[More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|More Than Meets The Eye]]'' encyclopedia stated that Pretender shells use shrinking technology to achieve the ''[[Super-God Masterforce (franchise)|Masterforce]]''-like capacity to pass the wearer off as a real human (or other small lifeform of choice). (Intriguingly, the profile also obliquely implies that Pretender technology would later lead to the development of the faux-organic beast modes of the [[Beast Era]].)

==Explanations==
Although size-changing has been evident in Transformers from the very beginning, the original animated series and comic books never address the topic, and it was regarded as simply being the way of things. Fandom debate on the topic has seemingly inspired later fiction to offer varying explanations on how it functions.

===Dreamwave===
[[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] offered two explanations for size-changing within its continuity.

The first, to explain enlarging, was '''parts compression''' – the notion that the Transformers in question, such as Astrotrain and [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]], had many dense layers of armor in robot mode, which then slid out, expanding to create a much larger, but less-strongly-armored vehicle mode. Fans have referred to this as the "origami Transformers" explanation, and it appeared in their ''[[More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|More Than Meets The Eye]]'' encyclopedia.

The second explanation, to justify shrinking, was '''mass conversion'''. This method put it that Transformers like Soundwave were genetically endowed with the ability to transform not simply their bodies, but their entire molecular structure. This ability, not under their conscious control, only activates when they transform, shifting their atoms according to a pre-determined schematic.

===IDW===
[[Image:Massdisplacement.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Shrinky-dink.]]
[[IDW Publishing|IDW]]'s ''[[Escalation (IDW)|Escalation]]'' sees Megatron employ a '''mass-displacement sequence''', physically discarding a portion of his bodily mass to allow himself to shrink to a human-scaled pistol of appropriate weight and density. What with E equalling mc², the loss of this amount of mass (shunted to an undisclosed location in space and time) results in a volatile energy discharge, requiring bystanders to step away lest they be injured by the forces released - not that Megatron would care.

Due to the energy shortage (and seeming near-total depletion of Transformers' primary fuel source, [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]]) caused by their war, mass displacement hasn't been commonplace for a very long time. Since it requires a huge amount of energy, the technology had practically vanished until the discovery of [[Ore-13]] on [[Earth]].

===2007 movie===
The creators of the [[Transformers (2007)|2007 live-action movie]] explicitly avoided including any Transformers who could change size, wishing to avoid the necessary suspension of disbelief. Therefore, any observed [[scale]] problems are genuine scale problems. (And there are a few, most notably human-sized [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]]'s head turning into a tiny cell phone.) That said, size-changing technology clearly exists in ''some'' form in the movie continuity, as [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] somehow shrinks the [[All Spark]] down to a manageable size and mass. Thus far, there's no evidence this trick can be applied to anything except the All Spark.

===Fandom explanations===
[[Image:No mass shifting here.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Just when you thought you had it all figured out...]]
The issue of shrinking and enlarging was, in the early days of the online Transformers fandom, a frequently debated subject. The Transformers were clearly displacing their mass, to allow their shrunken forms to be operable – so where was that mass going? The postulated answer to this question was "[[subspace]]", the void of extradimensional space between realities. Subspace proved a handy answer to various other questions as well - see the concept's own article for details. IDW's "mass displacement" rationale essentially ''is'' the subspace explanation, without actually using the term.

And hey, if any of that doesn't grab you, a [[Beorht|wizard]] did it.

==Note==
When you see a character's size is [[:Image:Tinybluestreak.jpg|smaller]] [[:Image:Huge Ironhide and Small Ratchet.jpg|than]] [[:Image:CarnageMiniBlaster.jpg|usual]], well, it's just [[Animation error|a technical issue]].

[[Category:Technology]]