MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Scrapmetal (ROTF)

2009-07-15T22:20:26Z

69.230.72.24: /* Revenge of the Fallen movie */

{{factions|decepticon}}
{{noname-nickname}}
{{disambig2|a yellow [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicon]] in [[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]] that was scrapped for parts to revive [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]|a Construction with a similar robot mode|Scrapper (ROTF)}}

:''Ze little one is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|Revenge of the Fallen franchise]] in the [[Live-action film series|live-action film]] [[continuity family]].''

{{mainpic}}

'''Ze little one''' is a [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicon]] that transforms into a Volvo excavator.

{{bigquote|Need parts. Kill ze little one!|Scalpel instructs the Constructicons to kill one of their own, and this guy was the unlucky one.}}

==Fiction==
===''Revenge of the Fallen'' movie===
{{spoiler|Revenge of the Fallen (film)|July 24, 2009}}
After the [[All Spark|All Spark shard]] was retrieved from [[NEST]]'s secure bunker at [[Diego Garcia]], ze little one, [[Long Haul (ROTF)|Long Haul]], [[Rampage (ROTF)|Rampage]], Mixmaster, [[Scalpel]], and [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] secreted themselves aboard the ''[[Bayos]]'' freighter heading towards the North Atlantic. Once the ship passed over the [[Laurentian Abyss]], the Decepticons jumped overboard and dived down to where [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron's]] broken body lay. Scalpel ordered the death of the smallest Constructicon, and ze little one's parts were used to repair Megatron. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

==Notes==
*The identity of ze little one is a bit on the fraught side. In the flyover shot of the barge on which the four Constructicons sit, a red bulldozer (Rampage), a concrete mixer (Mixmaster), a dump truck (Long Haul) and a yellow front-end loader are visible. The yellow front-end loader is the alternate mode of the Constructicon [[Scrapper (ROTF)|Scrapper]], ''and'' ze little one's robot mode appears to be the same as Scrapper's. As such, the temptation to just consider this a Scrapper unit is great... except that, after the flyover shot, the yellow loader disappears, and is replaced with a yellow Volvo excavator, clearly marked with a large Decepticon [[insignia]]. For the purposes of reducing headaches, we're assuming that the excavator is the "correct" vehicle mode, and that it just happens to transform into a robot mode that resembles Scrapper...even though it's not him.

[[Category:Constructicons]]
[[Category:Decepticons]]
[[Category:Fiction-only characters]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen characters]]

Mission City

2009-07-15T22:20:26Z

69.230.72.24:

:''Mission City is a city in the [[Movie (franchise)|Movie]] [[continuity family]]''

[[Image:Mission City.JPG|right|300px|thumb|City motto? Life is pain.]]
'''Mission City''' is a city in the [[United States of America]], possibly in either [[wikipedia:Nevada|Nevada]] or [[wikipedia:Arizona|Arizona]]. It may rival [[San Francisco]] as "worst place to live", because it's the kind of place where [[Dispensor|Mountain Dew machines]] thirst for human blood, [[Xbox 360 robot|Xbox 360s]] play with the lives of their owners, and [[Steering wheel robot|steering wheels]] tend to [[kiss]] their drivers. It also had the poor fortune to be the location where the [[Autobot]]s and the [[Decepticon]]s threw down for control of the [[All Spark]].

It's located 22 miles north of the [[Hoover Dam]].<ref>[[William Lennox]] explicitly states their distance from the dam in [[Transformers (2007)|the 2007 movie]].</ref> Its downtown has lots of Classically-detailed buildings from the early 20th Century which tend to shatter spectacularly when [[Transformer|giant robots]] smash into them.

==Fiction==
===''Transformers'' (2007) movie===
As [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] began to thaw, [[William Lennox|Captain Lennox]] suggested that they move the All Spark to Mission City, where it would be easier to contact and rendezvous with military airlift to take it to safety. Defense Secretary [[John Keller]] agreed with him, despite the risk of attack from pursuing Decepticons. [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] converted the All Spark to a more portable form, and he and a military escort, soon augmented by the Autobots, left for the city.

En route, [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] left the escort to battle [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]], while the other Autobots continued into downtown Mission City. Their human allies, meanwhile, had summoned F-22 Air Force fighters to provide aerial support.

[[Image:Movie MissionCityBattle1.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Ironhide is the first person in some twenty years to consider Starscream a serious threat... with good reason for once.]]
Captain Lennox procured several short-wave radios to contact the hoped-for aerial support, intending to summon Blackhawk helicopters to extract the All Spark. They soon sighted a lone F-22 overhead and called for support, marking their location with green smoke. Too late, the Autobots realized that the incoming fighter was in fact [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]. [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] ordered the humans and other Autobots to fall back, as he and Bumblebee lifted a truck to shield them from Starscream's attack. The resulting explosion crippled Bumblebee, severing his legs below the knees.

As the humans realized the deception, they finally heard back from actual incoming Blackhawks, but they then came under attack from [[Brawl (Movie)|Devastator]]. [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]], [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] and Ironhide all rushed to attack as the human soldiers fell back. [[Mikaela Banes|Mikaela]] spotted a tow truck nearby and ran to procure it, while the crippled Bumblebee handed the All Spark off to [[Sam Witwicky|Sam]].

[[Image:Movie MissionCityBattle2.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Yeah, let's triple-team the guy who is suffering an identity crisis. That's fair.]]
Ironhide rushed Devastator head-on, transforming and vaulting over an extremely hot woman with a huge mouth, all the while dodging two of the Decepticon's missiles. Jazz attacked from another direction, yanking the Decepticon's main gun aside. Devastator transformed and tossed Jazz into a building. Ironhide fired on Devastator, while Ratchet and Jazz attacked from both sides, Ratchet using a saw blade to slice off one of Devastator's arms. The humans joined the Autobots in blasting Devastator, until a series of shots from Ratchet knocked the Decepticon to the ground.

While Mikaela worked to hotwire the tow truck, [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] landed in the city streets, prompting the Autobots to call a retreat. Jazz stayed behind and engaged the much larger Decepticon, getting blasted aside for his efforts.

Mikaela drove the tow truck over to Sam and Bumblebee. Megatron, meanwhile, carried Jazz through the air, crushing him under his feet atop a building, then pulling him out. Jazz fired on Megatron, but the massive Decepticon tore him in half.

[[Image:Movie Ratchet Ironhide runSam.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Wow. Ironhide was never this agile in the cartoon...or the comics...]]
On the ground, Captain Lennox's troops observed Devastator getting back to his feet, as well as the arrival of Blackout, who transformed and landed atop a building behind them. Under sporadic hostile fire, Lennox led his troops back to Bumblebee's position as Sam and Mikaela worked to hook Bumblebee to the tow truck. Lennox handed a flare to Sam and ordered him to take the All Spark to a nearby rooftop, while [[Robert Epps|Sergeant Epps]] summoned their Blackhawk support to pick him up. Ratchet and Ironhide promised Sam that they would protect him as he carried out the mission. After a quick farewell to Mikaela, Sam fled.

Megatron (from somewhere) ordered the Decepticons to [[Decepticons, attack|attack]], prompting Devastator to fire. Ratchet and Ironhide provided cover fire as Sam ran. Blackout attacked from the other side, and Ironhide engaged him. Blackout bashed aside the car that Ironhide tossed at him, then transformed and flew away. Mikaela finished securing Bumblebee and drove him off, as Devastator continued his lumbering advance.

[[Image:Movie MissionCityBattle4.jpg|right|250px|thumb|This is the only time Prime and Megs got to use their signature weapons. You fail us yet again, Michael Bay.]]
Optimus Prime arrived after his delay on the freeway, transforming and challenging Megatron. Still perched atop his building, Megatron tossed away the remains of Jazz and transformed. He scooped up Prime and took him for a dizzying ride through the streets and buildings of the city, smashing through an entire office building at one point before crashing to the street. The two exchanged their respective views on humanity and fisticuffs. Prime managed to get in a shot at Megatron, but a blast from Megatron's main gun hurled Prime down the street and into the side of another building, prompting viewers to wonder why Michael Bay hates architecture so much. Prime then fell to the street amid a small crowd of panicked humans, some of whom may or may not have been crushed.

With Ratchet and Ironhide alongside him, Sam continued sprinting for the building. Blackout landed in the street and sliced at Sam with his rotor weapon, but did not attempt to capture him. Starscream also landed nearby and engaged Ratchet and Ironhide, blasting them both. Starscream then transformed and launched again as the two Autobots collapsed. Sam continued onwards.

Megatron flew down from the sky and transformed, demanding that Sam give up the All Spark. As Sam darted through traffic, a near-collision with an SUV made him drop the cube, unleashing a pulse of its power. The pulse brought several machines to life, including part of the SUV and a [[Dispensor|Mountain Dew vending machine]].

[[Image:Movie Brawl dies.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Gah! Heartburn!]]
''Meanwhile, in [[Detroit]]...'' Sam sprinted into the abandoned building, pursued by Megatron, who smashed through a floor practically on Sam's heels but failed to stop him from entering a fire stairwell.

Mikaela and Bumblebee stopped in an alley, while Sam continued climbing and Lennox's troops continued fighting against Devastator. Mikaela was crying, hitting the wheel in frustration, then turned to look at Bumblebee, who nodded. After a moment of preparation, Mikaela backed the tow truck into the street so that Bumblebee was facing forwards, then drove it full speed in reverse into the battle scene. Under heavy attack from two directions, Devastator suffered heavy damage, before a final shot from Bumblebee hit him in the chest, bringing him down for good. He collapsed into the building where Lennox's troops had taken shelter.

[[Image:Movie Megatron Samonroof.jpg|right|250px|thumb|It depends...how well do you take care of your pets?]]
As the Blackhawks closed in, Sam reached the rooftop and activated his flare. Starscream transformed and landed on a nearby building as the helicopters pulled up to the rooftop. Sam was inches away from handing off the All Spark when Starscream shot the waiting Blackhawk out of the sky. Optimus Prime sprinted toward the building, determined to save Sam. Starscream continued watching from nearby while Megatron bashed his way onto the rooftop. Cornering Sam, Megatron demanded the All Spark, then unsheathed a barbed mace and bashed the building out from under Sam's feet when he refused. Optimus Prime, suspended most of the way up the building, caught the falling human. Prime then vaulted/fell down to street level, with Megatron close behind. The two metal titans smashed into the street, scattering still more panicked humans, [[Michael Bay|one]] of whom got himself flicked aside by Megatron.

Prime ordered Sam to take shelter behind him and to push the All Spark into his chest if he was unable to defeat Megatron. As the two leaders laid into one another a second time, Lennox's troops moved in on their position. They stopped and observed as Blackout transformed, landed, and moved in to assist his leader. Epps called in their air support, advising that the targets would be marked. The troops then marked Blackout with green laser light as the F-22s closed in. Meanwhile, Lennox secured a fallen motorcycle.

[[Image:Movie MissionCityBattle5.jpg|left|250px|thumb|WWWWHHHHEEEEEEEE!!!]]
Blackout was about to fire when he noticed the lasers lighting him up, so he instead turned to engage the soldiers, opening fire. Lennox raced at him on his motorcycle, evading Blackout's blasts and purposefully going into a long skid/slide along the ground. As Blackout was hit by fire from the F-22s, Lennox slid past and under him, firing several rounds directly up into the Decepticon's chest and crotch. (''Ow!!'') The Decepticon fell dead to the pavement. Lennox urged his troops onward as Megatron appeared to be getting the upper hand over Optimus.

[[Image:Movie Prime Jazz Ironhide Ratchet battleaftermath.jpg|right|250px|thumb|"Prime, could we maybe discuss this some time when you're not holding a corpse?"]]
As a second wave of F-22s approached the city, Starscream appeared in their midst, destroying three of them before the pilots realized what was happening. The surviving pilots attempted to engage the Decepticon. Several of the F-22s survived to make an attack run on Megatron, firing on him while Lennox's troops also attacked him, damaging his chest. Megatron advanced on Sam, and Prime urged him to push the cube into Prime's chest. Instead, Sam opted to push it into Megatron, killing him.

Ratchet and Ironhide arrived then, carrying the remains of Jazz, and Mikaela and Bumblebee reached the scene soon afterward. Prime thanked the humans for their effort and sacrifice. Bumblebee requested to stay with Sam. Prime granted the request, then extracted a sliver of the All Spark from Megatron's body. {{storylink|Transformers (2007)|Transformers (2007)}}

===''Transformers'' film novelization===
{{note|For unknown reasons, in Titan comics continuity the Battle of Mission City was moved to [[Las Vegas]].<ref>''Bumblebee and Lennox's convoy headed for Las Vegas.'' — [[Movie (books)|Del Rey Books]], <u>[[Transformers (novel)|Transformers]]</u>, p249, ([[2007]])</ref>}}
{{storylink|Transformers (novel)|Transformers (novel)}}

===Titan Magazines ''Transformers'' movie comics===
Wow, it sure is lucky for Mission City that all of the above ''didn't'' happen there but happened in [[California|Los Angeles]] instead! {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 7|Starscream's Militia}}

Two years on, and Starscream is still unclear about why Optimus lured the Decepticons to this heavily populated city when he claims to like humans. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 22|#22's Star Screams}}

===IDW ''Revenge of the Fallen'' movie prequel comics===
In the aftermath of the battle, Lennox's soldiers became acquainted with the Autobots whilst they hunted [[Xbox 360 robot|mutated]] [[Dispensor|transformers]] created by the released All Spark energies. Optimus Prime requested Lennox's help in allowing the Autobots to transport Jazz's remains out of Mission City whilst evading untrustworthy humans such as those from Sector Seven. When a suitable abandoned truck trailer found, the assembled soldiers had a moment of silence as Ironhide placed Jazz's body inside. Soon after the Autobots left, [[Seymour Simmons|Agent Simmons]] and Sector Seven arrived to take away the dead Decepticons. {{storylink|Alliance issue 1|Alliance issue 1}}

===The Real Effing Deal===
The official story is "several biomechanical prototypes by [[Mendelson Robotics]]" went haywire by accident; the government cleared Mendelson of any wrongdoing. The leaked Department of Defence reports also said that the tales of giant robots fightings are ''completely'' unfounded, even though their official story is ''it was big robots''. No wonder certain bloggers worked out the cover story was crap. {{storylink|The Real Effing Deal}}

===''Revenge of the Fallen''===
See above, except replace "Mendelson" with [[McClaren Robotics|''McClaren'' Robotics]].

Except when it's [[Massive Dynamics]]. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (novel)}}

Some of which claimed the battle took place in [[Los Angeles]]. {{storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (film)}}

The terrifying thing is that this half-arsed cover-up actually ''worked''.

==Related characters==
===Kid on freeway===
This young man was riding on the freeway though Mission City when [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|two]] [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|robots]] suddenly fell off the overpass and landed in their lane. His mother barely skidding their car to a halt, the kid watched in shock as one of the robots was struck so hard one of its [[Sensors|eyes]] popped out and it was knocked off the overpass on which they were sitting. As the other robot jumped after it, the kid said that the whole thing was cool.

===SUV driver===
This young woman and two of her friends were driving around in her SUV when [[Sam Witwicky|some kid]] nearly ran into her car. Failing to noticed the panicked bystanders running in the opposite direction, the woman asked if "that jerk" had dented her car. This was quickly forgotten as she noticed her [[Steering wheel robot|steering wheel]] had come to life. It proceeded to wrap itself around her face. Her fate is unknown, but [[Kiss Players (franchise)|things are not looking good]].

===Woman in blue===
This woman had the unfortunate circumstance of being caught in the middle of [[Brawl (Movie)|a tank]] firing shells at [[Ironhide (Movie)|a truck]]. As the truck [[Transformation|changed]] into a giant robot, it proceeded to do some questionably useful (but fun to see) somersaults over the missiles being shot at it, landing right near the woman and totally scaring the crap out of her. Of course, this raises another question: If a tank was shelling something, why did she stop right in its line of fire?

===Xbox owner===
This man was proudly carrying his newly purchased Xbox down the street (as you do) when some sort of [[Energon (fuel)|energy]] surged from some [[All Spark|object]] that a kid was carrying. He heard the Xbox activate, he saw that it had sprouted arms that were trying to attack him. Despite the fact that it probably cost a great deal of money, the owner threw the Xbox away, deciding that it wasn't worth his life.

Remember that, people: Gaming is not worth your life!

==Items of Note==
*At [[BotCon 2007]], at one of the movie's writers' panels, they explained that the original intent behind taking the All Spark to the city was not to "hide" it there, but simply to use the city as a rendezvous point—someplace relatively near the dam that might have a working radio they could use to call for help.
* It's not entirely clear where some of the Decepticons go during the battle, or why. Starscream defeats Ratchet and Ironhide, but then flies away instead of making a grab for Sam and the All Spark. Blackout is nearby at this point and would also seem to have an opportunity to secure the human, but he disappears after slicing up the street outside the diner, not reappearing until Megatron and Optimus begin their final fight.
* There's a long period where Jazz is not doing ''anything''. He's standing around in vehicle mode when Ironhide notices that the F-22 flying above the city is Starscream, stays in vehicle mode when Ironhide and Bumblebee pick up a Furby delivery truck for cover, ''still'' remains in vehicle mode when Starscream blasts them, and after Sam discovers that Bumblebee has lost his legs, all Jazz does is pull back for a few feet to give Bumblebee space to crawl. In the end, Jazz doesn't really join the battle ''at all'' until Brawl shows up.
* For that matter, the fact that Starscream completely incapacitates Ironhide and Ratchet (they're absent from the last eleven minutes of the fight) is not made clear. When we last see them, they are falling down, but Ironhide is still talking and moving.
* [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]], meanwhile, never shows up at all. Presumably he was fighting Optimus Prime off-screen, accounting for the Autobot leader's late arrival; Prime's delay seems too long to be accounted for solely by his very short fight with [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]].
* Why didn't Bumblebee use the All Spark to restore himself as Frenzy had done?
* Also unclear is why the military thought they could smuggle the All Spark out of town on a slow-moving helicopter, when fast-flying guys like Starscream and Megatron were around and well aware of the cube's location.
* Fans have speculated that Starscream actually participated in the F-22 attack run on Megatron. While there's no concrete evidence either way, it doesn't make much sense for him to be destroying the jets beforehand if he's just going to turn around and help them in their mission a few seconds later. When asked about it, screenwriter Roberto Orci explicitly refused to address this theory since it would pose a plot thread for the sequel. Meanwhile, IDW's [[The Reign of Starscream issue 1]] has Starscream consider this an option, but soon has the decision taken from his hands.
* Epps emphatically states that F-22 pilots would ''never'' fly between buildings, as they'd just observed Starscream doing. Yet a few minutes later, that's exactly what the real F-22s do.
* [[Transformers: The Junior Novel]] set the final battle in the ostensibly nonfictional city of [[Las Vegas]] instead of Mission City.
* Incidentally, most of the city skyline shots clearly show Los Angeles. The downtown street scenes were primarily filmed there as well. No wonder [[Fassbinder]] was confused.
* The abandoned building that Sam runs into, however, is actually the Michigan central depot, located in [[Detroit]].
* And because things weren't muddled enough, the Mission City diorama backdrop in the [[Longarm (Movie)|Final]] [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Stand]] Screen Battles set is actually a Photoshopped version of Scranton, Pennsylvania. <ref>[http://www.oafe.net/yo/tfm_sbfs.php OAFE review of The Final Stand Screen Battles set]</ref>
* At the end of the Jazz/Megatron battle, Megatron rips Jazz in half. After several minutes, Optimus Prime walks up to Megatron, who is still holding Jazz's corpse. Why he was holding said corpse for such a long period of time is unknown.
* The denizens of Mission City are remarkably well-composed considering that global communications networks have been shut down. You'd think there'd be a bit more "panic in the streets."
** Not to mention all the audible explosions, and people fleeing from previous battlegrounds... yet nobody ''ever'' panics until those freaking giant robots come literally crashing into the next nearby building. You'd think the girl whose steering wheel is brought to life by the Allspark would have bigger problems than Sam denting her car... such as those giant robots fighting everywhere. [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WeirdnessCensor Weirdness censor] doesn't even ''begin'' to describe this.

==Footnotes==
<references />

[[Category:Battles]]
[[Category:Cities in the United States]]
[[Category:Movie]]

Seven Primes

2009-07-15T22:20:22Z

69.230.72.24: /* Revenge of the Fallen movie */

{{faction|{{factions/icons|custom=Cyberglyphics Prime Symbol.png|cLink=Dynasty of Primes|cPretty=Prime}}}}
[[Image:ROTF_movie_SevenPrimes.jpg|300px|thumb|You must avenge my death, Simba—uh, I mean, Sam.]]

The '''Seven Primes''' were the seven original inhabitants of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and the eventual leaders of a so-called powerful, peaceful and just Cybertronian empire at its earliest inception. Each of these mechanoids possessed a physical form which differed greatly from their [[Transformers|descendants]]. The Primes were charged with travelling the vast expanses of space looking for suns from which they could harvest [[Energon_(fuel)#Live-action_film|Energon]]. However, they tempered their search for energy with a vow that they would never take life in its pursuit.

One of their number became [[The Fallen]].

== Fiction ==
===''Revenge of the Fallen'' movie===
:''Voice actors:'' [[Michael York]], [[Kevin Michael Richardson]], [[Robin Atkin Downes]] (English), [[Banjō Ginga]], [[Daisuke Gōri]], [[Yasuyoshi Hara]] (Japanese)

{{spoiler|Revenge of the Fallen (film)|July 24, 2009}}

At least by 17,000 BC, ancient beings known as the "Seven Primes" reached a solar system in their quest to build a [[Solar harvester]] that would replenish the [[All Spark|All Spark Cube]]'s Energon, their race's life energy, which had been severely drained after a millenia of feeding energy to Cybertron and its inhabitants. However, they soon discovered the chosen system contained [[Earth|a life-bearing world]], and so six of the Primes objected to using the harvester on the system's sun. The seventh, however, insisted on using the harvester anyway upon weighing the longevity of his planet and his race against a seemingly meaningless organic world. This Prime quickly turned on his brothers and their creed, waging war against them, with those who agreed with his ideals by his side. After attacking and killing many of his fellow Primes and slaughtering a large number of the world's [[human|semi-sapient creatures]] he was thereafter ever known as "The Fallen". The remaining Primes mounted an attack on their new nemesis and hid the [[Matrix of Leadership#Live-action film series|Matrix of Leadership]] - without which he could not activate the harvester - in a [[Tomb of the Primes|tomb composed of their own bodies]] on the very planet he sought to destroy, using the last of their energy left from the epic battle to completely seal it.

In the present day, their descendant [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] perished in battle whilst protecting the human adolescent [[Sam Witwicky]], the chosen vessel of the All Spark after the Cube's physical destruction. With the seemingly confusing knowledge of an advanced alien civilization in his mind, Sam and his companions set out to find the Matrix of Leadership after learning it may be the only thing that could resurrect Optimus - the last of the Primes - who was the only being who could defeat "The Fallen". Travelling to [[Petra]] in [[Jordan]], Sam discovered the Tomb of the Primes hidden within, quickly discovering the small Matrix. His hopes were soon dampened however, when the artifact crumbled into dust upon it being moved. Nevertheless, he held onto his faith and gathered up the dust in a tattered sock, intending to revive Optimus with it in any way feasible.

During a climatic battle around the Solar Harvester between the [[Autobot]]s and The Fallen's [[Decepticon]] forces, Sam died in an attempt to use the remnants of the Matrix to resurrect Optimus Prime. Appearing to leave his body, the six Primes soon appeared before Sam, telling him that they had been observing him for a long period of time, praising his sacrificial acts to save the last Prime's spark. They pronounced him worthy of receiving the Matrix, revealing to him that it is now never merely found but instead ''earned'', then instantaneously resuscitated him. Brought back to life by the six Primes, he was able to fulfill his destiny by reviving Optimus, propagating the complete destruction of the Solar Harvester and the defeat of "The Fallen" and Megatron. {{Storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

==Trivia==
* In the [[Revenge of the Fallen (novel)|novelization]] and [[Revenge of the Fallen Movie Adaptation|comic adaptation]] of the film, [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]] explains that there were [[Thirteen original Transformers|Thirteen Primes]], and that the Prime that came to be known as "The Fallen" destroyed eleven of them, with the twelth Prime sacrificing his spark to seal the Matrix in a tomb constructed out of the lifeless bodies of his dead brothers. It is possible that, within the film canon itself, five of the Primes met their end so early on in the battle for the Matrix that "Grandpa Blackbird" simply forgot to mention it in his abridged version of events when telling it thousands of years later.

[[Category:Transformer culture]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen]]

Sun

2009-07-15T22:20:20Z

69.230.72.24: /* IDW Transformers movie comics */

{{disambig2|the big shiny thing in the sky|the Energon episode|The Sun}}

[[Image:Sun rebirth.jpg|right|200px|thumb|MY EYES! THE GOGGLES DO NOTHING!]]
The '''Sun''' is the closest star to [[Earth]], a mass of incandescent gas, a gigantic nuclear furnace where hydrogen is built into helium at a temperature of millions of degrees.

The Sun is a frequent target of the [[Decepticon]]s, who seek to utilize it in various ways, such as tapping into its power, hurling things such as [[Autobot]]s or the planet [[Earth]] into it, or just plain blowing it to smithereens. The Autobots usually stop them in time, but it's almost always a close call.

==Sun Facts==
* The Sun is hot.
* The Sun is large.
* The Sun is far away.
* Even when it's out of sight, the Sun shines night and day.

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 continuity===
The Decepticons built the [[Solar Needle]] to harvest the Sun's energy, but did not intend to destroy it: only an instability was causing it to damage the star. A last minute pull of the Needle's wires by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] that shut it down saved the day. {{storylink|Changing Gears}}

{{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1}}

{{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2}}

{{storylink|The Revenge of Bruticus}}

{{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}}

{{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}

{{stub}}

===Live-action film continuity===
====IDW ''Transformers'' movie comics====
In the distant past, the mysterious relic known as the [[All Spark]] Cube created life on the planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and terraformed its surface to make the world suitable for habitation for its creations. However, this effort depleted the All Spark, and the power from a star was the one thing that could re-energize it. The Cube created a servant race of [[Transformers|transforming workers]] who would seek out suns and build devices called [[Solar Harvester|solar harvester]]s to aid in collecting the solar energy.

The Cybertronians arrived on the distant world of [[Earth]] to prepare to drain the Sun's energy with a harvester, but when it was realized that the planet was inhabited, twelve of the [[Thirteen original Transformers|thirteen master beings]] refused to utilize the harvester. Unfortunately, [[The Fallen|the remaining being]] felt no such obligation to protect life and merely wanted all of the All Spark's energy for himself. His twelve brothers gave their lives to seal him in his own [[sarcophagus]], and the harvester was hidden by the native inhabitants of Earth. {{storylink|Defiance issue 4}}

====''Revenge of the Fallen'' movie====
{{comingsoon}}
{{Storylink|Revenge of the Fallen (film)}}

==External links==
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun The Sun at Wikipedia]

* [http://tmbw.net/wiki/Why_Does_The_Sun_Shine Why ''does'' the Sun shine?]

[[Category:Animated]]
[[Category:Beast Wars]]
[[Category:Beast Wars II]]
[[Category:Cybertron]]
[[Category:Energon]]
[[Category:Generation 1]]
[[Category:Generation 2]]
[[Category:Headmasters franchise]]
[[Category:Masterforce]]
[[Category:Movie]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise]]
[[Category:Space]]
[[Category:Victory]]
[[Category:Zone]]

Prime (rank)

2009-07-15T22:20:18Z

69.230.72.24: /* Movie continuity */

{{quote|We are Primus. We are Prima. We are Prime Nova. We are Sentinel Prime. We are Optimus Prime.}}
'''Prime''' is a rank of highest distinction in many [[Transformers]] continuities. Typically, it is used as the identification for the leader of the [[Autobot]]s, something that is bestowed only on those that carry the [[Matrix of Leadership]] within them. It is [[Retcon|retroactively]] derived from [[Primus]], the creator of the Transformers.

With the retcon that Primus is one singular entity that exists (and '''must''' exist) threaded through all Transformer continuities, the term Prime is likewise given one singular origin. It was, first of all, the designation granted by Primus to the [[Thirteen original Transformers]] created, by his own hand, at the dawn of the physical universe to crew his planetary form.

:''Japanese equivalent:'' '''[[Convoy]]'''

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comic continuity===
The idea of Prime being a title/rank has its first, fullest expression here. A direct lineage of Creation Matrix bearers is established, each taking on a derivation of the name of their god Primus. They are [[Prima]], [[Prime Nova]], [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], and [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]].

{{note|A later [[Simon Furman]] story drawing on this lineage he himself created added [[Primon]] to the beginning of this list. Of note is that the name Prime has no real necessary relation to Autobot leadership here. Optimus Prime becomes a Prime long before he becomes the overall Autobot Commander. Rather, Prime is a religious title (as the Creation Matrix is a religious artifact: a relic of their god). The closest human analogue to a Prime might be the Pope. }}

===Cartoon continuity===
The evidence for "Prime" being a rank here is weaker than elsewhere but the case can still be made. Though many Matrix-Bearers are seen, and all are by definition Autobot Leaders, only four are ever named; 2 Primes, 2 not: [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], Optimus Prime, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], and Rodimus Prime. Without knowing any other names it is hard to make a concrete case here for "Prime" being a title given only to Matrix-Bearers.

It is of note though that if it were, then "Prime" in this continuity would be a military/political title (since it is the ''Matrix of Leadership''), rather than the religious title of the Marvel Comics.

'''Note:''' ''Not all Convoys are Primes (and vice-versa). If you can lead [[Ant-droid]]s to a picnic, you're a Convoy in Japan.

===Beast Wars continuity===
It's only passingly touched on, but may be noteworthy that the phrase, "Who died and made you Prime?" was used by [[Maximal]] characters in ''[[Beast Wars]],'' implying that, to them, "prime" was roughly equivalent to "leader". They also used the word to mean "great" or "good" in the phrases "That's just prime," (said sarcastically), and "Feeling prime."

===Dreamwave continuity===
This continuity also establishes Prime as designating the leader of the Autobots, but there is some muddled information. The Prime carried within him the Matrix of Leadership, but it appears that the Matrix doesn't contain the wisdom of past leaders, as that was held on a [[Golden Disk (council)|separate datatrak]]. Also, the Prime did not appoint his successor. A new Prime was chosen by the [[Council of Ancients]], supposedly through divine authority.

It's unknown what powers the Prime shared with the [[High Council]] and the Council of Ancients, but the Prime had several powers. In addition to being commander-in-chief of the Autobot Army, the Prime also had the authority to order a planet wide evacuation. Autobots gave oaths of loyalty to the Prime, and were expected to risk their lives for the Prime's safety (whether the Prime wanted them to or not). {{storylink|The War Within|The War Within}}

There are five known Primes in Dreamwave continuity, listed in MTMTE #8. These are Alpha Prime, Guardian Prime, Sentinel Prime, Optimus Prime and Rodimus Prime. The list does not specify chronology, and Rodimus Prime never appeared in any actual Dreamwave comics.

===Armada/Energon/Cybertron continuity===
Prime is indeed a title given to leaders and matrix bearers here, as evidenced by both Vector Prime and Optimus Prime, but no other Primes are ever named.

===IDW Comics continuity===
[[Image:Primes IDW.JPG|right|150px|thumb|Get on it, Hasbro!]]
Optimus Prime describes Primes as beings that define the eras they ruled. Thus, Nova Prime presided over an era in which the populace believed the Cybertronian race's destiny was in the stars, and commissioned the first [[Ark (G1)|''Ark'' spacecraft]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Optimus Prime}} Although certainly a matrix-bearer, as confirmed by Optimus and Galvatron, Nova Prime disappeared into the [[Benzuli Expanse]] while aboard the ''Ark'', with the Matrix guiding him into the [[Dead Universe]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Galvatron}}

Before the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], Sentinel Prime served as the head of the Autobot Security Services, the chief law enforcement and military body on Cybertron. However, he stresses that he is ultimately subservient to the will of the [[Senate]] who enact the laws he enforces. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3}}

After Cybertron is rendered uninhabitable, Optimus Prime is the apparent highest ranking Autobot, directing the galaxy-spanning conflict to deny the Decepticons conquest of additional planets. In this task, he occasionally seeks the guidance of the ancient Autobot and weapon of last resort [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]].

There appear to be at least four Primes predating Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Spotlight: Optimus Prime}}

There seems to be an Autobot who held the rank of "Prime" between Sentinel and Optimus in the IDW continuity. During an early skirmish during the opening days of the Great War, a pre-Prime Optimus and Blurr discuss a plan to rescue the Autobot commander [[Zeta Prime]]. It can be assumed that this "new" Prime was "sworn in" following Sentinel Prime's death in Megatron: Origins (LBJ style), before ultimately dying himself, passing the "Prime" mantle onto Optimus. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blurr}}

===Movie continuity===
{{main|Dynasty of Primes}}

{{note|The following has been [[retcon]]ned during the [[Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|Revenge of the Fallen]] phase of the film series.}}
The title of Prime was bestowed upon the civilian and spiritual leader of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] but at the same time, aided the [[Lord High Protector]] in stewarding the [[All Spark]] just as the Lord High Protector was co-ruler. Optimus Prime held this title before, during and after the war for the All Spark as leader of the [[Autobot]]s. {{storylink|Ghosts of Yesterday}}

According to The Quest For the ALLSPARK paperback's opening paragraph, "...Most revered were Optimus and Megatron. They were twin brothers of the Prime dynasty."
This, along with the note from the Autobots version of the same DS game that Megatron "took the spark" of his and Optimus' father, implies that “Prime” may have been their father’s name and that Megatron may have also had the surname "Prime" as well.

===Transformers Animated===
Prime is still a rank in this continuity, but surprisingly one far lower than commander of all the Autobots ([[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] - the "[[Magnus]]" refers to his rank). This is revealed when [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] attempts to give an order to [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]]. Optimus is able to disregard this order because regardless of Sentinel's standing on the [[Cybertronian Elite Guard]], they are both still of equal rank, Primes. {{storylink|The Elite Guard}} Both Ultra Magnus and Sentinel Prime have bars on their forearms, with more bars present for the superior officer. Optimus Prime lacks these, and as such it is unknown if they are only present in the Elite Guard. The Rank of Prime seems to be equivalent to the human Naval rank of Captain in this continuity.

In addition to Optimus and Sentinel, there is also [[Rodimus Prime (Animated)|Rodimus Prime]] and Longarm Prime. Longarm is head of Cybertron Intelligence. Hilariously, since he's really [[Shockwave (Animated)|someone else]] in disguise.

===Fun Publications fan club comics===
[[Image:Clubcombinercarving.jpg|right|150px|thumb|A component of the Prime of Rarified Energon looks at a portrait of his complete self...]]
It is revealed that the first [[Thirteen original Transformers]] created by Primus to crew his planetary form were all designated Primes. In addition to this designation, each was given a specific task or role in sustaining the multiverse.

[[Vector Prime]] was granted guardianship of space-time. The Prime who would become [[The Fallen]] was charged to oversee the force of entropy. [[Nexus Maximus|Another of these Primes]] was made the guardian of [[Rarified Energon]]. Of the known members of the Thirteen, only Prima's function is still unknown.

These Primes are multiversal singularities (like their creator, only one version of each existing across all realities).
{{-}}

===Shattered Glass===
The title of Prime is not an honorary rank but the title of the diabolical leader of the Autobots. [[Optimus Prime (Shattered Glass)|Optimus Prime]] stands as the current Prime. For now. [[Rodimus (Shattered Glass)|Rodimus]] may very well usurp the title and position in the future.

==See also==
*[[Autobot commander (disambiguation)|Autobot Commander]]
*[[Supreme Commander]]
*[[Convoy]]
*[[Magnus]]

[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Generation 1]]
[[Category:Movie]]
[[Category:Ranks]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Transformer culture]]

Reproduction

2009-07-15T22:20:17Z

69.230.72.24: /* Infusion */

[[Image:MangaDinoforceBabies.jpg|right|250px|thumb|HOW IS BABBY FORMED?]]
Various reproduction methods for the Transformers species have been demonstrated across various continuities.

==Mechanical construction==
Sometimes, new Transformers are simply built from scratch, and that's all it takes. A suitable Transformer body is constructed, and when finished and turned on, it just springs to life.
===Generation 1===
====Cartoon continuity====
Two notable examples of this type of reproduction appear in the [[Generation 1 (cartoon)|''Generation 1'' cartoon]]: when [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and company create the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], {{storylink|S.O.S. Dinobots}} and later when the temporarily super-intelligent [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] creates the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]]. {{storylink|Grimlock's New Brain}}.

[[Image:SOSDinobots buildingSludge.jpg|left|180px|thumb|"I've been workin' on the Dinobot, all the live long day..."]]
The Dinobots are initially very simple mentally and are ordered to be deactivated because they are too dangerous. Wheeljack then develops a set of crown-like devices to place on the Dinobots which greatly enhances their intellect, although they are still "dumb" and child-like compared to the other Autobots. The Technobots, on the other hand, are immediately fully functional, and some of them are even ''smarter'' than average Transformers. If one were to take these facts as canonically meaningful (rather than simply the whims of the writers of those episodes), it could be guessed that programming a functional Transformer brain from scratch is extremely difficult, such that even Wheeljack is not up to the job. Temporarily super-genius Grimlock may be the only one capable. However, one must also note that the Dinobots were built and programmed to be as similar to dinosaurs as possible, including the limited intelligence; the Technobots, however, were built by Grimlock with intelligence in mind, as it was the only way to counter [[Abominus]]' brute power.

At least on the surface, this "built from scratch" approach runs counter to claims in other episodes of the show that [[Vector Sigma]] is needed to create new Transformer life. (See below.) However, since Vector Sigma is presented as being a supercomputer and not a "magical" device like the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|comics']] [[Creation Matrix]], it could fall in with the speculative statements above regarding Grimlock and Wheeljack. Perhaps Vector Sigma is simply an advanced enough computer that it is capable of constructing a working mind.

====IDW comics continuity====
[[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]], [[Bombshell]], and [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] are created by Decepticon scientists after many failed attempts. The failed attempts lived on and were collectively known as [[Insecticon Swarm|"the swarm"]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron}}

== Infusion ==
[[Image:Creation Matrix 65.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Go on, rub it and make a wish...]]
In other stories, once a new Transformer body has been built, it must still be infused with life (what the fiction from the Beast era and after would gloss as a [[spark]]) from a "god-like" outside source. In the ''Generation 1'' cartoon, this source is Vector Sigma; in the Marvel comics, it is the Creation Matrix, which houses the essence of [[Primus]], the Transformers' creator-god. In the [[Beast Era|Beast era]] cartoons, sparks arrive from the [[Allspark]], perhaps through Vector Sigma. (In many continuities, each Transformer's life force is a fragment of Primus's own.) The [[Movie (franchise)|live-action movie]] continuities function with the [[All Spark]] being the source of infusion as well, though in that case, "living" and "sentient" are not quite the same thing. (See: [[Allspark Mutation]].)

[[Image:VectorSigmaG1.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Vector Sigma holds "Disco Night" every Friday at 11 pm.]]
In the [[Young Corgi]] book ''[[Desert of Danger]]'', Hot Rod refers to his creation after the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' left Cybertron as when he was "matrixed".<ref>[http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/~sstoneb/tf/books/corgi-adv/desert/22.html Desert of Danger, Page 22.]</ref> How exactly this would have happened if Optimus Prime was aboard the ''Ark'' with the Matrix at the time is unknown, but one option might be the [[Matrix Flame]].

The Matrix Flame is an artifact which allows Transformers on Cybertron to access the power of the Matrix even when it is no longer on Cybertron. Literally a flame, it is used to breathe life in the super warrior [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] in the UK comics. The flame is somehow linked to the Matrix, and when the Matrix is transported to another dimension during "[[Target: 2006]]", the flame goes out, forcing the Autobots on Cybertron to investigate.

The [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] ''[[More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|More Than Meets The Eye]]'' guide provides yet another method of infusion. According to the guide, in Dreamwave continuity, Transformers generally begin life as a skeletal mass of partially formed circuits—a [[Protoform]]. These are kept in stasis pods filled with nurturing nutrient gel. They can be built to certain specifications or be fairly general, allowing the robot to form naturally upon introduction of a spark. Sparks, and hence life, usually come from the Matrix, ''BUT'', if the Matrix is absent, life can be granted by attuning the protoform to an energy wavelength similar to the Matrix and then applying a concentrated burst of energon. This alternative is rarely used, as it is extremely resource-consumptive, requiring restrictively high amounts of energon.<ref>[[More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|More Than Meets The Eye]] #8, "Cybertron: Protoforms" (2003)</ref>

[[Image:Allspark movie.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"RESISTANCE IS FUTILE."]]
The Movie continuity's [[All Spark]] works by infusion as well, just on an even more impressive scale. It is capable of infusing any inanimate machine with life and simultaneously altering its structure so that it is capable of transforming into a Cybertronian-style robot. The [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]] fragments spread across Detroit in the ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'' continuity show the same ability to alter non-living machines into new Transformers (as well as unrelated powers like slowing time and remote controlling other Cybertronians.) Although, outside of the toy biographies for certain characters, the All Spark in the movie merely creates non-sentient, animalistic life-forms out of ordinary machines, rather than fully developed Cybertronians. Suggesting that maybe, the Cybertronians 'evolved' over time. This is further hinted at by [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] when, whilst responding to [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]]'s comment about humans being primitive and violent, he responds; "Were we so different?"
{{-}}

== Resurrection ==
[[Image:Pmoptimusprimedeath.jpg|left|180px|thumb|Don't worry kids, he gets better. Again.]]
Though not quite the same as reproduction, a copy of the mind or essence of a previously living Transformer may be introduced into a new body and, through some vague process, return that Transformer to life. This occurs when [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] creates the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] in the ''Generation 1'' cartoon, and in the comic when Prime uses copies of the minds of existing Cybertronians to create the second-series Autobot cars on [[Earth]]. Another example from the comic occurs when Optimus Prime himself is returned to life merely by inputting a human's [[floppy disk]] copy of his mind into a new body.

A variation on this theme is [[Unicron]]'s ability to create new Robotic life. In the cartoon continuity, Unicron rebuilds [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] into [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], though it is unclear if these are the same being. Less ambiguous is the creation of [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and the [[Sweeps]] from the apparently dead remains of [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]]. In Marvel comic book continuity, Unicron exhibits a similar ability, fashioning three servants named [[Hook, Line, and Sinker]] from the remains of non-Cybertronian robots attempting to flee him. Some fans have speculated that the creation of the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]] by super-genius [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] was aided in some fashion by Unicron's presence.

In his ending to the ''[[Beast Wars: Transmetals]]'' video game, [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] uses "a prototype cloning device, based on transreplication technology" to clone the deactivated ''Generation 1'' Decepticons on the ''Ark'' into new protoform bodies, thus reviving them without altering the timeline (and erasing himself) by effectively doubling each robot.

This is included as a means of reproduction because it seems likely from the dialogue that the Autobot cars created via copied minds by Prime on Earth still existed on Cybertron when he left, meaning that if they survived the intermediate 4 million years, two of each of these individuals now exist.

In the [[Unicron Trilogy]] story "[[Linkage (comic)|Linkage]]", [[Redline]] and [[Falcia]] combine energy from their [[Spark frame|spark frames]] in order to create a new body for the mind/soul of [[Twirl]] to inhabit after her [[Mini-Con storage panel]] is destroyed in battle. This leads to an interesting relationship between Twirl and Falcia. (See "Familial relationships", below.)

== Budding ==
[[Image:G2issue5-PowerandtheGlory-BuddingSteps.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Budding doesn't look like much fun at ALL. It looks like Aliens versus Predator all over again.]]
The [[Generation 2 (Marvel Comics)|''Transformers: Generation 2'' comic]] introduced the concept of asexual "budding". Bubbles and lesions of apparently liquid metal form on a robot's chest, accompanied by energy discharge. The process grows more intense, until a large mass of liquid metal bursts free from the chest and slowly forms into a [[protoform]]-like blank figure, and then solidifies into a full Transformer. Illustrations suggest that this is something of a communal event, with others surrounding the budding robot in a circle.

[[Image:TNA.gif|left|150px|thumb|With the right early screening, even pegwarming might some day be preventable.]]
It was revealed that (in the Marvel continuity at least) early Transformers reproduced this way until they reached the population level Primus desired. At this turning point, the practice stopped and all memory of it was erased. When the [[Cybertronian Empire]] (possibly under influence of the [[Liege Maximo]]) rediscovered and revived the process sometime during the 4 million years after the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'''s loss, the successive generations of robots produced were increasingly less sentient and emotional (as Primus's lifeforce was apparently spread thinner and thinner between them), and the lifeform called the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]] was created as a byproduct.

It is established here that Transformers do have genetic material (the Transformer equivalent of DNA) within their cellular structures. (Yes, they also apparently have cellular structures—who knew?) This genetic material is passed down from "parent" to "child" through budding. Its make-up is seen in the picture at left. (Apparently, its design is not taught in the Transformer equivalent of high school Biology, as Megatron does not recognize what he's looking at until Perceptor explains.) This genetic material and basic Transformer cellular structure is also passed to the Swarm. Later, in [[IDW continuity]], Transformer genetic material is given the designation [[CNA]], and it is what is altered by the malevolent Jhiaxus to create female Transformers.

The other notable fact is that Transformers who have undergone the budding process retain some sort of primal link to their offspring, thus even though they are galaxies apart, the ''Generation 1'' Decepticon [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] doubles over in pain when his descendant [[Mindset]] is destroyed, and the Liege Maximo says he would know if his descendant, Megatron, were to die.

== Sexual reproduction ==
[[Image:Tfreprod marvel28.jpg|left|150px|thumb|"Film the birth?"<br/> "No, got some great footage of the conception, though!"]]
Despite most continuities having male and female genders (gender being a mental and social classification, as opposed to "sexes", a physical distinction) and a definite, strong history of romance existing between these genders, there is little canonical evidence for Transformers reproducing sexually. (Though admittedly, there isn't a lot of direct evidence for [[Human|humans]] reproducing sexually in most Transformers media, which is, after all, aimed towards kids.)

In the ''Generation 1'' cartoon, the male Transformer - [[female Transformer]] romance could perhaps be explained as an artifact of [[Quintesson]] mental programming very closely echoing the organic life forms the Transformers were built to serve.

On only two occasions in Generation 1 do we get a hint of male and female Transformer romance leading to the formation of family units and the creation of offspring. The first is subtle: [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]]'s backstory in some versions mentions his crashing on Quintessa with his parents. The second is more explicit: At the end of the Japanese [[Victory (manga)|''Victory'' manga]], we find out that [[Deathsaurus]] and his forces have been fighting all this time for the sake of their/the families living on top of the [[Planet-Destroying Fortress]], among which the [[Dinoforce]]'s [[Baby Dinoforce|children]]. Awww.

Apart from this, the best case for sexual reproduction in the species could probably be made from ''[[Beast Wars (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', where [[Rattrap]] makes numerous off-color remarks throughout the series, especially directed at [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] and [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]. These comments strongly hint at something sex-like among Transformers, though it could, of course, be merely recreational rather than reproductive.

[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] and [[Tigatron]]'s fusion into [[Tigerhawk]] during ''Beast Wars'' could perhaps be seen as an example of sex-like reproduction (i.e., two beings coming together and creating a new being that is a recombination of their components). It could also just be glossed as an extension of the usual Combiner-team type merger.

It is unknown what effect the ''[[Beast Machines (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' [[reformatting]] of Transformers into [[technorganic]] beings, which are equal parts organic life and mechanical structure down to a cellular level, has on their reproductive options. It is conceivable but unexplored whether this new form of Transformer life could reproduce sexually.

During a dream-like vision, Blackarachnia and Silverbolt meet in an ethereal state, and the two appear to "merge" their sparks, which may be as close to sexual intercourse as Transformers get, perhaps a more spiritual act than physical.

[[Image:Sariprime.jpg|right|120px|thumb|At that moment, Optimus realizes that there are some questions best left unanswered.]]

The [[Transformers (2007)|2007 motion picture]] once again brings up questions about the possibility of a less-than-mechanical form of reproduction. The first and most obvious of these implications comes from [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet's]] less-than-tactful observation of "the [[Sam Witwicky|boy]] want[ing] to mate with the [[Mikaela Banes|female]]." Although his grasp of the concept could stem merely from a familiarity with organic species in general. [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime's]] mention of [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] killing their father, in some related material, does suggest Transformers have some understanding of family units.

In the ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'' continuity, it seems clear that Transformers do not reproduce sexually. [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] appears stunned when [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] tells him where human babies come from, and later brings up the inconsistency when Sari's own origins are revealed.

On the flip-side, in IDW continuity, female Transformers are specifically created by [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]. By altering fundamental [[CNA]], Jhiaxus introduced gender to the species from a malevolent curiosity about what would happen. The depth of the change in this case is unknown; is it limited to appearance and mentality or does it go deeper? If he was truly trying to see how females would affect the evolution of the species it is possible Arcee was created with the capability for some analog of sexual reproduction in mind, but given his abandonment of the experiment and Arcee's resultant unbalanced mental state it seems unlikely the depth of the change will be explored.
{{-}}

== Familial relationships ==
[[Image:PrimeDirective4 Cover SunstreakerSideswipe.jpg|left|150px|thumb|The Doublemint Twins they're not.]]
One confusing aspect of this apparent lack of sexual reproduction is the canonical use of genealogical terminology to describe certain relationships. The most common of these is when two Transformers regard each other as siblings: "brothers" (e.g. ''Generation 1's'' [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] or ''Robots In Disguise'''s [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (RID)|Ultra Magnus]]) or "sisters" ([[Roulette]] and [[Shadow Striker]]).

Again, the Dreamwave ''More than Meets the Eye'' guide provides a partial possible answer. According to the guide, when a spark naturally splits as it's being introduced to a protoform, it creates two robots who are "brothers", such as Sideswipe and Sunstreaker. When such a spark division is artificially induced, the pair created are referred to as "[[Cloning|clones]]". (This definition of "brother" may or may not apply to RID Prime and Magnus, whose brotherhood was said to result from the special circumstance of having been created simultaneously by Alpha Trion).

However, the "[[Beast Era|Beast era]]" widened the issue of reproduction with Rattrap referring to his "great-aunt" [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] and in general the practice of Maximals and Predacons referring to the Autobots and Decepticons as their respective "ancestors", as well as themselves as being their "descendants", implying a direct genetic (for want of a better term) lineage. Various sources of debatable canonicity suggest that [[Optimus Primal]] is specifically descended from [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], usually through the phrase "[his] ancestor Optimus Prime".

In the absence of sexual reproduction, the use and meaning of these genealogical references is difficult to explain. One possible explanation might be a situation such as when [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] is brought to life in ''Beast Wars''. Her [[spark]] and [[protoform]] are heavily damaged, and [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] allows some of his parts to be used as replacements while [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] guides the procedure. To compare to humans, this is something like assisting with childbirth and donating blood or organs. It is unlikely that this happened enough to cause "descendants" as they are described, however. The term may also be used in an ideological sense or even a technological sense, much as the CD or MP3 player is, in a way, a "descendant" of the gramophone.

Other family designations exist as well. [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] has "parents" that were lost in his crash on [[Quintessa]], according to some background material. The aforementioned Mini-Con Twirl very specifically calls Falcia her "mother" (which Falcia ''hates'') and seems to treat Redline like a father, since the two's spark frame energies went into constructing her physical form. In the ''Armada'' cartoon, [[Side Swipe (Armada)|Side Swipe]] refers to [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] as his brother after Hot Shot saves his life, suggesting at least an understanding of the concept; on the other hand, the ''Armada'' cartoon is originally Japanese, and in Japan, 'brother' and 'sister' can be used as terms of affection or respect to an unrelated person. The [[Unicron Trilogy]] universe has also used the term "cousin" for certain Transformers on occasion. The Japanese Generation 1 ''Victory'' manga features Decepticon wives and children. Even the live-action movie features an Optimus and Megatron who are brothers, and it is mentioned in the related Nintendo DS game that Megatron "took the spark" of their father.

'''''See also:''' [[Relatives]]''

== Toys ==
[[Image:Classics cosmos concept.gif|right|250px|thumb|Echography of a sadly aborted Transformer.... Yes, those things happen.]]
In the real-life continuity, when two toy manufacturing companies love each other very much, [[Hasbro|one of them]] may start shooting Transformer design propositions to the [[TakaraTomy|other one]]. There, during several months of gestation, engineers will work on those designs, which will be developed into functional and manufacturable Transformers. Once the Transformer is ready to be produced, its design will be sent to marketing and ultimately to the chain manufacturer for the delivery. Voilà! A new Transformer is born!
{{-}}

==Footnotes==
<references />

[[Category:Biology]]
[[Category:Transformer culture]]