MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Transformer

2008-01-19T19:52:32Z

81.242.210.248: /* Origin */

[[Image:Bumblebeeg1.jpg|right|thumb|300px|[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], a Transformer, transforming. Savvy?]]

'''The Transformers''' are a species of [[wikipedia:sentience|sentient]], living robotic beings (mostly) originating from the distant machine world of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. The stories of their lives, their histories, and most especially their wars have been chronicled across many different [[Continuity|Continuities]] in the vast [[Multiverse]].

The designation "Transformer" stems from the species' generally-shared ability to [[Transformation|"transform,"]], to change their bodies at will, rearranging their component parts from a robotic primary mode (usually, but not always, humanoid) into an alternate form; generally vehicles, weapons, machinery, or animals. In some continuities this ability to transform is innate to all members of the species, in others it was a wartime innovation that was adopted by most, but not all, of the populance.

Although "Transformer" is the most common term for these beings there are others, mainly "'''Cybertron'''" as a reference to ''any'' being whose origin traces back to the planet in question (the adjective form being the more frequently used "'''Cybertronian'''").
{{quote|Many millions of years ago, on the planet Cybertron, there existed life. But not life as we know it today. Intelligent robots that could think and feel inhabited the cities.|[[Victor Caroli|A voice]] from beyond|"[[More Than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]"}}

==Origin==

{{quote|They '''were''' the dream--mechanical beings able to transform their bodies into vehicles, machinery and weapons; a last line of defense against the chaos bringer, '''Unicron'''! They '''are''' at war, heroic '''Autobot''' pitted against evil '''Decepticon''', both on their homeworld, the metal planet called '''Cybertron''', and here on our '''Earth'''. They '''are''' the galaxy's last hope, they '''are'''-- '''''TRANSFORMERS'''''|[[Generation 1 (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' comic]] introductory blurb}}

The origin of the Transformers species differs according to continuity, and not all continuities have given the race a specific stated origin at all, but, of those that exist, the most prominent are:

* '''[[Atechnogenesis]]''' — Spontaneous evolution from "naturally occurring gears and pulleys" on Cybertron's surface. This rather questionable origin was given in the first [[Marvel Comics|Marvel Comic]] issue and then was promptly (and thankfully) ignored.

* '''[[Quintesson|Quintesson made]]''' — Created as consumer goods and military hardware by the alien Quintessons. This was the origin given for the Transformers in the original Generation 1 cartoon. Although well known because of the cartoon's prominence, it has been given relatively little attention in subsequent media. According to some [[Al-Badur|sources]], it may be just another Quintesson trick.

* '''[[Primus|Primus created]]''' — Created by the god-like "Lord of the Light" Primus to carry on his age old battle with the "dark god" [[Unicron]]. This origin sprang from [[Simon Furman]]'s United Kingdom comics and then carried back to the later American Marvel books. It is also the origin that has been embraced and adopted by pretty much every ''Transformers'' work/continuity since then. A [[retcon]] created by the ''Transformers [[Universe]]'' and [[Fun Publications]] ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' comics and related fiction has unilaterally applied the Primus and Unicron backstory to all Transformers continuities in the Multiverse, past and future. How this works in light of the original cartoon's Quintesson backstory has not been explained ([[3H]] attempted to do so, however).

[[Image:CybertronFossil.jpg|thumb|150px|I ''was'' Batman.]]
* '''Biomechanical evolution''' — This theory, alluded to by [[Nightbeat]], is that the Transformers perhaps evolved/upgraded (with or without external help) from biological beings to mechanical ones, in a similar manner to the transition seen on [[Gorlam Prime]]. (This is idle speculation on Nightbeat's part, but is known fact when dealing with [[Tonka GoBots|certain robotic lifeforms]] from a different universe.) And a discovery made during ''[[Beast Machines (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' supports this theory, as it was revealed that in the distant past, Cybertron wasn't always a mechanical planet and even hosted biological lifeforms. Indeed, deep in its soil can be found ancient fossils of creatures which, if not of [[Earth|Earthly]] origin, are startlingly similar to known Earthly life forms. The significance of this similarity is still open to speculation. Finally, recent source confirm that [[Generation_1_cartoon_timeline_%28Japan%29#12.2C000.2C000.2C000_years_ago|12,000,000,000 years ago]] Cybetron was a verdant planet, at least in some continuities.

* '''[[All Spark (Movie)|Cube creationism]]''' — This origin, the newest, is seen in the Transformers 2007 movie and Transformers Animated. According to it, a large (but shrinkable) cube gave birth to the Transformers. It is not known by any of the transformers who created it (A possible story thread for the Quintessons?).

==Biology==

===Physical construction===
[[Image:Spark.gif|left|100px|thumb|Sparks retail for $29.95 at [http://www.sharperimage.com/ Sharper Image]]]

Traditionally, Transformers are living, sentient, emotional, and fully-mechanical beings. Many continuities portray Transformer "life" as being granted by a soul-like [[spark]] residing within their mechanical frames.

The [[Generation 2]] comic books established that Transformers possess both "genetic material" (useful when [[Reproduction|"budding"]]) and a distinct cellular structure, assumably both of a somehow mechanical nature.
[[Image:G1Bw.gif|right|250px|thumb|Original, or extra-fleshy.]]
By the [[Beast Era]] of the [[Generation 1]] [[continuity family]] synthetic flesh had become increasingly incorporated into their construction, often to aid in disguise or survival on worlds inhabited by organic lifeforms. (A version of this technology had been introduced earlier with [[Pretender]] Transformers, though in that instance the synthetic flesh was a removable outer "shell").

In the era of ''[[Beast Machines]]'', events lead to true organics being infused into Transformers biology down to the cellular level, making them "[[technorganic]]" with an increased range of powers resulting. (The "[[ParasiTech]]" technology introduced in the Generation-1-based [[Kiss-Player]] series seems to have an organic component to it as well.)

Being mechanical creatures, Transformers possess a number of distinct mechanical parts that make up their anatomy. For a list see: [[:Category:Transformer_anatomy|Transformers Anatomy]].

Transformers are also known to be suffer from the following diseases:[[:Category:Diseases|Transformers Diseases]].

First generation Transformers shared the same computational matrix as [[Vector Sigma]] making their power source compatible with the mega computer. Such Transformers are thus capable of reactivating the sleeping computer intelligence. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1}}

===Size===

[[Image:BigSmall.gif|thumb|130px|left|Unicron is quite big, Browning is quite small. The contrast scares this poor little boy something mighty.]] Transformers are ''generally'' large in comparison to Earth lifeforms, (two or three times the height of a human seems to be about average, though depictions vary wildly even for the same character), but a Transformer can be much, much smaller or much, much larger. There are some small enough to fit in a human's palm (see [[Browning]] and the [[Real Gear Robots]]). While the [[Micromaster]]s and [[Mini-Con]]s are two groups whose size range is within normal human standards at a time when most Transformers are larger, human-sized appears to be the norm for Transformers altogether in the Beast Era.

The upper range of size can be a good deal larger, if you include planet-formers like [[Unicron]] and [[Primus]] or even the colossal city-bots [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] or [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] (the latter's gigantism depending on the continuity). In the ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' series, the planet [[Gigantion]] is populated by both extremes: robots who tower over "normal"-sized Transformers, aided by their tiny Mini-Con partners.
====See also====
* '''[[Scale]]'''

===Variance in form===

[[Image:Ravageboxart.jpg|right|thumb|100px|A classic example of a non-humanoid Transformer]]
While many Transformers possess a "humanoid" form with two arms, two legs and a head atop their torso, it is not uncommon at all for there to be extensive variations. Some Transformers do not have a "humanoid" mode at all, rather their "primary" form is that of an animal or vehicle. [[Generation 1]]'s [[Ravage]], [[Grand Slam]] and [[Raindance]], for example, or the ''Beast Wars'' [[Mutant (BW)|Mutants]].

[[Image:Scorponok-Annual.jpg|thumb|100px|left|Unconventional limbs make Scorponok a slow typist.]]

Some have unconventional limbs, their hands (or whole arm) replaced with tools, claws, weapons, or some other form of manipulator (like a beast-mode's head!). Some Transformers' lower bodies feature digitigrade legs, or wheels/treads instead of feet, or no discernible separate legs at all. Some even have more (or less!) than the normal number of limbs altogether. This design style became much more common in the Beast Era (''Beast Wars'' [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] and ''Beast Machines'' [[Thrust]], for example), and is also common among the Mini-Cons, but Generation 1 is not without its examples (like [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], and [[Octus]]).

[[Image:MCA-ElitaOne.jpg|thumb|right|50px|Elita 1 - Boys 0]]

Transformers' faces also run the gamut of design, from looking like a metal human in a helmet, to faces that can only be described as robotic (again, like Generation 1 Shockwave, whose face consists of little more than a single glowing eye) or animalistic (again, the Beast Era). The Mini-Cons are also notable for more commonly having non-humanoid faces.

The existence and appearance of [[Female Transformers]] in most continuities seem to suggest a level of "sexual" dimorphism to the species as well (the term sexual is used in a gender-based, rather than physical sense, see [[Reproduction]] for that whole kettle of robo-fish). In almost all cases female Transformers are portrayed as more graceful of form and more rounded and curved in general, often with a more than passing resemblance to an attractive metal human female wearing armor and kibble. There are rare exceptions to this rule (notably [[Strika]] and [[Discharge]], though the latter is said to be wearing armor that obscures her true appearance.)

{{-}}

===Energy===

[[Image:EnergonCubesCartoon1.jpg |left|100px|thumb|Energon - the food, drink, and primary currency of Cybertron. (It's like if chocolate coins had a valid exchange rate...)]]

Unlike humans who need air and water as well as food, generally the Transformer's only major biological need to assure their continued functioning is fuel (though again, even this can vary depending on the fiction).

[[Energon]] is the most common and preferred form of Transformer fuel, but other alternatives may be substituted if it is unavailable.

In the Marvel Comics Earth fuel needed to be treated with a special additive (invented by [[Sparkplug Witwicky]]) to be made usable by Transformer life. In the Cartoon, on the other hand, human energy sources were converted into energon simply by being condensed inside Energon Cubes.

In the original cartoon the [[Insecticons]] alone among Transformers seemed to be able to fuel themselves by ingesting organic matter, but by the Beast Era, the abillity to ingest organic substances to supplement their fuel needs seems more comonplace.

The [[Action Master]] line introduced a new type of Transformer fuel called [[Nucleon]] which was extremely powerful but prone to unpredictable and destructive side-effects.

There are also even further examples of fuel, including [[Solitarium]] from the Japanese-exclusive [[Robot Masters]] line of toys/FMV produced by Takara, and the kisses of little girls in [[Kiss Players]].

===New bodies===

It is not uncommon at all for a single Transformer to change body form many times across their life-span. The ease of which they can do so depends on the continuity's technology level. In some, changing bodies requires an extensive full-body rebuild and tends to be resource draining and even dangerous. Sometimes, however, all it takes it to transplant their brain or personality program into a compatible new body. Other times, the existing body itself will be "reformatted" on the spot using a scan of a local compatible alt-mode (this is most prevalent during the [[Unicron Trilogy]] AND [[Movie (franchise)|Movie]] material).

While not entirely 'new bodies' themselves, the [[Transmetal]] bodies - caused by exposure to a [[Transwarp]] quantum surge - somehow 'mutated' the bodies of Transformers in the Beast Era. How this was done on-the-fly with no harm to the Transformer is unknown.

====See also====
For more information on Transformer biology see:

* '''[[Life cycle]]'''

* '''[[Reproduction]]'''

==Culture==
[[Image:WOTF_Emotion.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Transformers are [[Orion Pax|lovable]] [[Ariel|couples]], [[Beachcomber (G1)|peaceful creatures]], or [[Galvatron (G1)|omnicidal maniacs]].]]

Regardless of continuity, the most distinctive facet of Transformers society has been its near-continuous state of [[Cybertronian Civil Wars|planetary Civil War]]. The two major factions in these wars are the [[Autobot]]s and the [[Decepticon]]s. The conflict is mostly defined by what each faction believes is the "destiny" of the Transformers: the Autobots believe in a peaceful society where Cybertron is a place of culture and justice, while the Decepticons believe in a "might makes right" philosophy where Cybertron would be the center of a [[Decepticon Empire|mighty empire]]. The fact that the vast majority of what we know about Transformers has been shaped by this constant, corrosive warfare should not be overlooked. What a theoretical Transformer society would be like in peacetime is mostly unknown, glimpsed mainly during its disintegration into war or via brief flashbacks and asides. That said, there are some things we do know.

===Sociology===
The Cybertronian society of wartime is portrayed as heavily polarized between Autobot and Decepticon. When there are neutrals they generally fare poorly, becoming victims of Decepticon abuse and destruction.

What little we know of the society before the war suggests it was stratified economically between "haves" (like the aristocratic [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]) and [[Empties|have-nots]]. Other facets of society were similarly Earth-like with [[Needlenose|fads and fashions]], [[Chromedome|schools]] and [[Crankcase|lousy jobs]], [[Rook (Universe)|news]] [[Slamdance|media]] and so on.

===Politics===
{{main|Transformer government}}
In many continuities Transformers seem to prefer a non-democratic autocratic government centered around a single powerful hero-leader called a [[Prime (rank)|Prime]], who serves as both Head of State and Commander-in-Chief (sometimes referred to as [[Supreme Commander]]). In the Generation 1 cartoon continuity the Autobots determine this leadership by possession of the Autobot [[Matrix of Leadership]] which is passed from each leader to his chosen successor. The Decepticons however bow only to the supremacy of the most powerful.

In contrast, it should be noted that in the Marvel comic continuity possession of the Matrix does not denote political leadership as it was more of a religious icon. Here instead, Cybertron appears to have traditionally been governed by a [[Council of Autobot Elders|group of elders]], [[Emirates]] and a [[Senate]] (how Senators and Emirates are chosen is unrevealed), all overseen by a Caesar-like [[Overlord (Autobot)|Overlord]]. The last of the Overlords passed away as the Great War was just beginning and the remaining government powers foundered for years before finally turning political authority and military leadership over to [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]].

===Interaction with other races===
The Civil Wars have resulted in the factions adopting radically different views of how to interact with other races. The Autobots, in the words of Optimus Prime, believe that "freedom is the right of all sentient beings", where as the Decepticons view other races, particularly organic lifeforms, as little more than slave labor or target practice. When arriving on a planet, the Autobots will usually attempt to contact the native species and warn them of the Decepticon threat, but sometimes they will remain hidden or outright discourage other lifeforms from participating, usually in an effort to better protect them. The Decepticons often make overt attacks on native species, but there are occasions when stealth has been a priority.

However, one unique method of interacting with other races is [[binary bonding]], a process where an organic lifeform will enter into a symbiotic relationship with a Transformer. Such lifeforms will serve as their [[Headmaster|head]]s, [[Targetmaster|weapon]]s, and, in rare cases, their [[Powermaster|powercore]]s. This process has met with mixed results, as it places the Transformer at a dependent situation in the relationship.

===The Arts===
The Transformers have been shown to have a very active [[Transformer music|musical tradition]]. The [[Matrix]] itself has an archive of 11 million traditional Cybertronian songs. Many Transformers such as [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and Blaster have shown great interest in music and [[Squawkbox]] is one prominent example of a Cybertronian musician.

Furthermore, sculpture seems to be one of the primary art forms of Cybertron, with many Transformers dedicated to it. One notable (and gruesome) school of sculpture, practiced by a startling number of Transformers involves makin art out of the bodies of other Transformers. The [[Slogism]] movement is a part of this school.

Before the war Cybertron also featured many marvels of architecture. See: [[Crystal City]]

===See also===
For more information on Transformer culture see:

*'''[[Cybertron Civil Wars]]'''

*'''[[Religion]]'''

==Toys==
The Transformers were introduced by [[Hasbro]] in 1984 with the toyline now known as [[Generation 1]] and have gone through numerous incarnations since, with the latest being the new animated series on Cartoon Network.

[[Category:Transformers| ]]
[[Category:Primus]]
[[Category: Transformer culture]]
[[Category: Biology]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Transformer

2008-01-19T19:52:06Z

81.242.210.248: /* Origin */ deplacing a wrong placed line.

[[Image:Bumblebeeg1.jpg|right|thumb|300px|[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], a Transformer, transforming. Savvy?]]

'''The Transformers''' are a species of [[wikipedia:sentience|sentient]], living robotic beings (mostly) originating from the distant machine world of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. The stories of their lives, their histories, and most especially their wars have been chronicled across many different [[Continuity|Continuities]] in the vast [[Multiverse]].

The designation "Transformer" stems from the species' generally-shared ability to [[Transformation|"transform,"]], to change their bodies at will, rearranging their component parts from a robotic primary mode (usually, but not always, humanoid) into an alternate form; generally vehicles, weapons, machinery, or animals. In some continuities this ability to transform is innate to all members of the species, in others it was a wartime innovation that was adopted by most, but not all, of the populance.

Although "Transformer" is the most common term for these beings there are others, mainly "'''Cybertron'''" as a reference to ''any'' being whose origin traces back to the planet in question (the adjective form being the more frequently used "'''Cybertronian'''").
{{quote|Many millions of years ago, on the planet Cybertron, there existed life. But not life as we know it today. Intelligent robots that could think and feel inhabited the cities.|[[Victor Caroli|A voice]] from beyond|"[[More Than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]"}}

==Origin==

{{quote|They '''were''' the dream--mechanical beings able to transform their bodies into vehicles, machinery and weapons; a last line of defense against the chaos bringer, '''Unicron'''! They '''are''' at war, heroic '''Autobot''' pitted against evil '''Decepticon''', both on their homeworld, the metal planet called '''Cybertron''', and here on our '''Earth'''. They '''are''' the galaxy's last hope, they '''are'''-- '''''TRANSFORMERS'''''|[[Generation 1 (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' comic]] introductory blurb}}

The origin of the Transformers species differs according to continuity, and not all continuities have given the race a specific stated origin at all, but, of those that exist, the most prominent are:

* '''[[Atechnogenesis]]''' — Spontaneous evolution from "naturally occurring gears and pulleys" on Cybertron's surface. This rather questionable origin was given in the first [[Marvel Comics|Marvel Comic]] issue and then was promptly (and thankfully) ignored.

* '''[[Quintesson|Quintesson made]]''' — Created as consumer goods and military hardware by the alien Quintessons. This was the origin given for the Transformers in the original Generation 1 cartoon. Although well known because of the cartoon's prominence, it has been given relatively little attention in subsequent media. According to some [[Al-Badur|sources]], it may be just another Quintesson trick.

* '''[[Primus|Primus created]]''' — Created by the god-like "Lord of the Light" Primus to carry on his age old battle with the "dark god" [[Unicron]]. This origin sprang from [[Simon Furman]]'s United Kingdom comics and then carried back to the later American Marvel books. It is also the origin that has been embraced and adopted by pretty much every ''Transformers'' work/continuity since then. A [[retcon]] created by the ''Transformers [[Universe]]'' and [[Fun Publications]] ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' comics and related fiction has unilaterally applied the Primus and Unicron backstory to all Transformers continuities in the Multiverse, past and future. How this works in light of the original cartoon's Quintesson backstory has not been explained ([[3H]] attempted to do so, however).

[[Image:CybertronFossil.jpg|thumb|150px|I ''was'' Batman.]]
* '''Biomechanical evolution''' — This theory, alluded to by [[Nightbeat]], is that the Transformers perhaps evolved/upgraded (with or without external help) from biological beings to mechanical ones, in a similar manner to the transition seen on [[Gorlam Prime]]. (This is idle speculation on Nightbeat's part, but is known fact when dealing with [[Tonka GoBots|certain robotic lifeforms]] from a different universe.) And A discovery made during ''[[Beast Machines (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' supports this theory, as it was revealed that in the distant past, Cybertron wasn't always a mechanical planet and even hosted biological lifeforms. Indeed, deep in its soil can be found ancient fossils of creatures which, if not of [[Earth|Earthly]] origin, are startlingly similar to known Earthly life forms. The significance of this similarity is still open to speculation. Finally, recent source confirm that [[Generation_1_cartoon_timeline_%28Japan%29#12.2C000.2C000.2C000_years_ago|12,000,000,000 years ago]] Cybetron was a verdant planet, at least in some continuities.

* '''[[All Spark (Movie)|Cube creationism]]''' — This origin, the newest, is seen in the Transformers 2007 movie and Transformers Animated. According to it, a large (but shrinkable) cube gave birth to the Transformers. It is not known by any of the transformers who created it (A possible story thread for the Quintessons?).

==Biology==

===Physical construction===
[[Image:Spark.gif|left|100px|thumb|Sparks retail for $29.95 at [http://www.sharperimage.com/ Sharper Image]]]

Traditionally, Transformers are living, sentient, emotional, and fully-mechanical beings. Many continuities portray Transformer "life" as being granted by a soul-like [[spark]] residing within their mechanical frames.

The [[Generation 2]] comic books established that Transformers possess both "genetic material" (useful when [[Reproduction|"budding"]]) and a distinct cellular structure, assumably both of a somehow mechanical nature.
[[Image:G1Bw.gif|right|250px|thumb|Original, or extra-fleshy.]]
By the [[Beast Era]] of the [[Generation 1]] [[continuity family]] synthetic flesh had become increasingly incorporated into their construction, often to aid in disguise or survival on worlds inhabited by organic lifeforms. (A version of this technology had been introduced earlier with [[Pretender]] Transformers, though in that instance the synthetic flesh was a removable outer "shell").

In the era of ''[[Beast Machines]]'', events lead to true organics being infused into Transformers biology down to the cellular level, making them "[[technorganic]]" with an increased range of powers resulting. (The "[[ParasiTech]]" technology introduced in the Generation-1-based [[Kiss-Player]] series seems to have an organic component to it as well.)

Being mechanical creatures, Transformers possess a number of distinct mechanical parts that make up their anatomy. For a list see: [[:Category:Transformer_anatomy|Transformers Anatomy]].

Transformers are also known to be suffer from the following diseases:[[:Category:Diseases|Transformers Diseases]].

First generation Transformers shared the same computational matrix as [[Vector Sigma]] making their power source compatible with the mega computer. Such Transformers are thus capable of reactivating the sleeping computer intelligence. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1}}

===Size===

[[Image:BigSmall.gif|thumb|130px|left|Unicron is quite big, Browning is quite small. The contrast scares this poor little boy something mighty.]] Transformers are ''generally'' large in comparison to Earth lifeforms, (two or three times the height of a human seems to be about average, though depictions vary wildly even for the same character), but a Transformer can be much, much smaller or much, much larger. There are some small enough to fit in a human's palm (see [[Browning]] and the [[Real Gear Robots]]). While the [[Micromaster]]s and [[Mini-Con]]s are two groups whose size range is within normal human standards at a time when most Transformers are larger, human-sized appears to be the norm for Transformers altogether in the Beast Era.

The upper range of size can be a good deal larger, if you include planet-formers like [[Unicron]] and [[Primus]] or even the colossal city-bots [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] or [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] (the latter's gigantism depending on the continuity). In the ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' series, the planet [[Gigantion]] is populated by both extremes: robots who tower over "normal"-sized Transformers, aided by their tiny Mini-Con partners.
====See also====
* '''[[Scale]]'''

===Variance in form===

[[Image:Ravageboxart.jpg|right|thumb|100px|A classic example of a non-humanoid Transformer]]
While many Transformers possess a "humanoid" form with two arms, two legs and a head atop their torso, it is not uncommon at all for there to be extensive variations. Some Transformers do not have a "humanoid" mode at all, rather their "primary" form is that of an animal or vehicle. [[Generation 1]]'s [[Ravage]], [[Grand Slam]] and [[Raindance]], for example, or the ''Beast Wars'' [[Mutant (BW)|Mutants]].

[[Image:Scorponok-Annual.jpg|thumb|100px|left|Unconventional limbs make Scorponok a slow typist.]]

Some have unconventional limbs, their hands (or whole arm) replaced with tools, claws, weapons, or some other form of manipulator (like a beast-mode's head!). Some Transformers' lower bodies feature digitigrade legs, or wheels/treads instead of feet, or no discernible separate legs at all. Some even have more (or less!) than the normal number of limbs altogether. This design style became much more common in the Beast Era (''Beast Wars'' [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] and ''Beast Machines'' [[Thrust]], for example), and is also common among the Mini-Cons, but Generation 1 is not without its examples (like [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], and [[Octus]]).

[[Image:MCA-ElitaOne.jpg|thumb|right|50px|Elita 1 - Boys 0]]

Transformers' faces also run the gamut of design, from looking like a metal human in a helmet, to faces that can only be described as robotic (again, like Generation 1 Shockwave, whose face consists of little more than a single glowing eye) or animalistic (again, the Beast Era). The Mini-Cons are also notable for more commonly having non-humanoid faces.

The existence and appearance of [[Female Transformers]] in most continuities seem to suggest a level of "sexual" dimorphism to the species as well (the term sexual is used in a gender-based, rather than physical sense, see [[Reproduction]] for that whole kettle of robo-fish). In almost all cases female Transformers are portrayed as more graceful of form and more rounded and curved in general, often with a more than passing resemblance to an attractive metal human female wearing armor and kibble. There are rare exceptions to this rule (notably [[Strika]] and [[Discharge]], though the latter is said to be wearing armor that obscures her true appearance.)

{{-}}

===Energy===

[[Image:EnergonCubesCartoon1.jpg |left|100px|thumb|Energon - the food, drink, and primary currency of Cybertron. (It's like if chocolate coins had a valid exchange rate...)]]

Unlike humans who need air and water as well as food, generally the Transformer's only major biological need to assure their continued functioning is fuel (though again, even this can vary depending on the fiction).

[[Energon]] is the most common and preferred form of Transformer fuel, but other alternatives may be substituted if it is unavailable.

In the Marvel Comics Earth fuel needed to be treated with a special additive (invented by [[Sparkplug Witwicky]]) to be made usable by Transformer life. In the Cartoon, on the other hand, human energy sources were converted into energon simply by being condensed inside Energon Cubes.

In the original cartoon the [[Insecticons]] alone among Transformers seemed to be able to fuel themselves by ingesting organic matter, but by the Beast Era, the abillity to ingest organic substances to supplement their fuel needs seems more comonplace.

The [[Action Master]] line introduced a new type of Transformer fuel called [[Nucleon]] which was extremely powerful but prone to unpredictable and destructive side-effects.

There are also even further examples of fuel, including [[Solitarium]] from the Japanese-exclusive [[Robot Masters]] line of toys/FMV produced by Takara, and the kisses of little girls in [[Kiss Players]].

===New bodies===

It is not uncommon at all for a single Transformer to change body form many times across their life-span. The ease of which they can do so depends on the continuity's technology level. In some, changing bodies requires an extensive full-body rebuild and tends to be resource draining and even dangerous. Sometimes, however, all it takes it to transplant their brain or personality program into a compatible new body. Other times, the existing body itself will be "reformatted" on the spot using a scan of a local compatible alt-mode (this is most prevalent during the [[Unicron Trilogy]] AND [[Movie (franchise)|Movie]] material).

While not entirely 'new bodies' themselves, the [[Transmetal]] bodies - caused by exposure to a [[Transwarp]] quantum surge - somehow 'mutated' the bodies of Transformers in the Beast Era. How this was done on-the-fly with no harm to the Transformer is unknown.

====See also====
For more information on Transformer biology see:

* '''[[Life cycle]]'''

* '''[[Reproduction]]'''

==Culture==
[[Image:WOTF_Emotion.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Transformers are [[Orion Pax|lovable]] [[Ariel|couples]], [[Beachcomber (G1)|peaceful creatures]], or [[Galvatron (G1)|omnicidal maniacs]].]]

Regardless of continuity, the most distinctive facet of Transformers society has been its near-continuous state of [[Cybertronian Civil Wars|planetary Civil War]]. The two major factions in these wars are the [[Autobot]]s and the [[Decepticon]]s. The conflict is mostly defined by what each faction believes is the "destiny" of the Transformers: the Autobots believe in a peaceful society where Cybertron is a place of culture and justice, while the Decepticons believe in a "might makes right" philosophy where Cybertron would be the center of a [[Decepticon Empire|mighty empire]]. The fact that the vast majority of what we know about Transformers has been shaped by this constant, corrosive warfare should not be overlooked. What a theoretical Transformer society would be like in peacetime is mostly unknown, glimpsed mainly during its disintegration into war or via brief flashbacks and asides. That said, there are some things we do know.

===Sociology===
The Cybertronian society of wartime is portrayed as heavily polarized between Autobot and Decepticon. When there are neutrals they generally fare poorly, becoming victims of Decepticon abuse and destruction.

What little we know of the society before the war suggests it was stratified economically between "haves" (like the aristocratic [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]) and [[Empties|have-nots]]. Other facets of society were similarly Earth-like with [[Needlenose|fads and fashions]], [[Chromedome|schools]] and [[Crankcase|lousy jobs]], [[Rook (Universe)|news]] [[Slamdance|media]] and so on.

===Politics===
{{main|Transformer government}}
In many continuities Transformers seem to prefer a non-democratic autocratic government centered around a single powerful hero-leader called a [[Prime (rank)|Prime]], who serves as both Head of State and Commander-in-Chief (sometimes referred to as [[Supreme Commander]]). In the Generation 1 cartoon continuity the Autobots determine this leadership by possession of the Autobot [[Matrix of Leadership]] which is passed from each leader to his chosen successor. The Decepticons however bow only to the supremacy of the most powerful.

In contrast, it should be noted that in the Marvel comic continuity possession of the Matrix does not denote political leadership as it was more of a religious icon. Here instead, Cybertron appears to have traditionally been governed by a [[Council of Autobot Elders|group of elders]], [[Emirates]] and a [[Senate]] (how Senators and Emirates are chosen is unrevealed), all overseen by a Caesar-like [[Overlord (Autobot)|Overlord]]. The last of the Overlords passed away as the Great War was just beginning and the remaining government powers foundered for years before finally turning political authority and military leadership over to [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]].

===Interaction with other races===
The Civil Wars have resulted in the factions adopting radically different views of how to interact with other races. The Autobots, in the words of Optimus Prime, believe that "freedom is the right of all sentient beings", where as the Decepticons view other races, particularly organic lifeforms, as little more than slave labor or target practice. When arriving on a planet, the Autobots will usually attempt to contact the native species and warn them of the Decepticon threat, but sometimes they will remain hidden or outright discourage other lifeforms from participating, usually in an effort to better protect them. The Decepticons often make overt attacks on native species, but there are occasions when stealth has been a priority.

However, one unique method of interacting with other races is [[binary bonding]], a process where an organic lifeform will enter into a symbiotic relationship with a Transformer. Such lifeforms will serve as their [[Headmaster|head]]s, [[Targetmaster|weapon]]s, and, in rare cases, their [[Powermaster|powercore]]s. This process has met with mixed results, as it places the Transformer at a dependent situation in the relationship.

===The Arts===
The Transformers have been shown to have a very active [[Transformer music|musical tradition]]. The [[Matrix]] itself has an archive of 11 million traditional Cybertronian songs. Many Transformers such as [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and Blaster have shown great interest in music and [[Squawkbox]] is one prominent example of a Cybertronian musician.

Furthermore, sculpture seems to be one of the primary art forms of Cybertron, with many Transformers dedicated to it. One notable (and gruesome) school of sculpture, practiced by a startling number of Transformers involves makin art out of the bodies of other Transformers. The [[Slogism]] movement is a part of this school.

Before the war Cybertron also featured many marvels of architecture. See: [[Crystal City]]

===See also===
For more information on Transformer culture see:

*'''[[Cybertron Civil Wars]]'''

*'''[[Religion]]'''

==Toys==
The Transformers were introduced by [[Hasbro]] in 1984 with the toyline now known as [[Generation 1]] and have gone through numerous incarnations since, with the latest being the new animated series on Cartoon Network.

[[Category:Transformers| ]]
[[Category:Primus]]
[[Category: Transformer culture]]
[[Category: Biology]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Transformer

2008-01-19T19:50:53Z

81.242.210.248: /* Origin */ It is clearly stated that Cybetron was boilogical at some point, long in the past. What ignored fact in BM contradict this? And there is no cross conflict as BW also happen in IDWverse

[[Image:Bumblebeeg1.jpg|right|thumb|300px|[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], a Transformer, transforming. Savvy?]]

'''The Transformers''' are a species of [[wikipedia:sentience|sentient]], living robotic beings (mostly) originating from the distant machine world of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. The stories of their lives, their histories, and most especially their wars have been chronicled across many different [[Continuity|Continuities]] in the vast [[Multiverse]].

The designation "Transformer" stems from the species' generally-shared ability to [[Transformation|"transform,"]], to change their bodies at will, rearranging their component parts from a robotic primary mode (usually, but not always, humanoid) into an alternate form; generally vehicles, weapons, machinery, or animals. In some continuities this ability to transform is innate to all members of the species, in others it was a wartime innovation that was adopted by most, but not all, of the populance.

Although "Transformer" is the most common term for these beings there are others, mainly "'''Cybertron'''" as a reference to ''any'' being whose origin traces back to the planet in question (the adjective form being the more frequently used "'''Cybertronian'''").
{{quote|Many millions of years ago, on the planet Cybertron, there existed life. But not life as we know it today. Intelligent robots that could think and feel inhabited the cities.|[[Victor Caroli|A voice]] from beyond|"[[More Than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]"}}

==Origin==

{{quote|They '''were''' the dream--mechanical beings able to transform their bodies into vehicles, machinery and weapons; a last line of defense against the chaos bringer, '''Unicron'''! They '''are''' at war, heroic '''Autobot''' pitted against evil '''Decepticon''', both on their homeworld, the metal planet called '''Cybertron''', and here on our '''Earth'''. They '''are''' the galaxy's last hope, they '''are'''-- '''''TRANSFORMERS'''''|[[Generation 1 (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' comic]] introductory blurb}}

The origin of the Transformers species differs according to continuity, and not all continuities have given the race a specific stated origin at all, but, of those that exist, the most prominent are:

* '''[[Atechnogenesis]]''' — Spontaneous evolution from "naturally occurring gears and pulleys" on Cybertron's surface. This rather questionable origin was given in the first [[Marvel Comics|Marvel Comic]] issue and then was promptly (and thankfully) ignored.

* '''[[Quintesson|Quintesson made]]''' — Created as consumer goods and military hardware by the alien Quintessons. This was the origin given for the Transformers in the original Generation 1 cartoon. Although well known because of the cartoon's prominence, it has been given relatively little attention in subsequent media. According to some [[Al-Badur|sources]], it may be just another Quintesson trick.

* '''[[Primus|Primus created]]''' — Created by the god-like "Lord of the Light" Primus to carry on his age old battle with the "dark god" [[Unicron]]. This origin sprang from [[Simon Furman]]'s United Kingdom comics and then carried back to the later American Marvel books. It is also the origin that has been embraced and adopted by pretty much every ''Transformers'' work/continuity since then. A [[retcon]] created by the ''Transformers [[Universe]]'' and [[Fun Publications]] ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' comics and related fiction has unilaterally applied the Primus and Unicron backstory to all Transformers continuities in the Multiverse, past and future. How this works in light of the original cartoon's Quintesson backstory has not been explained ([[3H]] attempted to do so, however). Finally, recent source confirm that [[Generation_1_cartoon_timeline_%28Japan%29#12.2C000.2C000.2C000_years_ago|12,000,000,000 years ago]] Cybetron was a verdant planet, at least in some continuities.

[[Image:CybertronFossil.jpg|thumb|150px|I ''was'' Batman.]]
* '''Biomechanical evolution''' — This theory, alluded to by [[Nightbeat]], is that the Transformers perhaps evolved/upgraded (with or without external help) from biological beings to mechanical ones, in a similar manner to the transition seen on [[Gorlam Prime]]. (This is idle speculation on Nightbeat's part, but is known fact when dealing with [[Tonka GoBots|certain robotic lifeforms]] from a different universe.) And A discovery made during ''[[Beast Machines (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' supports this theory, as it was revealed that in the distant past, Cybertron wasn't always a mechanical planet and even hosted biological lifeforms. Indeed, deep in its soil can be found ancient fossils of creatures which, if not of [[Earth|Earthly]] origin, are startlingly similar to known Earthly life forms. The significance of this similarity is still open to speculation.

* '''[[All Spark (Movie)|Cube creationism]]''' — This origin, the newest, is seen in the Transformers 2007 movie and Transformers Animated. According to it, a large (but shrinkable) cube gave birth to the Transformers. It is not known by any of the transformers who created it (A possible story thread for the Quintessons?).

==Biology==

===Physical construction===
[[Image:Spark.gif|left|100px|thumb|Sparks retail for $29.95 at [http://www.sharperimage.com/ Sharper Image]]]

Traditionally, Transformers are living, sentient, emotional, and fully-mechanical beings. Many continuities portray Transformer "life" as being granted by a soul-like [[spark]] residing within their mechanical frames.

The [[Generation 2]] comic books established that Transformers possess both "genetic material" (useful when [[Reproduction|"budding"]]) and a distinct cellular structure, assumably both of a somehow mechanical nature.
[[Image:G1Bw.gif|right|250px|thumb|Original, or extra-fleshy.]]
By the [[Beast Era]] of the [[Generation 1]] [[continuity family]] synthetic flesh had become increasingly incorporated into their construction, often to aid in disguise or survival on worlds inhabited by organic lifeforms. (A version of this technology had been introduced earlier with [[Pretender]] Transformers, though in that instance the synthetic flesh was a removable outer "shell").

In the era of ''[[Beast Machines]]'', events lead to true organics being infused into Transformers biology down to the cellular level, making them "[[technorganic]]" with an increased range of powers resulting. (The "[[ParasiTech]]" technology introduced in the Generation-1-based [[Kiss-Player]] series seems to have an organic component to it as well.)

Being mechanical creatures, Transformers possess a number of distinct mechanical parts that make up their anatomy. For a list see: [[:Category:Transformer_anatomy|Transformers Anatomy]].

Transformers are also known to be suffer from the following diseases:[[:Category:Diseases|Transformers Diseases]].

First generation Transformers shared the same computational matrix as [[Vector Sigma]] making their power source compatible with the mega computer. Such Transformers are thus capable of reactivating the sleeping computer intelligence. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1}}

===Size===

[[Image:BigSmall.gif|thumb|130px|left|Unicron is quite big, Browning is quite small. The contrast scares this poor little boy something mighty.]] Transformers are ''generally'' large in comparison to Earth lifeforms, (two or three times the height of a human seems to be about average, though depictions vary wildly even for the same character), but a Transformer can be much, much smaller or much, much larger. There are some small enough to fit in a human's palm (see [[Browning]] and the [[Real Gear Robots]]). While the [[Micromaster]]s and [[Mini-Con]]s are two groups whose size range is within normal human standards at a time when most Transformers are larger, human-sized appears to be the norm for Transformers altogether in the Beast Era.

The upper range of size can be a good deal larger, if you include planet-formers like [[Unicron]] and [[Primus]] or even the colossal city-bots [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] or [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] (the latter's gigantism depending on the continuity). In the ''[[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' series, the planet [[Gigantion]] is populated by both extremes: robots who tower over "normal"-sized Transformers, aided by their tiny Mini-Con partners.
====See also====
* '''[[Scale]]'''

===Variance in form===

[[Image:Ravageboxart.jpg|right|thumb|100px|A classic example of a non-humanoid Transformer]]
While many Transformers possess a "humanoid" form with two arms, two legs and a head atop their torso, it is not uncommon at all for there to be extensive variations. Some Transformers do not have a "humanoid" mode at all, rather their "primary" form is that of an animal or vehicle. [[Generation 1]]'s [[Ravage]], [[Grand Slam]] and [[Raindance]], for example, or the ''Beast Wars'' [[Mutant (BW)|Mutants]].

[[Image:Scorponok-Annual.jpg|thumb|100px|left|Unconventional limbs make Scorponok a slow typist.]]

Some have unconventional limbs, their hands (or whole arm) replaced with tools, claws, weapons, or some other form of manipulator (like a beast-mode's head!). Some Transformers' lower bodies feature digitigrade legs, or wheels/treads instead of feet, or no discernible separate legs at all. Some even have more (or less!) than the normal number of limbs altogether. This design style became much more common in the Beast Era (''Beast Wars'' [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] and ''Beast Machines'' [[Thrust]], for example), and is also common among the Mini-Cons, but Generation 1 is not without its examples (like [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], and [[Octus]]).

[[Image:MCA-ElitaOne.jpg|thumb|right|50px|Elita 1 - Boys 0]]

Transformers' faces also run the gamut of design, from looking like a metal human in a helmet, to faces that can only be described as robotic (again, like Generation 1 Shockwave, whose face consists of little more than a single glowing eye) or animalistic (again, the Beast Era). The Mini-Cons are also notable for more commonly having non-humanoid faces.

The existence and appearance of [[Female Transformers]] in most continuities seem to suggest a level of "sexual" dimorphism to the species as well (the term sexual is used in a gender-based, rather than physical sense, see [[Reproduction]] for that whole kettle of robo-fish). In almost all cases female Transformers are portrayed as more graceful of form and more rounded and curved in general, often with a more than passing resemblance to an attractive metal human female wearing armor and kibble. There are rare exceptions to this rule (notably [[Strika]] and [[Discharge]], though the latter is said to be wearing armor that obscures her true appearance.)

{{-}}

===Energy===

[[Image:EnergonCubesCartoon1.jpg |left|100px|thumb|Energon - the food, drink, and primary currency of Cybertron. (It's like if chocolate coins had a valid exchange rate...)]]

Unlike humans who need air and water as well as food, generally the Transformer's only major biological need to assure their continued functioning is fuel (though again, even this can vary depending on the fiction).

[[Energon]] is the most common and preferred form of Transformer fuel, but other alternatives may be substituted if it is unavailable.

In the Marvel Comics Earth fuel needed to be treated with a special additive (invented by [[Sparkplug Witwicky]]) to be made usable by Transformer life. In the Cartoon, on the other hand, human energy sources were converted into energon simply by being condensed inside Energon Cubes.

In the original cartoon the [[Insecticons]] alone among Transformers seemed to be able to fuel themselves by ingesting organic matter, but by the Beast Era, the abillity to ingest organic substances to supplement their fuel needs seems more comonplace.

The [[Action Master]] line introduced a new type of Transformer fuel called [[Nucleon]] which was extremely powerful but prone to unpredictable and destructive side-effects.

There are also even further examples of fuel, including [[Solitarium]] from the Japanese-exclusive [[Robot Masters]] line of toys/FMV produced by Takara, and the kisses of little girls in [[Kiss Players]].

===New bodies===

It is not uncommon at all for a single Transformer to change body form many times across their life-span. The ease of which they can do so depends on the continuity's technology level. In some, changing bodies requires an extensive full-body rebuild and tends to be resource draining and even dangerous. Sometimes, however, all it takes it to transplant their brain or personality program into a compatible new body. Other times, the existing body itself will be "reformatted" on the spot using a scan of a local compatible alt-mode (this is most prevalent during the [[Unicron Trilogy]] AND [[Movie (franchise)|Movie]] material).

While not entirely 'new bodies' themselves, the [[Transmetal]] bodies - caused by exposure to a [[Transwarp]] quantum surge - somehow 'mutated' the bodies of Transformers in the Beast Era. How this was done on-the-fly with no harm to the Transformer is unknown.

====See also====
For more information on Transformer biology see:

* '''[[Life cycle]]'''

* '''[[Reproduction]]'''

==Culture==
[[Image:WOTF_Emotion.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Transformers are [[Orion Pax|lovable]] [[Ariel|couples]], [[Beachcomber (G1)|peaceful creatures]], or [[Galvatron (G1)|omnicidal maniacs]].]]

Regardless of continuity, the most distinctive facet of Transformers society has been its near-continuous state of [[Cybertronian Civil Wars|planetary Civil War]]. The two major factions in these wars are the [[Autobot]]s and the [[Decepticon]]s. The conflict is mostly defined by what each faction believes is the "destiny" of the Transformers: the Autobots believe in a peaceful society where Cybertron is a place of culture and justice, while the Decepticons believe in a "might makes right" philosophy where Cybertron would be the center of a [[Decepticon Empire|mighty empire]]. The fact that the vast majority of what we know about Transformers has been shaped by this constant, corrosive warfare should not be overlooked. What a theoretical Transformer society would be like in peacetime is mostly unknown, glimpsed mainly during its disintegration into war or via brief flashbacks and asides. That said, there are some things we do know.

===Sociology===
The Cybertronian society of wartime is portrayed as heavily polarized between Autobot and Decepticon. When there are neutrals they generally fare poorly, becoming victims of Decepticon abuse and destruction.

What little we know of the society before the war suggests it was stratified economically between "haves" (like the aristocratic [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]) and [[Empties|have-nots]]. Other facets of society were similarly Earth-like with [[Needlenose|fads and fashions]], [[Chromedome|schools]] and [[Crankcase|lousy jobs]], [[Rook (Universe)|news]] [[Slamdance|media]] and so on.

===Politics===
{{main|Transformer government}}
In many continuities Transformers seem to prefer a non-democratic autocratic government centered around a single powerful hero-leader called a [[Prime (rank)|Prime]], who serves as both Head of State and Commander-in-Chief (sometimes referred to as [[Supreme Commander]]). In the Generation 1 cartoon continuity the Autobots determine this leadership by possession of the Autobot [[Matrix of Leadership]] which is passed from each leader to his chosen successor. The Decepticons however bow only to the supremacy of the most powerful.

In contrast, it should be noted that in the Marvel comic continuity possession of the Matrix does not denote political leadership as it was more of a religious icon. Here instead, Cybertron appears to have traditionally been governed by a [[Council of Autobot Elders|group of elders]], [[Emirates]] and a [[Senate]] (how Senators and Emirates are chosen is unrevealed), all overseen by a Caesar-like [[Overlord (Autobot)|Overlord]]. The last of the Overlords passed away as the Great War was just beginning and the remaining government powers foundered for years before finally turning political authority and military leadership over to [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]].

===Interaction with other races===
The Civil Wars have resulted in the factions adopting radically different views of how to interact with other races. The Autobots, in the words of Optimus Prime, believe that "freedom is the right of all sentient beings", where as the Decepticons view other races, particularly organic lifeforms, as little more than slave labor or target practice. When arriving on a planet, the Autobots will usually attempt to contact the native species and warn them of the Decepticon threat, but sometimes they will remain hidden or outright discourage other lifeforms from participating, usually in an effort to better protect them. The Decepticons often make overt attacks on native species, but there are occasions when stealth has been a priority.

However, one unique method of interacting with other races is [[binary bonding]], a process where an organic lifeform will enter into a symbiotic relationship with a Transformer. Such lifeforms will serve as their [[Headmaster|head]]s, [[Targetmaster|weapon]]s, and, in rare cases, their [[Powermaster|powercore]]s. This process has met with mixed results, as it places the Transformer at a dependent situation in the relationship.

===The Arts===
The Transformers have been shown to have a very active [[Transformer music|musical tradition]]. The [[Matrix]] itself has an archive of 11 million traditional Cybertronian songs. Many Transformers such as [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and Blaster have shown great interest in music and [[Squawkbox]] is one prominent example of a Cybertronian musician.

Furthermore, sculpture seems to be one of the primary art forms of Cybertron, with many Transformers dedicated to it. One notable (and gruesome) school of sculpture, practiced by a startling number of Transformers involves makin art out of the bodies of other Transformers. The [[Slogism]] movement is a part of this school.

Before the war Cybertron also featured many marvels of architecture. See: [[Crystal City]]

===See also===
For more information on Transformer culture see:

*'''[[Cybertron Civil Wars]]'''

*'''[[Religion]]'''

==Toys==
The Transformers were introduced by [[Hasbro]] in 1984 with the toyline now known as [[Generation 1]] and have gone through numerous incarnations since, with the latest being the new animated series on Cartoon Network.

[[Category:Transformers| ]]
[[Category:Primus]]
[[Category: Transformer culture]]
[[Category: Biology]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Nemesis Prime (G1)

2008-01-19T19:22:45Z

81.242.210.248: /* Binaltech */ make the change to avoid the repetition of the word "move"

{{disambig3|Nemesis Prime}}
{{disambig2|Binaltech Black Convoy|another Black Convoy from Car Robot franchise|Scourge (RID)}}

:''Nemesis Prime is a [[Decepticon]] in the [[Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:AltNemesisPrimeArt.jpg|thumb|right|300px|I AM [[Serpentor|SERPENTOR]], AND THIS, '''I COMMAND'''!]]

[[Dr. Arkeville]] spent years personally constructing '''Nemesis Prime''' piece by stolen piece, hiding his handiwork from both [[Concurrence]] agents and the Decepticons. Designed to be the ultimate military commander, he has arguably the mightiest [[Binaltech]] Transformer body ever constructed, with a life-force pulled from an amazingly powerful extra-spatial source.

{{note|1=This information was not included on Nemesis Prime's packaging, but was distributed online to promote the figure's availability at San Diego Comic-Con. It was later confirmed to be the work of [[Hasbro]] copywriter [[Forest Lee]], who indicated the "extra-spatial source" that Arkeville tapped into was actually a pocket dimension that serves as [[Unicron]]'s power battery—and that Unicron gave Arkeville exactly what he wanted, in the form of a [[Spark]] fragment from Unicron's [[Nemesis Prime (Universe)|own attempt at cloning an Optimus Prime]]. [http://www.bwtf.com/alternators/nemesis-prime/]}}

''Japanese name:'' '''Black Convoy'''

==Fiction==
===Binaltech===
Dr. Arkeville was creating a black Optimus clone to replace [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], and function as a new and better [[Decepticon]] leader, when he was interrupted. A glowing orb, a [[spark]], emerged from a mysterious time warp and used the black painted Optimus Binaltech body as a host. He repaired the time rifts caused by "Operation: [[Distant Thunder]]" and reported to the Autobots that their efforts to restore the original past had succeeded, '''but''' his efforts had preserved THIS timeline as well. Black Optimus was animated by a spark sent back in time from the distant future by one known as the [[Protector]], a future hero of their newly created dimension, who said the Binaltech timeline had to be preserved as it would lead to the creation of a great force for good in the whole multiverse, something known as the [[Alternity]].

But then the black Optimus rejected the unnamed spark within him and returned to Dr. Archeville under AI control. There the doctor finished connecting him to an ancient and evil life force.

What he did to Dr Arkeville after that is unknown, but soon after being activated, Nemesis Prime began to make his move, and the confrontation between him and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] inevitably happened. But insult exchange was the only thing that occurred for [[mirage (G1)|Mirage]] had accomplished [[Large_switch|his mission]] and Megatron was frozen just before the battle could actually start: Every Decepticon (and every Autobot) who hadn't undergone a binaltech conversion was now deactivated. Nevertheless, Nemesis Prime, faced with the unexpected turn of events, didn't lose his temper and seized the opportunity to take power. He ordered [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] to gather as many Decepticon bodies possible. Seeing the logic in this order, Shockwave complied and plotting his future moves, Nemesis Prime seated on Megatron throne

==Toys==
===Alternators===
* '''Nemesis Prime''' (2006)
:''Alternators ID number'': '''24'''

[[Image:AltNemesisPrime_toy.jpg|left|thumb|200px|In Australia, I'm a shelf-warmer.]]

: Nemesis Prime is a [[black repaint|black]] [[redeco]] of ''[[Alternators]]/[[Kiss Players]]'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] with red translucent windows and blue paint detail. Like Optimus, he transforms into a Dodge Ram SRT-10 at 1:24 scale, with opening doors, hood, and tailgate, plus an open passenger compartment. His engine transforms into a handgun.

: He was initially sold [[exclusive]]ly at San Diego Comic-Con 2006 and limitedly at Hasbro Toy Shop, selling out roughly an hour after its 2pm sales debut. Prior to that, he was released in large quantities at regular retail in various Asian countries, becoming a [[shelfwarmer]] there, ironically.

: Later, he was offered in Australia through online stores. A few weeks later he showed up in massive numbers in the Australian retail store Toy World for half the price.

{{-}}

===Binaltech===
* '''Black Convoy''' (2007)
:''Japanese ID number'': '''BT-17'''

[[Image:BTBlackConvoy_toy.jpg|right|thumb|200px|I am the evil clone of an evil clone! How do you beat this?]]

: Black Convoy is the first ''Binaltech'' release since [[Skids]] in early 2006, and was available exclusively in Japan at the winter Wonder Festival in 2007. His plastic colours are slightly different from Nemesis Prime, with grey replacing the black his shins, waist, shoulders and forearms; where Nemesis Prime had clear red windows, Black Convoy has normal clear windows. His paint deco is based upon ''KissPlay'' Convoy's, arranged in the same patterns using teal, and has vacuum-metallized wheels and front grill. And finally, perhaps his most important difference is that he has die-cast metal parts and most of his truck body panels are coated in gloss black paint.

: Perhaps due to cost-cutting, this toy was released in the large bubble-on-a-tray packaging also used in the ''Alternators'' line. However, he came with no character or packaging art.

{{-}}

==Trivia==
* Originally, Takara's version of the ''[[Alternators]]'' [[Optimus Prime (G1) toys|Optimus Prime]] toy was prematurely solicited by as Prime's ''[[Super-God Masterforce]]'' look-alike [[Ginrai]], whereas the obligatory ''Binaltech Asterisk'' redeco was supposed to be Optimus Prime's evil counterpart, Black Convoy. Ultimately, however, both Ginrai and Black Convoy were cancelled, with only Hasbro releasing Optimus Prime as originally planned. In an ironic turn of events, it was Hasbro who would pick up Takara's idea for a black redeco (dubbed "Nemesis Prime" based on the [[Nemesis Prime (Armada)|''Armada'' toy of the same name]]), which was released as a Hasbro Toy Shop/San Diego Comic-Con exclusive later that year. Eventually, Takara released the Dodge Ram as as part of the new ''[[Kiss Players]]'' line, now named "Convoy" (Optimus Prime), whereas Black Convoy was ultimately released as a Winter Festival exclusive over a year later than originally planned, thereby essentially relaunching the ''Binaltech'' line as a line of convention and store exclusives. That way, Takara actually found a way to make use of the diecast molds initially created for ''Binaltech'' Ginrai, as the ''Kiss Players'' Convoy toy had been made entirely out of plastic.

==External links==
*[http://www.bwtf.com/alternators/nemesis-prime/ Ben Yee's review of Nemesis Prime, including the story of the unreleased bio.]
*[http://www.fantofan.jp/photo%20gallery/binartech/story/bt-17.htm Fantofan translation of the BT-17 'Dark Commander Black Convoy' bio and system description, and of the Chapter 14 of the ''Binaltech'' story "Binal Time"]

[[Category: Alternators]]
[[Category: Decepticons]]
[[Category: Convention exclusives]]
[[Category: Evil clones]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>