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Ark Duty

2026-04-21T09:23:40Z

Timrollpickering: /* Featured characters */ other background Autobots

{{comicstory
|seriesissue=[[Transformers Annual 1987]]
|prev=Stylor's Story
|next=The Final Conflict
|title="Ark Duty"
|image=Hot rod ark duty.jpg
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[August 1|1st August]] [[1987]]
|coverdate=[[1987]]
|script=[[Ian Rimmer]] (uncredited)
|pencils=[[Will Simpson]]
|chronology=[[Marvel Comics timeline#Original future|Original future (2003)]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]] ([[Primax 984.20 Gamma|Marvel UK]])
}}
'''Scramble City, comic book style.'''

==Synopsis==
In [[2003]], [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] unveils plans for a transforming [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] on [[Earth]], capable of withstanding any [[Decepticon]] attack. Thanks to some generous donations by Earth's government, the [[Autobot]]s will have all the supplies they require to construct the city. While divvying up assignments for the Autobots to collect all the supplies, he also places [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] and [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] on monitor duty and gives [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]] a copy of the Autobot City blueprints and projected simulation to bring to their human sponsors.

[[File:Ravage stunticons ark duty.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.8]]
Up in the rafters, however, the Decepticon spy [[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]] has observed all that went on. He sneaks away and informs the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] that all of Autobot City's secrets will be guarded by one lone Autobot in transport.

As Kup prepares to leave the Ark, he makes it very, very clear that under no circumstances is Hot Rod to leave his post. No walk-y, no leave-y. NONE. So naturally when Hot Rod sees Kup being attacked by the Stunticons on his monitor screens, he quickly jumps up and leaves his post to go help, pushing past Blurr in the process.

Finding Kup on the side of the road after his beating, Hot Rod tells Kup not to worry and goes chasing after the Stunticons to retrieve the tape. Minutes later, it's Kup's turn to find Hot Rod battered and beaten on the side of the road, after the Stunticons got done working him over. He tells Hot Rod that the tape wasn't important—it was a ruse filled with false information to mislead the Decepticons into believing they had Autobot City's secrets. The real information was being sent by high-speed radio signal by Blurr as they spoke. Chagrined, Hot Rod promises to think before he acts next time. Kup tells him he doubts it.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (1)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] (2)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (3)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] (4)
*[[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]] (5)
*[[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (7)
*[[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] (8)
|c2=
*[[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]] (6)
*[[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (9)
*[[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (10)
*[[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (11)
*[[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (12)
*[[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (13)
}}

==Quotes==

"This we will do in a mighty convoy"
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' taking advantage of the newly released [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#20th Anniversary.2FMasterpiece|MP-01 Convoy]]

==Notes==
*It's no wonder Hot Rod gets in trouble—no one tells him anything!
*In terms of story chronology, this is the second of many UK stories set in a future timeline and centering on the [[The Transformers: The Movie|movie]] cast. It is preceded by "[[Prime's Rib!]]", and followed by the [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] segment of "[[Aspects of Evil!]]".

===Cover===
* '''Transformers Annual 1987 cover:''' Ultra Magnus versus [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], by [[Robin Smith]].
<gallery>
File:Transformers annual 1988.jpg|'''Transformers Annual 1987'''
</gallery>

===Reprints===
*'''''[[Transformers: Space Pirates]]'' cover:''' A Quintesson (most likely [[Kledji|Lord Kledji]]) oversees Hot Rod and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] injured while [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] is attacked by [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] and [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] awakens on Earth, by [[Geoff Senior]] and [[Oliver Harud]].
*'''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 4|''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 4]] cover:''' Rodimus Prime and Galvatron fight while [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] squeezes [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]] rides Wreck-Gar, by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]], Volume 11: The Legacy of Unicron:''''' Wreck-Gar and Unicron by [[Don Figueroa]] and [[Dan Reed]].
<gallery>
File:SpacePiratesTitanTPB.jpg|'''''Transformers: Space Pirates''''' (Titan Books, 2003)
File:Classicuk4.jpg|'''''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 4''' (IDW Publishing, 2013)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v11.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection vol. 11: The Legacy of Unicron''''' (Hachette Partworks, Ltd., 2018)
</gallery>

[[Category:Marvel UK Annual stories]]

Transformers Annual 1987

2026-04-21T09:14:29Z

Timrollpickering: /* Errors */ no way Rimmer and Furman didn't know the franchise; more likely they used an early outline with a name that got changed

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[Transformers Annual]]
|prev=Transformers Annual 1986
|next=Transformers Annual 1989
|prev2=The Mission
|next2=What's in a Name?
|title=Transformers Annual 1987
|image=Transformers annual 1988.jpg
|caption="You're a bad off-model likeness!" "No, YOU'RE a bad off-model likeness!"
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[August 1|1st August]] [[1987]]
|coverdate=[[1987]]
|cover=[[Robin Smith]]
|price=£3.75
|ISBN=0-948936-09-6
|pagecount=64
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
The '''Transformers Annual 1987''' was published by Marvel Comics Ltd on 1 August 1987.

==Contents==
*Front Papers: [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]
*"This book belongs to"
*"[[What's in a Name?]]"
*"[[Doomsday for Nebulos]]" - [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] Saga (chapter 1)
*[[Transformer]]s Trivia Quiz
*"[[Vicious Circle!]]"
*"[[Stylor's Story]]" - Headmasters Saga (chapter 2)
*[[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]: [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]], [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] and [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]]
*"[[Ark Duty]]"
*"[[The Final Conflict]]" - Headmasters Saga (chapter 3)
*AtoZ: [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]], [[Skullcruncher (G1)|Skullcruncher]] and [[Weirdwolf (G1)|Weirdwolf]]

==Synopsis==

===Front Papers===
[[File:Transformers annual 1988 Poster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|The Transformers remake of ''{{w|Alas Smith and Jones}}'' never took off]]
Two page inside cover poster of the heads Ultra Magnus and Galvatron gurning at each other. By [[Jeff Anderson]].

===This book belongs to===
A page for the lucky owner of the annual to fill out a mini tech spec entry for themselves. The fields given are ''Owner'', ''Allegiance'', ''SPD'', ''STR'' and ''INT''.
The page is filled out with a character model picture of [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Gurrr]].

===What's in a Name?===
Having learned of the arrival of the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] on Earth, [[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Swoop]] reflects on how he encountered one of their number, [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]], on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

===Doomsday for Nebulos===
Lord [[Zarak (G1)|Zarak]] meets with a group of [[Decepticon]]s led by [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], who he has summoned to [[Nebulos]], and soon begins to wonder if this was a mistake...

===Transformers Trivia Quiz===
Split into two sections, one about Autobots and one about Decepticons, with a slight numerical imbalance of 21 Autobot questions and 22 Decepticon. Most are general franchise questions (e.g. "[[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] is the team leader of which Autobot group?", "The Decepticon [[Triple Changer]] [[Octane]] can become which two vehicles?") but a few relate specifically to the comic (e.g.. "Which Autobot hosted the [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Transformers comic letters page]] for just one issue?", "Three Decepticons appeared on the cover of last year's Transformers Annual. Who were they?").
The answers are on the following page.

===Vicious Circle!===
[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]], having survived falling into a volcano, must face [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] once again.

===Stylor's Story===
As the Decepticons attack the Nebulan city, [[Stylor]] decides to join the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]].

===Character bios===
Bios of [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]], [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] and [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]], similar in style to the ''[[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]'' features in the regular UK title (which are themselves cribbed from the US ''Transformers Universe''). The only difference is the addition of a "Chest Readout" category (although similar stats are available for all Transformers, they're just more visible with the Headmasters).

===Ark Duty===
A vital information tape is stolen from [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]]; [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] disobeys orders to retrieve it.

===The Final Conflict===
Scorponok and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] face off in a duel to the death!

===Character bios===
Profiles of [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]], [[Skullcruncher (G1)|Skullcruncher]] and [[Weirdwolf (G1)|Weirdwolf]], identical in style to the Autobot ones.

==Errors==
*Throughout the annual (in the latter two text stories and the profile on Highbrow), [[Gort]] is referred to as Grot. It's too consistent to be a typo and suggests that [[Ian Rimmer]], whoever wrote the Headmasters story, or [[Simon Furman]], who edited the annual, either weren't familiar with the character or were working from an early outline. (The annual features no credits except on the first two comic strips.)

==Items of note==
*The three comic strips tie in well with the Marvel UK stories: "What's In a Name?" is set during the events of "[[Grudge Match!]]" (just after the scene of Swoop and [[Sludge (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Sludge]] watching the television report), "Vicious Circle" carries on the story from "[[Fire on High!|Fire on High]]" (in what was either an attempt to make people buy the annual or a way of ensuring there was something in there worth reading, depending who you listen to) and "Ark Duty" ties in with the future timeline.
*The Headmaster Saga seems to be set during the events of the ''[[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]]'' mini-series. The first two stories are a faithful adaptation of "[[Broken Glass!]]" (with a recap of "[[Ring of Hate!]]"), but the third is new and must be set during "[[Brothers in Armor!!]]" (in the same gap as "[[Worlds Apart!]]", after the creation of the Targetmasters and before the Transformers left Nebulos).
*For no readily apparent reason, Fortress Maximus' Nebulan partner is called Kord rather than [[Galen]]. Years later, the foreword to [[The Transformers Classics, Vol. 4|''The Transformers Classics,'' Vol. 4]] would retroactively declare his full name to be "Galen Kord", but the [[letters page (Marvel UK)|letters page]] for [[The Desert Island of Space!|Issue #158]] already stated that the name "Kord" was simply incorrect.
*Fortress Maximus apparently keeps his old head "inside a chamber in his massive robot structure".
*Bonded Headmasters are referred to on occasion by both Transformer and Nebulan names - e.g., Duros/Hardhead, even in dialogue, although this is less than consistent.
*The origin of the Targetmasters recounted in "The Final Conflict" states their partners are Nebulan weapons who have been engineered to transform into robots and then given minds duplicated from other Nebulans (implying the originals are still walking around).
*In "Doomsday for Nebulos", all dialogue for Scorponok (the only Transformer to speak) is written in '''CAPITALS AND BOLD'''. This practice is discontinued in the other stories.
*A pictorial question in the quiz asks readers to identify a character by their Cybertronian alternate mode, reusing art of Jazz from ''[[The Transformers Universe (Marvel)|The Transformers Universe]]'' issue 2. This quiz was actually the first time this art was published in the UK, meaning the only way to know the answer (without peeking) would be to watch the cartoon episode "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]" — easier said than done in the UK at time of publication. This was certainly an unusual question from a publication that [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|regularly insisted]] the legitimacy of the comics continuity over the cartoon.

[[Category:Annuals|1988]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Vicious Circle!

2026-04-21T09:11:39Z

Timrollpickering: /* Errors */ Galvatron's cannon

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[Transformers Annual 1987]]
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]]
|prev=Doomsday for Nebulos
|prev2=Fire on High!
|next=Stylor's Story
|title="Vicious Circle!"
|image=Vicious-circle-Power-Syphon.jpg
|caption=Galvatron completes work on Unicron's toilet.
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[August 1|1st August]] [[1987]]
|coverdate=[[1987]]
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|pencils=[[Jeff Anderson]]
|inks=[[Dave Harwood]]
|colours=
|editor=
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''Ultra Magnus makes a last ditch attempt to stop Galvatron from activating his power siphon.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] and [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]]'s plan to return [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] to the future has failed. Only [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]] remain to stop the insane [[Decepticon]] from using the [[power siphon]] that he has built atop [[Mount Verona]]. At first, Ultra Magnus refuses to fight, tired of being beaten. Goldbug is disgusted and goes to face Galvatron alone.

Goldbug is quickly overpowered but before Galvatron can deliver the killing blow, Ultra Magnus arrives, having roused himself from his depression. During the course of the ensuing battle, Galvatron rips a piece of the siphon's control equipment loose. This results in the siphon losing control of the volcano's eruption. Ultra Magnus tells Goldbug to escape while he holds Galvatron at bay. Galvatron is too crazed to notice the danger and as Goldbug makes his way clear the volcano erupts, destroying the siphon and entombing Ultra Magnus and Galvatron within the crater.

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (1)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]]'' (3)
*''[[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]]'' (4)
*''[[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (6)
|c2=
*[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (2)
|c4=
*''[[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]]'' (5)
}}

==Quotes==
"'''You should have stayed dead, Autobot! This just means I've got to kill you all over again!'''" 
"Thanks...but one death per day is my limit!"
:—'''Galvatron''' and '''Ultra Magnus'''
{{-}}

==Notes==
*Galvatron escapes from the volcano in "[[Enemy Action!]]"
*Ultra Magnus is rescued from the volcano by the Sparkabots in "[[Salvage!]]"
*No letterer or colourist is credited.

===Errors===
[[File:Vicious Circle Goldbug Marvel UK vs Titan vs IDW.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|right|Forget "show-accuracy". This is ''toy-accuracy'' versus ''Marvel-accuracy''.]]
*Goldbug's head is coloured blue and his forearms and thighs are golden like the rest of his body (like the toy), and for whatever reason, he also sports a blue Autobot [[Insignia|faction symbol]]. All of these were color-corrected to the regular Marvel colors (yellow for the head, blue for the forearms and thighs, red for the Autobot symbol, although the thighs remain golden in the last panel on the final page) for [[Titan Books|Titan]]'s 2002 ''[[Transformers: Fallen Angel|Fallen Angel]]'' trade paperback reprint. However, [[IDW Publishing|IDW]]'s 2013 [[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 4|''Classics UK'' Volume 4]] trade paperback reprint features the original printing's colors again.
*On pages 5 & 6 Galvatron is initially lacking his cannon. He appears to pick it up, mount it on his left arm, fire at Goldbug then switch it to his right arm. This accurate to the toy but not otherwise seen in the comic. On the first panel of page 7 the cannon and its attachment are both coloured the same green as the background. In occasional subsequent panels in his fight with Ultra Magnus the cannon disappears only to reappear in his next appearance.
*The line "Ultra Magnus! You came!" is presumably supposed to be spoken by Goldbug but the speech bubble looks as though it's pointing at Ultra Magnus.
{{-}}

===Cover===
*'''Transformers Annual 1987 cover:''' Ultra Magnus versus Galvatron, by [[Robin Smith]].
<gallery>
File:Transformers annual 1988.jpg|'''Transformers Annual 1987'''
</gallery>

===Reprints===
*'''''[[Transformers: Fallen Angel]]'' cover:''' Death's Head, by [[Geoff Senior]] and [[Oliver Harud]].
*'''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 4|''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 4]] cover:''' Rodimus and Galvatron fight whilst [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] squeezes [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] and Goldbug rides Wreck-Gar, by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 8: Wanted: Galvatron – Dead or Alive ''''': [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] by ??? and [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] by [[Dan Reed]]
<gallery>
File:TitanFA.jpg|'''''Fallen Angel''''' (Titan Books, 2003)
File:Classicuk4.jpg|'''''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 4''' (IDW Publishing, 2013)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v8.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection Vol. 8''''' (Hachette Partworks Ltd, 2017)
</gallery>

[[Category:Marvel UK Annual stories]]

Totaled!

2026-02-08T19:36:11Z

Timrollpickering: /* UK printing */ 175 cover error

{{featured}}
{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #41
|prev=Pretender to the Throne!
|next=People Power!
|title="Totaled!"
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #174–175
|prev2=Wrecking Havoc
|next2=People Power!
|image=MarvelUS-41.jpg
|caption=My money's on Cosmos.
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|shippingdate=[[February 23]], [[1988]]
|onsaledate=[[March 15]], 1988
|coverdate=June 1988
|writer=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|pencils=[[José Delbo]]
|inks=[[Danny Bulanadi]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Bill Oakley]]
|editor=[[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

'''It starts with Grimlock vs. Fruitloop Multipuck, but things never end that simply, do they?'''

==Synopsis==
[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] explodes! Having acquired Prime's [[core consciousness|mind]] on a [[floppy disk]], the [[Autobot]]s on the ''[[Steelhaven (G1)|Steelhaven]]'' have initiated [[Project Prime]], an attempt to build a new body for the Autobot leader. [[Project Prime team|The team]] isn't having much luck, as the ship's resources have been depleted by reconstructing [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]] and creating the Autobot [[Pretender]]s. [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]], however, has tracked down the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]; Fortress Maximus decides to approach [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]], leader of the Autobots on [[Earth]], for help.

[[File:Snarladjustscrown.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Grimlock: Tyrant, bully, metrosexual.]]
Grimlock doesn't want to help, and instead demands Fortress Maximus hand over the fugitive Goldbug. Maximus refuses, but to avoid a conflict, Goldbug surrenders. Grimlock is still not satisfied; he challenges Fortress Maximus to one-on-one battle for the leadership of the Autobots under the archaic [[Code of Combat]].

In the brig, Goldbug finds [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], strapped to an energy-sucking [[variable voltage harness]]. Blaster has become apathetic from his time wasting away, but Goldbug talks him into fighting in the injured Fortress Maximus's place.

Elsewhere, [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] has been tracking the ''Steelhaven''... which has led him to the Ark as well. [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] is pleased at the chance to destroy all of Earth's Autobots at once.

The two ships land on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. The crews from both the Ark and the ''Steelhaven'' assemble to watch Grimlock and Blaster fight it out.

The battle soon draws Blaster and Grimlock away from the rest of the Autobots. In their absence, Ratbat's [[Decepticon]]s unleash their attack. [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] leads the Decepticon assault on the Autobots, while [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] leads the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] in an attack on the unmanned Ark, to retrieve Decepticon prisoners.

Without strong leadership, the Autobots are losing the battle, so (rather than taking command) Fortress Maximus orders Goldbug to take the skeleton crew on the ''Steelhaven'' and leave the scene.

[[File:Grimlockokeydokeyblaster.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|Grimlock goes from brutal tyrant to doofus in 22 pages.]]
[[File:Omegasupreme-blasterandgrimlock.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|So much for democracy!]]
Grimlock and Blaster are still fighting when Blaster notices the battle going on far in the distance. Setting their differences aside, the two Autobots rejoin the battle. Working together, Grimlock and Blaster manage to turn back the Decepticons and damage their ship enough to force a full Decepticon retreat.

Grimlock finally accepts the possibility of working with others, noting that he and Blaster are an effective team. With the Ark and many Autobots damaged, repair work is urgent. But Fortress Maximus notes that the ''Steelhaven'' will be unable to help; seeing the need for a true great leader, he has sent the ship to [[Nebulos]], the one place with the technology to properly rebuild Optimus Prime.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{collist|3|
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] (1)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]] (2)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (3)
* [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] (4)
* [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (5)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] (6)
* [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] (7)
* [[Sludge (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Sludge]] (8)
* [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] (9)
* [[Slag (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Slag]] (10)
* [[Snarl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Snarl]] (11)
* [[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Swoop]] (12)
* [[Pointblank]] (13)
* [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] (14)
* [[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] (15)
* [[Grotusque]] (16)
* [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] (17)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (19)
* [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] (20)
* [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (21)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (22)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] (23)
* [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] (24)
* [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (25)
* [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (26)
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (27)
* [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (34)
* [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (35)
* [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] (36)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (37)
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (38)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (39)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (40)
* [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] (41)
* [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (42)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (43)
* [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (44)
* [[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] (45)
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (46)
* [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (47)
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (48)
* [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (49)
* [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (50)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (51)
* [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (52)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (53)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (54)
* [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (55)
* [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (56)
* [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (57)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (58)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (59)
* [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (60)
* [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (61)
* [[Waverider]] (62)
* [[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]] (63)
* [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] (64)
* ? (65)
* [[Doublecross]] (66)
* [[Splashdown]] (67)
* [[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]] (68)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (69)
* [[Sky High (Pretender)|Sky High]] (70)
* [[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]] (71)
* ? (72)
* [[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]] (73)
* [[Repugnus (G1)|Repugnus]] (74)
* [[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]] (75)
* [[Joyride (G1)|Joyride]] (76)
* [[Getaway]] (77)
* [[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]] (78)
* [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (80)
}}

|c2=
{{collist|2|
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] (29)
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (30)
* [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] (31)
* [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] (32)
* [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (33)
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (79)
* [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (81)
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (82)
* [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (83)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (84)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (85)
* [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (86)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (87)
* ? (88)
* [[Tantrum (G1)|Tantrum]] (89)
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (90)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (91)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (92)
* [[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]] (93)
* [[Octane]] (94)
* [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (95)
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (96)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (97)
* [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (98)
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (99)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (100)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (101)
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (102)
* [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (103)
* [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] (104)
* [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (105)
* [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (106)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Thundercracker]] (107)
* [[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]] (108)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (109)
}}

|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (18)
* [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] (28)
}}

==Quotes==
'''Goldbug:''' "We were so close, '''Brainstorm." 
'''Brainstorm:''' "Yes we were, '''Goldbug.'''" 
'''Fortress Maximus:''' "'''Highbrow''', can we try again?" 
'''Highbrow:''' "There's nothing left to try '''with''', '''Fortress Maximus'''." 
'''Fortress Maximus:''' "'''Then Optimus Prime is no more.'''"

"Surely a ship as large as you say the Ark is will have the facilities to rebuild Optimus Prime, Goldbug. And you'll be able to see all your old friends again!" 
"Er, yes...I will, won't I..."
:—'''Fortress Maximus''' and a much less enthusiastic '''Goldbug'''

"Commander, again I '''beg''' you - return the Ark to Earth. We left our enemies, the '''Decepticons''', there. Who '''knows''' what horrors they're inflicting on the native humans!" 
"Who '''cares!'''"
:—'''Ratchet''' still hasn't learned '''Grimlock''' is the ''worst leader ever.''

"A '''human?!''' Human commands '''Autobots?! NEVER!!'''" 
"Looks like '''never''' is now, commander!" 
"'''Shut up''', Ratchet!"
:—'''Grimlock''' and '''Ratchet''', who is enjoying this way too much.

"A personal visit -- ?" 
"'''Blaster!'''" 
"A [[video-letter]] would have been sufficient, Goldbug." 
"What happened to you?!" 
"Grimlock sent me on vacation. '''Permanent''' vacation."
:—'''Blaster''' and '''Goldbug''' discussing the hospitality of the new Autobot commander.

"The Autobots can all go to the scrapyard before I get involved again." 
"Then don't do it for the Autobots...do it for '''yourself'''. Do it to get '''even''' with '''Grimlock'''."
:—'''Blaster''' and '''Goldbug'''

"Grimlock's energo-sword cut you in '''two''', Blaster!" 
"Got news for you, Grimmy...it'll take more than '''bad intentions''' to carve me up! Skill always helps."
:—'''Grimlock''': 0, '''Blaster''': 1

"A great Autobot warrior you're '''not''', '''Brawn!''' But take it from '''Swindle''', you have a bright future as '''space parts!'''"
:—'''Swindle'''

"The Autobots are getting '''trounced!''' This can't be happening! This '''can't!'''" 
"But it '''is''', Buster Witwicky - and at minimum energy cost to us! What a banner day this will become in the annals of Decepticon fuel accounting!"
:—'''Buster''' and '''Ratbat'''

"Surrender yet, toaster-head?" 
"No understand meaning of "surrender", Blaster!" 
"Doesn't surprise me." 
"You make fun of Grimlock again?"
:—'''Blaster''': 2, '''Grimlock''': 0

"Steelhaven '''leaving!''' Is trick by '''you''' and '''Fullstrength Motleypuss!'''"
:—'''Grimlock'''

"Me commander of Autobots. '''All''' Autobots. But me no act like it. Me '''forget''' them when me should '''protect''' them."
:—'''Grimlock''' ''finally'' gets it.

"Wh-what's happening?! The ship is going '''haywire!'''" 
"Bad for fuel economy, Ratbat." 
"Fleshling, I do not...find you '''amusing!'''"
:—'''Ratbat''' sassed by '''Buster'''

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
* Cover: Red Alert is colored like Sideswipe; Nosecone is block colored orange when everyone around him is colored normally.
* Page 4, as Fortress Maximus is introducing his top officers, Pointblank is drawn as... somebody else? And Landmine has a conehead?
* Page 9, panel 5: Ratbat's face panel is colored all-yellow, as if it were a huge eye.
* In what is almost certainly an art error rather than a scripted appearance, [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] and [[Outback (G1)|Outback]] make brief appearances, their first in the US. This is a bit of an oddity since characters tended not to 'just appear' in the Marvel comics without ''some'' explanation of how they got there. Artist [[José Delbo]], who had to draw over 120 ''different'' Transformers for this issue's 3-way battle — many of them in multiple modes — may simply have "oopsied," while trying to cram them all in.
* A huge crowd of Decepticons is shown surrounding the Autobots... but the combined forces of the Ark and the ''Steelhaven'' should outnumber Ratbat's Decepticons by 2 to 1 or more.
* In the far back of the huge disembarking group shot, Slingshot is drawn with his nosecone on both shoulders. [[:File:TFU Slingshot.jpg|Slingshot's character art]] is drawn from an extreme worm's eye angle, putting the nosecone seemingly on Slingshot's left shoulder, and apparently Delbo duplicated one on his other shoulder to make him symmetrical.

===Continuity errors===
* Helicopters should not be able to fly in a vacuum, but obviously no one ever told Vortex.
* None of Fortress Maximus's Autobots are seen after they exit the ''Steelhaven''. It's only the older toys shown getting their butts kicked.

===Continuity notes===
[[File:TotaledOptimusExplodes.jpg|upright=1.0|thumb|What, no "Kbooomm" this time?]]
[[File:Totaledarkdisembark.jpg|upright=1.0|thumb|Protectobots, where art thou?]]
* The opening splash page of Optimus Prime's would-be new body blowing up is a direct homage to his death scene in US [[Afterdeath!|#24]].
* Optimus Prime was put on a disc after his death in US [[Afterdeath!|#24]].
* Unlike in the cartoon, writer Bob Budiansky always made sure sound didn't travel in space sequences in the ''Transformers'' comic. To this end there's no 'sound effects' during the entire 13-page moon battle sequence. The Transformers used radio to communicate over these pages.
* The absence of sound in space even plays a part in the plot—Grimlock and Blaster don't notice the Decepticon attack on their fellows immediately because they can't hear the battle.
* The big group shot of the disembarking Autobots is the first real appearance some characters have had for dozens of issues. Sunstreaker, in particular, was last seen in issue [[The Next Best Thing to Being There!|#10]], still deactivated from [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]'s demonstration in issue [[The New Order|#5]], and hadn't been online since [[The Transformers Four-Issue Limited Series|the original miniseries]]. Many of the other Autobots who are seen exiting the Ark had "disappeared" long ago to make room for newer characters.
* The [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] are curiously absent. The last time they were relevant to the story (in [[Child's Play (issue)|issue #35]]), they were on [[Earth]], disobeying Grimlock's orders to bring in Blaster for execution... for disobeying orders. At the end of that issue, they were last seen watching Blast Off take off from Earth. The Ark immediately started pursuing Blast Off and took him on board. Thus, there was hardly enough time for them to get back to the ship. And yet, in the [[Spacehikers!|following issue]], [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]], [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] and [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] were all shown on board the Ark, with First Aid even being given a speaking line in a crowd shot. Since "Spacehikers!" also featured a few odd one-panel cameos by characters such as [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] and [[Twin Twist (G1)|Twin Twist]], who otherwise never appeared in US continuity, it's quite possible that the Protectobots' appearances in that issue were simply art errors. Either way, the team's conspicuous omission from a group shot in this issue which is otherwise so completist feels rather odd.
* Having said that, [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] is also absent for absolutely no reason.
* The massed Autobots apparently sit around on the Moon licking their wounds until issue [[Club Con!|#47]], at the beginning of which they are all back on Earth. It's implicitly clear that Optimus Prime eventually picks them up using the ''Steelhaven'' (after rescuing [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] from the [[The Cosmic Carnival|Cosmic Carnival]]), re-assumes command, and then they all return to Earth, but it's not depicted outright.
* Though not mentioned, [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] and [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] were among the Decepticons in Autobot custody, and may have been retrieved as well. Blast Off had been captured in [[Spacehikers!]], and Dirge (US continuity only) was blown out of the sky in [[Ashes, Ashes...]]. Neither showed up for the remainder of the US continuity.
* The Decepticons retrieved by the Constructicons in this issue were captured in battle with Omega Supreme way back in US [[Command Performances!|#19]].
* There are numerous references to the [[Pretender to the Throne!|previous issue]], including the acquiring of the Prime disc, the rebuilding of Goldbug, and the creation of the Pretenders.
* Fortress Maximus was still recovering from his battle with [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] in issue [[The Desert Island of Space!|#39]].
{{-}}

===UK printing===
* The title of this story has been changed to conform to British spelling, "Totalled!" with a double "L" instead of the US spelling "Totaled!"

'''Issue #174'''
[[File:Totaled Skids.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|In the UK, I was replaced by some other dude!]]
* '''Back-up strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]]'' - "Pit-Fall" and ''[[Combat Colin]]''
* '''[[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]:''' [[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] and [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]
*Issues #174 and #175 feature some of the most aggressive art edits done to a US story to bring it into line with UK continuity. That being said, the process wasn't applied consistently: A flashback to the events of "[[Spacehikers!]]" (actually a re-drawing of a panel from that story, though with the characters' positions rearranged to fit a narrower panel) once again includes an appearance by [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] among the Autobots encouraging Blaster to assume leadership of the Autobots, making this Sandstorm's sole appearance in US continuity. Unfortunately, in the ''UK''-original stories, Sandstorm was a member of the [[Wreckers]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and could not possibly have been present on the Ark at this time. Unlike some of the following instances, Sandstorm's appearance was ''not'' edited for the UK reprint. Hooowever...
* Because [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] was in [[Limbo]] at this point in UK continuity, the image of him leaving the Ark with the other Autobots on the penultimate page in UK issue #174 was modified, giving him a new head and different headlamps. Ironically, his new head resembles that of [[Crosscut (G1)|Crosscut]], which is how Skids would come to be portrayed in later UK stories anyway!
* In ''[[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Grim Grams]]'', Grimlock states that he doesn't want a toy of his Cybertronian form to be created and that people should be happy with him as he is!

'''Issue #175'''
* '''Back-up strips:''' ''Action Force'' - "Pit-Fall" and ''Combat Colin''
[[File:Broadsidetotaled.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|And so was I!]]
* Even more blatant than the edits applied to Skids in the previous issue, a close-up depicting Broadside in this issue was edited to turn him into a new character; the head was partially redrawn and his blue parts colored green, creating a new, [[generic]] robot (as seen on the right). Like Sandstorm, Broadside was a member of the [[Wreckers]] (and on Cybertron at this time) in UK continuity.
*On the same page, Outback's one-panel appareance was left unchanged.
* The boxes containing the rescued Decepticons were edited to remove and rearrange the names, since most of the "inactive" Decepticons [[Command Performances!|defeated by Omega Supreme]] had already been revived during the UK's "[[Target: 2006]]" storyline. The Constructicons' mission now only freed Rumble and Buzzsaw (and possibly Blast Off and Skywarp, the latter of whom had been absent since his "destruction" in Target 2006 but was back among Ratbat's forces in their next appearance.) Long Haul's dialog to his fellow Constructicons was also altered, discarding a statement about the many Decepticons they had to free and replacing it with a much vaguer "We have a lot more work to do!" In US continuity the rescued Decepticons were: Buzzsaw, Thundercracker, Skywarp, Rumble, Frenzy and Starscream (and possibly Blast Off and Dirge).
* Despite Blast Off having been in the Autobots' custody for over thirty issues he appears on the cover here.
* In ''Grim Grams'', Grimlock identified the [[Generic]] transformer from the opening splash page of UK issue #164 as "[[Chuffer]]".

===Other trivia===
* How can one not love the nicknames all through this issue? "Goldbuggy", "Doc Ratchet", "Grimbo", and of course Grimlock's constant reworking of Fortress Maximus's name. He calls him "Fruitloop Multipuck", "Forktongue Maxiface", and even the ever-classic "Fullstrength Motleypuss".
* The letters page of this issue featured two competitions, [[Shingo|Spot the Shingo]] and a competition to name all the Transformers pouring from the Ark on page 10 of the issue. The prizes were not really disclosed.
* This was the last issue reprinted in the Danish run of the series published by Atlantic ApS.

===Bot Roster===
* Ark Autobots: 46 active as all the long-inert 1984 Autobots suddenly show up again, and Goldbug is restored; 5 bodyless Throttlebots. (51 total)
* ''Steelhaven'' Autobots: 28 active.
* Ratbat's Decepticons: 32 active; 8 presumably rescued from the Ark; 4 offline/missing. (44 total)
* Scorponok's Decepticons: 25 active.

===Courtesy of my...===
* Forget Blaster and Grimlock, the real stars of this issue were the [[electro-scrambler]] and [[Energo weapon|energo-sword]]: "Energy feedback, '''courtesy of my''' electro-scrambler, tinhead".

===Covers (3)===
* '''US issue #41 cover:''' battle royal, by [[José Delbo]] and [[Dave Hunt]].
* '''UK issue #174 cover:''' Grimlock and Spike, by [[Jeff Anderson]].
* '''UK issue #175 cover:''' Grimlock and Blaster, by [[Lee Sullivan]].

<gallery>
File:MarvelUS-41.jpg|'''US issue #41''' – Or: How to give [[José Delbo]] a nervous breakdown
File:MarvelUK-174.jpg|'''UK issue #174''' – Use the FLAT of your blade, Grimlock!
File:MarvelUK-175.jpg|'''UK issue #175''' – Grimlock won't stop dancing for anyone.
</gallery>

===Reprints===
* '''''[[Transformers: Maximum Force]]'' TPB''' – [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], a [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] gun, the ''[[Steelhaven (G1)|Steelhaven]]'' and half of [[Skullgrin]]'s head, by [[Andrew Wildman]].
* '''''Transformers: Maximum Force'' HC''' – Skullgrin, by [[Peter Snejbjerg]].
* '''''[[Classic Transformers]] [[Classic Transformers Volume 3|Volume 3]]''''' – Panels from US issues [[Child's Play (issue)|#35]], [[Spacehikers!|#36]], [[People Power!|#42]] and [[The Cosmic Carnival|#44]], by [[José Delbo]], [[Don Perlin]], [[Dave Hunt]], [[Don Hudson]], [[Ian Akin]], [[Brian Garvey]], and [[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]].
* '''''[[The Transformers Classics]], [[The Transformers Classics, Vol. 4|Vol. 4]]''''' – [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]], by [[Guido Guidi]].
* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]] Volume 11: The Legacy of Unicron''''' – [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (from ''[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'') over an interior image of [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] (from [[The Legacy of Unicron!|UK issue #148]]), by [[Don Figueroa]] and [[Dan Reed]].

<gallery>
File:Titan-MaximumForceSC.jpg|'''''Maximum Force'' TPB''' (Titan Books, 2004)
File:Titan-MaximumForceHC.jpg|'''''Maximum Force'' HC''' (Titan Books, 2004)
File:Classic Transformers Vol3.jpg|'''''Classic Transformers Volume 3''''' (IDW Publishing, 2009)
File:TFClassicsVol4.jpg|'''''The Transformers Classics, Vol. 4''''' (IDW Publishing, 2012)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v11.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection Volume 11: The Legacy of Unicron''''' (Hachette Partworks, 2018)
</gallery>

====IDW ''Transformers Classics'' edits====
[[File:Soldbussy comparison.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.6|IDW's ''Classics'': Not suitable for minors!]]
For ''[[The Transformers Classics]]'' series of trade paperbacks, IDW Publishing "remastered" the coloring of the series with varying degrees of success. These changes were sometimes to fix errors, but often to alter characters' color schemes to make them resemble their toy and/or cartoon selves, and were rarely applied with consistency. IDW's recolored version was also used for Hachette's ''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection|Definitive G1 Collection]]''. As a recurring problem, haphazard text recreation results in punctuation marks disappearing, and letters that were correct in the original Marvel printing being changed into the wrong letters.
*Page 2, panel 3: Brainstorm's speech bubble is missing the period after "properly".
*Page 2, panel 4: The first "E" in "resources" is now incomplete, almost looking like a "5".
*Page 2, panel 6: The word "vow" has been changed into "now".
*Page 3, panel 1: Hot Rod's nickname for Goldbug, "Goldbuggy", is now misspelled "Soldbussy". Additionally, "longer" is now misspelled "lonser", and a hyphen separating "imme" and "diately" is now missing as well.
*Page 5, panel 6: The word "how" in Grimlock's last speech bubble has become "now", resulting in the nonsensical question "now did you find Ark?".
{{-}}

===Advertisements===
====US====
* ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' personalized action figure - inside front cover
* Comic book conventions / Marvel Super Hero Pins - between pages 4 & 5
* American Comics - between pages 5 & 6
* Comic distributors and Sketchy ads - between pages 7 & 8
* ''Daredevil'', introducing Typhoid Mary - between pages 8 & 9
* Comic distributors and Sketchy ads - between pages 16 & 17
* Marvel Super Mart - between pages 17 & 18
* Bullpen Bulletins and checklist - between pages 19 & 20
* ''[[Avengers|The Avengers]]'' #291 - between pages 20 & 21
* [[Letters page|Transmissions]]
* Marvel subscription service
* Konami NES video games: ''Jackal'' and ''Contra'' - inside back cover
* TSR ''Top Secret/S.I.'' RPG (back cover)

====UK====
'''Issue 174'''
* Transformers Collected Comics #9 and Thundercats Collected Comics #3 - page 14
* Galaxy Rangers comic - page 16
* Visionaries - back cover

'''Issue 175'''
* Powermasters - page 9
* Marvel Bumper Comic - page 16
* Peter PEZ Pursues the Photons - back cover

[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]
[[Category:Marvel US issues]]

Spacehikers!

2026-02-08T19:27:17Z

Timrollpickering: /* Continuity notes */ Protectobots were in 1989 annual

{{disambig2|the comic issue|the group of kids that appear in this issue|Spacehikers}}
{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #36
|prev=Child's Play (issue)
|next=Toy Soldiers!
|title="Spacehikers!"
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #143–144
|prev2=Brothers in Armor!!
|next2=Stargazing
|image=MarvelUS-36.jpg
|caption=I'll feed ye to the [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]], argh!
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|shippingdate=[[September 22]], [[1987]]
|onsaledate=[[October 13]], 1987
|coverdate=January [[1988]]
|writer=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|penciler=[[José Delbo]]
|inkers=[[Ian Akin]] & [[Brian Garvey]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Diana Albers]]
|editor=[[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''A group of children are caught in the cross-fire of inter-Autobot politics.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Autobot Multi-Circuit Court.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5]]
[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] arrives in the [[Solar System]], answering a plea from old friend [[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] for help in overthrowing the current [[Autobot]] leader [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]], obsessed with locating and imprisoning [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], to the exclusion of fighting the [[Decepticon]]s. When Blaster is located giving four [[Earth]] [[Spacehikers|children]] a joy ride in the incapacitated form of [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]], the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] immediately opens fire. To save the kids, Blaster orders Blast Off to stop and be picked up by the Ark, but one of the children tosses Blaster out an airlock to ensure that Blaster is not captured.

With Blast Off safely incarcerated on board the Ark, the children are discovered, and Wheeljack sees to their needs. Grimlock holds a [[Autobot Multi-Circuit Court|trial]], accusing the children of aiding a traitor, and sentences them to execution. This is a ploy to bring Blaster out into the open, but as the children are made to "walk the plank" into deep space, Sky Lynx rescues them instead.

When Sky Lynx enters a meteor shower too dangerous for the Ark to navigate safely, Grimlock leads the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] outside to pursue the rogue Autobot. Meanwhile, Blaster successfully makes it inside the Ark, where the other Autobots practically beg him to take command of the Autobots from Grimlock. However, when the Dinobots surround Sky Lynx, Blaster surrenders to the Dinobots in order to ensure the children's safety.

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{collist|2|
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (1)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] (5)
*[[Slag (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Slag]] (4)
*[[Sludge (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Sludge]] (7)
*[[Snarl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Snarl]] (8)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] (9)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (11)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (17)
*[[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] (18)
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (19)
*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (20)
*[[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Swoop]] (21)
*[[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (22)
*[[Twin Twist]] (23)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (24)
*[[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (25)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (26)
*[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (27)
*[[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] (28)
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (29)
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (30)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (31)
*[[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (32)
*[[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (33)
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (34)
*[[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (35)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] (36)
*[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (37)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (38)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] (39)
*[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] (40)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (41)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (42)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (43)
}}
|c2=
*''[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]'' (2)
*''[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]]'' (3)
*''[[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]]'' (4)
*[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (10)
|c3=
*[[Robin Lindley (G1)|Robin Lindley]] (12)
*[[Jed Lindley]] (14)
*[[Sammy Wainwright]] (15)
*[[Allan Silver]] (16)
|c4=
*[[Daisy]] (13)
}}

==Quotes==
"Don't shoot!" 
"I surrender!" 
"The same goes for me!" 
"We give up, too!" 
"Hold your fire, Autobots. I don't think they present, er... any danger..."
:— the '''Spacehikers''' meet '''Wheeljack'''

"I assure you, you are not eaten. I have better taste than to dine on '''humans'''."
:— '''Sky Lynx''' welcomes his passengers aboard

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
[[File:Totaled flashback Spacehikers.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.0|Does Sandstorm actually have ''dialogue''? Or is that speech balloon supposed to come from Cosmos?]]
*Amongst the Autobots seen aboard the Ark are several one panel cameos by characters not previously seen in the US comic, including Twin Twist and Sandstorm. Neither of them appeared elsewhere in the US Generation 1 comic (not counting a single panel in [[Totaled!|issue #41]], which is specifically a flashback to that very panel from this issue which depicts Sandstorm). Gears and Sideswipe also appear, having not been seen (and presumed deactivated) since the battle in [[Prime Time!|#12]].
*The main body of Sky Lynx's shuttle component is consistently drawn without any of its detailing - panel lines, passenger windows, and Autobot symbols. It's especially prominent in the opening splash page.
**His combined dino-bird form is drawn with only its front legs extended.
*Blast Off is missing his Decepticon symbols throughout the issue.
*Page 2: In a flashback, [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] is seen shooting at Sky Lynx on Cybertron, even though Breakdown was just recently created on [[Earth]].
*Page 3: Earth is colored purple as Sky Lynx approaches it.
*Pages 4–6 retread the end of last issue, with the kids and Blaster riding in Blast Off. The events are portrayed differently, however; last issue, the kids went pretty much directly from unbuckling their safety belts to noticing the Ark following them. Here, they get a whole page's worth of free-fall shenanigans before discovering the Ark's pursuit.
**The concluding panel, with the kids gathered to look out the window, is redrawn with the kids in different places.
**Page 6: Some of the kids' dialog from last issue is omitted, presumably for brevity.
*Page 5: Jed's exposition about how Blaster controls Blast Off due to Allan putting the mode lock on him is in a Transformer style word balloon.
*Page 7: Blaster emerges from ''Sky Lynx's'' airlock, not Blast Off's. (It's apparently pretty easy to get all those transforming space shuttles confused.)
*Page 9: after Blaster transforms into [[robot mode]], his pose is copied from issue #27 (redrawn but still very similar.) No problem there, except in the original art he was running on solid ground; here he's floating in space! Also, Blast Off - already aboard the Ark - is shown in the background behind him; presumably this should have been Sky Lynx.

===Continuity errors===
*Although Grimlock says he doesn't intend to kill the children, he doesn't seem to do anything that would prevent them from getting killed, should his suspicion that Blaster will come to save them prove wrong.
*On page 5 Blaster warns Sammy not to mess with an airlock hatch or he might get sucked into space. On page 7, Sammy opens it without an explosive decompression. It is an airlock though, so it probably could be opened without catastrophe, but that doesn't explain why Sammy ignored Blaster's advice.
*On page 18, Wheeljack reports that Sky Lynx has entered a meteor shower. Since the rocks are not within Earth's atmosphere, this is an inaccurate term. The rocks should ideally be referred to as "meteoroids" or, even better (given their size), "asteroids."
*If Sky Lynx is "too fast for [the Dinobots] to attack", then how'd they catch up with and surround him?
*Blaster surrenders largely because the Spacehikers' vacuum suits only had two hours worth of air, and it's about to run out. However, the kids are ''inside'' Sky Lynx, and later issues show the kids riding around inside him with no need for suits. This inconsistency is not explained.

===Continuity notes===
*This issue starts several hours ''before'' the end of the previous story, "[[Child's Play (issue)|Child's Play]]".
*Sky Lynx mentions travelling "a few hundred light years", after "shifting into warp speed", not only indicating that Sky Lynx can travel interstellar distances, but that [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] has moved a ''considerable'' distance from the [[Alpha Centauri]] star system.
*Apparently Blast Off's vehicle disguise goes so far as to incorporate an airlock accessible from inside himself.
*This issue establishes Sky Lynx as a [[Triple Changer]] of sorts, changing from space shuttle to dino-bird to lynx without ever splitting into two components as his toy does. The dino-bird mode still retains the four-legged undercarriage; this would not be the case [[The Cosmic Carnival|later]].
*Grimlock gives the order to "[[Roll out]]!" to... the Dinobots. The phrase will show up many times in future issues, apparently having achieved a sort of iconic status.
*The Dinobots seem to be able to maneuver in space in both robot and dinosaur modes.
*This is the last time any of the Protectobots turn up in the Marvel US stories. Apart from Streetwise showing up in the UK story "[[Stargazing]]", the whole team appearing in the slightly continuity questionable text story "[[Prime Bomb!]]" and the off-line First Aid getting a mention in UK story "[[The Greatest Gift of All!]]", none of them turn up until 1993's "[[Final Transformations]]", not even to get wiped out in the [[Underbase]] stories! Considering they were left behind on Earth last issue, ''and'' just disobeyed an order from Grimlock, ''and'' are missing from the big group shot in issue #41, ''and'' art errors have Sandstorm and Twin Twist showing up out of nowhere on the Ark—it's not 100% clear that the Protectobots should have been in this issue.
* Prowl, Gears and Sideswipe all make appearances; barring temporary resuscitation of Prowl in issue #26, they've been in repair bay since issue #12. Though it might seem like another random-background art error, issue #41 will confirm these and many other 'bots as active once again.

===Real-life references===
*The show on the TV set in panel 7, page 9 is ''{{w|Sledge Hammer!}}'', which also had a brief (two-issue) tie-in comic book published by Marvel.
*Said TV show is being watched by a family in [[Parsippany]], [[New Jersey (Earth)|New Jersey]].

===UK printing===
'''Issue #143'''
*'''Back-up ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Brothers in Armor!!|Brothers in Armour!]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Robo-Capers]]''
*'''[[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]:''' [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]]
*Unlike similar instances in previous (and subsequent) issues where [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]'s one-panel cameos in the US title, which conflicted with established UK continuity (since he would be in [[limbo]] by this point), were edited for the UK reprint, either by [[Funeral for a Friend|removing him entirely]] or [[Totaled!|changing him into a generic]], his presence in this issue is ''not'' altered in any way. One might argue that the this is because his face isn't shown and he's [[block coloring|block-colored]] red, but the following issue provides a counter for this argument...
*In ''[[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Grim Grams]]'', Grimlock discusses plot points in the UK annuals while expressing his dislike for a [[Beast (G1)|Dinobot combiner]], and shoots down a letter supposedly from [[Stylor]] to correct a typo which rendered [[Gort]] as Grot, saying he prefers the way Grot sounds.

'''Issue #144'''
*'''Back-up ''Transformers'' story:''' "Brothers in Armour!"
*'''Other strips:''' ''Robo-Capers''
*Just like Skids's one-panel cameo in the previous issue wasn't edited for the UK reprint, the cameos of [[Twin Twist (G1)|Twin Twist]] and [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] in this issue aren't edited ''either'', resulting in a continuity error, since in UK continuity, both are members of the [[Wreckers]] operating from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and thus could not have been part of the Ark's crew. (On the plus side, Sideswipe's cameo is more excusable than in the US title, since he was shown to be active in UK continuity following the events of "[[Prime Time!]]", while Gears is a less of a clear-cut case.)
*In ''Grim Grams'', Grimlock kindly corrects the spelling mistakes caused by some poor Mum's typewriter, attempts to explain some of the [[Stubbie]]s' mistakes in the ''[[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]]'' back-up stories, and again expresses his extreme distaste for the idea of a Dinobot combiner.

===Other trivia===
*The plot threads of this issue are left hanging for some time. We don't find out what Grimlock does with Blaster until issue [[Totaled!|#41]], and the fate of Sky Lynx and the Spacehikers isn't revealed until issue [[The Cosmic Carnival|#44]]. This is at least partly due to the need [[To sell toys|to introduce new toylines]]; the issues in-between feature all the new characters from the ''[[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]]'' miniseries coming to Earth, ''and'' the introduction of the [[Pretender]]s and [[Powermaster]]s. The time is also used to deal with [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug's]] faction of Autobots (shuffling most of them off to limbo for a good half-dozen issues themselves), and to give us the completely tangential story "[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]"... with all these characters, is it any wonder Budiansky began to burn out?

===Bot Roster===
*Autobots: 34 active, 6 Throttlebots captured by RAAT, 11 in repair bay. (51 total) Sky Lynx also arrives but does not join the Earth crew.
*Decepticons: 33 active; 11 offline as Blast Off is taken captive on the Ark. (44 total)

===Covers (3)===
*'''US issue #36 cover:''' Sky Lynx comes to the children's rescue, by [[Frank Springer]], [[Ian Akin]], and [[Brian Garvey]].
*'''UK issue #143 cover:''' a giant claw about to grab Blast Off, by [[Martin Griffiths]].
*'''UK issue #144 cover:''' Grimlock leaping/falling feet first from the Ark, by [[Barry Kitson]] and [[Robin Bouttell]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUS-36.jpg|'''US issue #36''' - Luckily there's no gravity in space!
File:MarvelUK-143.jpg|'''UK issue #143''' - Half an hour later, the claw is still going for it
File:MarvelUK-144.jpg|'''UK issue #144''' - Look, seriously, NO GRAVITY
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
====US====
*[[M&M's]] Quartz Watch - inside front cover
*Tang Soccer Team - between pages 4 & 5
*MPC Model Kits - between pages 5 & 6
*''The Official Marvel Try-Out Book'' - between pages 9 & 10
*Konami NES video games - between pages 12 & 13 (2 pages)
*Direct Comics and Games - between pages 15 & 16
*Bullpen Bulletins and checklist - between pages 19 & 20
*Mile High Comics - between pages 19 & 20
*Marvel Super Mart - between pages 20 & 21
*[[Letters page|Transmissions]]
*Marvel subscription service
*TSR ''Top Secret/S.I.'' RPG - inside back cover
*TSR ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Forgotten Realms'' (back cover)

====UK====
????

===Reprints===
*'''''[[Transformers: Treason]]'' TPB cover:''' [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]], [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]], [[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]], [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] and half of Ratbat, by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''''Treason'' hardback cover:''' [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], and [[Robin Lindley (G1)|Robin Lindley]], by [[Staz|Stewart Johnson]], [[Andy Lanning]] & [[Chris Blythe]].
* '''[[Classic Transformers Volume 3|''Classic Transformers'' Volume 3]] cover:''' panels from this issue, "Spacehikers!" and "[[People Power!]]".
* '''[[The Transformers Classics, Vol. 3|''The Transformers Classics'', Vol. 3]] cover:''' [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]], by [[Guido Guidi]].
* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 9: Toy Soldiers'' cover:''' [[Searchlight (G1)|Searchlight]] by "unknown"/Ratbat by [[Don Perlin]] & [[Jim Fern]].
<gallery>
File:Titan-TreasonSC.jpg|'''''Treason'' TPB'''
File:Titan-TreasonHC.jpg|'''''Treason'' hardback'''
File:Classic Transformers Vol3.jpg|'''''Classic Transformers'' Volume 3'''
File:TFClassicsVol3.jpg|'''''The Transformers Classics'', Vol. 3'''
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v9.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Vol. 9: Toy Soldiers'''''
</gallery>

[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Talk:Underworld!

2026-01-30T12:55:20Z

Timrollpickering: /* Outback */

==Action Force mini-comic==

Does anyone have the issue to hand? Joepedia lacks the full set of credits and internet searches have drawn a blank. [[User:Timrollpickering|Timrollpickering]] 10:16, 9 August 2009 (EDT)
: I have a copy.
** Script: [[Dan Abnett]]
** Art: Stewart Johnson
** Colours: [[Euan Peters]]
** Letters: HEL
: It was also called "Divided We Fall", if you need to know. --[[User:Fortress Minimus|Fortress Minimus]] 12:37, 28 August 2010 (EDT)

== Outback ==

"but in his previous appearances Outback was a regular soldier."
:I'm not sure that's 100% accurate. There's a risk of drifting to fanon but while Outback is known to the Wreckers and Magnus in the "OP on Cybertron" arc he's clearly something of an outsider; while he describes himself as an Autobot (though was that, like, default for Cybertronians at the time?) he's pointedly drawn without an Autobrand across all of the issues. He's certainly not Regular Autobot Soldier #4. Also, in "Underworld" for a cadet he gets some qrizzled dialogue (he's the one who knows about the rite of passage being old hat and who lectured the trio on courage and foolhardiness). It strikes me as intentional? [[User:Shadow XGX-9|Shadow XGX-9]] ([[User talk:Shadow XGX-9|talk]]) 17:05, 23 June 2022 (EDT)

::My instinct is that Furman may have simply forgotten Outback had been used before. It would have been around this time that he wrote yet another story featuring the Triggerbots as though they were being introduced (and Budiansky also wrote two) so it's conceivable he had all three Mini-Autobots on a not previously used list. (I think this was the period when he was living in the US and so less likely to have seen the Collected Comics reprint of Outback's debut.) By this stage the sheer number of characters made it hard to keep track of them all (and continuity was starting to break down). I don't think Outback's symbol means much as many an Autobot is drawn without them, plus it would be on his Earthmode doors and they're drawn differently for Cybertron anyway. [[User:Timrollpickering|Timrollpickering]] ([[User talk:Timrollpickering|talk]]) 07:55, 30 January 2026 (EST)

Talk:Time Wars

2025-12-14T15:02:11Z

Timrollpickering: /* Prime present and future */ new section

Every time I saw that image, I felt like I had to give it that caption. I decided to finally just do it. Change it back (or to something new) if you don't like it. --[[User:Andrusi|Andrusi]] 18:38, 8 February 2007 (UTC)
==Issue Names==
I call shenanigans on the issue names. Just because that's what the "next time" says, does that mean that that's automatically the issue title?--[[User:Jimsorenson|Jimsorenson]] 00:08, 3 June 2010 (EDT)

== Target: 2006 style? ==

Time Wars, unlike the city of fear and Fallen Angel storyline, of being considered one issue. But it is 7 isues worth of stuff, and I think it deserves to have little summaries on individual issues likes the Target: 2006 article.

== Soundwave and the Terrorcons ==

Which future should they return to? Their own that they had previously left or the revised future that Rodimus Prime and the other five Autobots travel to? There's no definite answer here since its not shown either way so all we can do is speculate. They left moments before the time rift occurred so its possible that regular time travel mechanics are still in place, unaffected by the time rift's repair to the damaged spacetime framework. [[Special:Contributions/95.148.10.183|95.148.10.183]] 17:45, 17 July 2011 (EDT)
: It is as you say. It should be the time they left from. Time travel back and forth should be working fine at that point. The revised future only comes to exist due to Cyclonus and Scourge being taken by the time rift. Everyone else, including Galvatron, followed the rules of mass displacement. I like to believe that the pre-revised future still exists alongside the revised future. Only in that timeline, Rodimus Prime, Ultra Magnus and the others don't return to the time they left, but also neither do Galvatron, Cyclonus and Scourge. [[User:Bass X0|Bass X0]] ([[User talk:Bass X0|talk]]) 16:16, 25 September 2014 (EDT)
::Rodimus later called it repairs but there are hints in Time Wars itself that the future is already being altered by Galvatron's actions even while the rift is still open, due to him taking different actions from what he remembers Megatron doing. More subtle is the character development of Megatron. The intention of Time Wars and [[The Fall and Rise of the Decepticon Empire.]] seems to be that Megatron has come out of the whole Galvatron situation a significantly changed bot, determined to avoid repeating past mistakes that ended in madness, not only past mistakes but also future mistakes that led to Galvatron's isolated destruction. Thus the Galvatron in Aspects of Evil is the natural progression of the Megatron at the end of Decepticon Empire. So Soundwave and the Terrorcons could well have found themselves arriving back in the revised timeline with a different Decepticon leader in power.
::(The later Straxus construct retcon throws a massive spanner in all this (and leads to endless debate over which Megatron became which Galvatron), but that was not what was intended in the first half of 1989.) [[User:Timrollpickering|Timrollpickering]] ([[User talk:Timrollpickering|talk]]) 07:21, 12 May 2024 (EDT)

== Death ==
So, what is the casualty count in Time Wars, anyway?[[Special:Contributions/108.25.0.61|108.25.0.61]] 21:21, 1 August 2011 (EDT)

:I second this question [[User:ZeroSD|ZeroSD]] 03:14, 3 December 2012 (EST)
::Well, off the top of my head; Battletrap (though he got better in the US comics), Flywheels, Venom, Chop Shop, Topspin, Twin Twist, Roadbuster, Sandstorm, Rack 'n' Ruin (depends if you count them as one or two 'bots), future Ultra Magnus (maybe, it's heavily implied but not confirmed), Galvatron (sort of, he returns in "Aspects of Evil" though whether it's the "same" Galvatron is debatable) and Scourge (who throws himself into the time rift and is never seen again). --[[User:Emvee|Emvee]] 05:15, 3 December 2012 (EST)
:: Battletrap didn't die. There is nothing to suggest that future Ultra Magnus survived. And Aspects of Evil Galvatron doesn't have the memories or experiences that the Galvatron in the post-movie UK stories has, so he should be counted as a seperate version. In the same way how Rhythms of Darkness Galvatron isn't the same one either. Scourge and Cyclonus should exist as seperate versions in the revised timeline. [[User:Bass X0|Bass X0]] ([[User talk:Bass X0|talk]]) 16:25, 25 September 2014 (EDT)
:::You're replying to conversations that were from a couple years ago. [[User:Escargon|Escargon]] ([[User talk:Escargon|talk]]) 16:30, 25 September 2014 (EDT)
::::Yes, I am fully aware of that. Does it really matter? [[User:Bass X0|Bass X0]] ([[User talk:Bass X0|talk]]) 17:59, 25 September 2014 (EDT)

== Scorponok's head ==

''"Why didn't Scorponok's head simply transform back into Zarak after being captured by Highbrow?"
''

I'd argue that this was to do with how his head was removed. Highbrow says something to the effect of "can't be pleasant separating without the correct mental commands". I assumed that Zarak was unconscious/in a coma as a result of the violent separation. Is that supported enough by the comics to remove that as an error? [[User:LiamK|LiamK]] ([[User talk:LiamK|talk]]) 07:22, 9 October 2015 (EDT)
: I assumed that explanation was explicitly canon. Is it not? --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] ([[User talk:ItsWalky|talk]]) 09:45, 9 October 2015 (EDT)
:: I annual has Highbrow theorizing that the forced separation has caused both Zarak and Scorponok to black-out. It's pretty logical to assume that they're still unconscious for that reason, especially as it's hardly likely that Highbrow will have done anything to rectify the situation. I'll remove the error. [[User:LiamK|LiamK]] ([[User talk:LiamK|talk]]) 12:17, 9 October 2015 (EDT)

== Prime present and future ==

:''Rodimus Prime isn't ''really'' Optimus Prime's future self. Optimus Prime and Rodimus Prime in the same era should not cause a time disruption despite what the two Primes believe (Rodimus Prime and ''Hot Rod'', however)... Apparently it is actually caused by the two holding the Matrix simultaneously. Though, Optimus doesn't have the Matrix, as it is with his other body on VsQs, a fact that won't be revealed for several issues. Head hurt yet?''

I've got a feeling this may be a vestige of an early idea that a Prime isn't just carrying the Matrix but is somehow fused with the essence of Primus such that each is sort of the same being in a new host. Note that back in issue #151 when Rodimus entered Unicron's mind the latter addressed him as "Primus! Back for the rematch?" as though it was his ancient enemy himself who had shown up and there's the complication of the Matrix originally being an energy force within a mind rather than the physical object from the cartoon (and again in #151 the events only make sense if the Matrix is working through Rodimus's mind when he's out of his body). And Space Pirates had shown Rodimus Prime to not be Hot Rod grown up but rather a boy with a magic talisman who reverted as soon as it was taken away. As with a lot things in Times Wars it's complicated by later stories going in a different direction. [[User:Timrollpickering|Timrollpickering]] ([[User talk:Timrollpickering|talk]]) 10:02, 14 December 2025 (EST)

Missing in Action

2025-10-30T10:04:46Z

Timrollpickering: /* Production notes */ consistent spelling

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[Transformers Annual 1985]]
|prev=Plague of the Insecticons!
|next=And There Shall Come...a Leader!
|title="Missing in Action"
|image=RumbleMissingInAction.jpg
|caption=Rumble penetrates Tracks. No innuendo intended.
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] in association with [[Grandreams]]
|date=Late [[1985]]
|coverdate=[[1985]]
|writer=[[James Hill]] (uncredited)
|illustrator=[[John Stokes]] (uncredited)
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''Tracks comes to grief in a back passage.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] has run into [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] in an alley in [[Greater Portland]] whilst both are on missions for their respective leaders. The [[Decepticon]] is tough and smashes Tracks in. He leaves Tracks for dead, but the Autobot manages to transform to his car mode before losing consciousness. Tracks's failure to return to the [[Autobot]]s causes [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] concern and he sends [[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] to investigate.

Tracks has been found in the alley by [[J.D.]], a youth looking for a getaway car. He and his friend, [[Mark Brookes]], have agreed to carry out a robbery using Mark's father's gun. Mark has stolen the gun from his father's top drawer whilst J.D. has been given the job of stealing the car. J.D. drives Tracks to [[Lou's Bar]] where he picks up Mark and they proceed to a supermarket. J.D. holds up the store but a cashier presses an alarm button and he accidentally fires the gun. The two flee to [[New York City]].

A week later, the Autobots have still not found Tracks when [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] tells Prime that he has been monitoring human law enforcement computers and spotted reports of a crime wave in New York by two youths wanted in connection for a hold-up in Greater Portland and driving a car that sounds like Tracks. Prime orders [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]], and [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] to travel to New York City and recover Tracks.

[[File:Infernomissinginaction.jpg|left|thumb|''Braddooooock!'']]
Late at night in New York, ten year old [[Danny Phillips]] is awake in bed, reading through "his most prized possession... his scrap book", containing newspaper clippings about many subjects including the space shuttle and UFO sightings. His latest clipping is about sightings of robots in the state of [[Oregon]]. He is doing so secretly as his mother is determined to prevent Danny developing a reckless thirst for adventure like his father, who died testing a rocket ship for [[NASA]], and she believes Danny will go the same way if she doesn't stop him. Consequently, she steers him away from science fiction, astronomy, spacecraft and the like.

The next day, Danny is out doing errands for his mother when he sees a blue Corvette Stingray pull up and two men get out and go into the bank. Danny recognises the [[insignia]] on the car and soon realises that it is the same as used by the robots in the newspaper story. He charges into the bank, only to find J.D. and Mark holding it up. Danny's entrance distracts J.D. and a cashier pushes an alarm button. Mark worries but J.D. responds that they will be fine if they take hostages and the police know that they have the bomb he now produces.

Elsewhere in the city, Hoist, Grapple and, Inferno meet up in vehicle form. Hoist and Grapple explain they have tapped into the police frequencies and learnt about the bank robbery. The three Autobots set off. At the bank the police have cordoned things off and brought in hostage negotiators. The Autobots transform to their robot modes and nonchalantly walk towards Tracks. J.D. sees this from inside the bank and panics. The bomb drops to the floor and the timer starts ticking.

The explosion destroys the front of the bank and a fireball engulfs the rest of the building. Hearing that the hostages are still inside, the Autobots go into action. Grapple transforms and uses his crane to get people down from the roof of the building whilst Hoist uses his strength to hold up the floors whilst Inferno pulls unconscious victims to safety. They turn J.D. and Mark straight over to the police and think they've rescued everyone when a woman tells them a young boy is still inside. Inferno charges into the flaming building. Suddenly the remains collapse. After several minutes Inferno rises and walks out, carrying Danny in his arms. Inferno explains he used his own body to shield the boy from the flames. Inferno looks at the little human and smiles as he feels glad to have saved him.

The Autobots return to Oregon, where Tracks is repaired. He debriefs Optimus Prime on the events and asks that if humans behave like the two crooks then aren't they as bad as the Decepticons and deserve to be ruled by them? Prime responds that the crimes of the humans are very different from those of the Decepticons, that many other humans are honest and the Autobots are sworn to protect them. Tracks never forgets Prime's words...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (1)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (3)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (4)
*[[Mirage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Mirage]] (5)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] (6)
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (10)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (11)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (14)
*[[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] (15)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (16)
|c2=
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (2)
|c3=
*[[J.D.]] (7)
*[[Mark Brookes]] (8)
*[[Lou (barkeep)|Lou]] (9)
*[[Danny Phillips]] (12)
*[[Jennifer Phillips]] (13)
}}

==Notes==
===Production notes===
*As with most of the other stories included in the first Transformers Annual, "Missing in Action" was written largely to promote toys from the 1985 assortment currently available in stores that had not yet appeared in the ongoing comic, without regard for how it would fit into the larger UK comic continuity. By writer [[James Hill]]'s recollection, as recounted in [[IDW Publishing]]'s [[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 1|''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 1]], both it and "[[Hunted!]]" were written early in 1985, long before the 1985 characters featured in this story would be properly introduced by the US comic. Hill rationalised the appearance of these characters at the time with the presumption that "there was no reason why a few more Autobots couldn't be salted away in the bowels of [the Ark]," to be used as needed by stories.
*The artist for this story is uncredited, but a summary section included in the [[Titan Books]] trade paperback ''[[Transformers: Fallen Angel|Fallen Angel]]'' speculates that it is the work of [[John Stokes]], which Hill would confirm in his ''Classics UK'' interview.

===Continuity notes===
*To get specific on why this story cannot fit into the larger Marvel continuity, though ''most'' of the 1985 characters seen in it (Tracks, Hoist, and Grapple) would be introduced into the comic in [[Rock and Roll-Out!|UK issue #53]], Cosmos would not join Optimus Prime's Autobot forces until [[Resurrection!|UK issue #103]], which was at a point in time after Rumble had already gone offline at the hands of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] in [[Command Performances!|UK issue #71]]. Additionally, outside of a questionable one-panel cameo in [[Decepticon Dam-Busters!|UK issue #30]], Inferno was never shown to be part of Optimus's Autobot forces on Earth.
*[[Transformers Annual 1986|The following year's annual]] would contain a sequel to "Missing in Action," entitled "[[The Return of the Transformers]]," in which Danny Phillips would reappear. That story dates "Missing in Action" to around a year prior to the creation of the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] (which took place in [[Aerialbots over America!|UK issue #89]]), which would be a point of time at which none of the 1985 characters were active in the comics, further validating the idea that the story cannot possibly be part of UK continuity.

===Real-life references===
*Hill notes in his interview in ''UK Classics'' that J.D. is named after the character of John "J.D." LaRue from the TV series ''{{w|Hill Street Blues}}.''

===Artwork and technical errors===
*On page 22, "It had been months before when J.D. and first, half-jokingly, suggested that the two perform a robbery." That should be "at first," not "and first."
*A few lines later, "that" is misspelled as "tht".
*Inferno has two hands in the illustration. His toy can have two fists as an option, but Inferno is depicted with a nozzle instead of a right fist in the vast majority of his fictional appearances.
*In the text, Mark and J.D. meet at Lou's Bar and proceed to rob a supermarket. However the illustration of J.D. holding up a place with a gun includes a sign that ends "...AR", indicating they are holding up a pub instead.
*Tracks has a gold hood in robot mode.
*Rumble is taller than Tracks.

===Other trivia===
*Optimus Prime is shown recharging by means of a cable plugged into his chest cavity that links it to the Ark's main computer.

===Cover===
*'''Transformers Annual 1985:''' [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]], [[Thundercracker (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Thundercracker]], Jazz, Optimus Prime and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]. Cover Artist [[John Higgins]].
<gallery>
File:Transformers annual 1986.jpg|'''Hardcover'''
File:Tfannualsoftcover.jpg|'''Softcover'''
</gallery>

===Reprints===
<gallery>
File:Classicuk1.jpg|'''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 1|''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 1]]''' (IDW Publishing, 2011)
</gallery>

[[Category:Marvel UK Annual stories]]
[[Category:Marvel UK text stories]]

Abdul Fakkadi (G1)

2025-10-19T13:31:07Z

Timrollpickering: /* Notes */ far far more than 37 found

{{disambig2|the evil despot|his noble mirrorverse counterpart|Abdul Fakkadi (SG)}}
:''Abdul Fakkadi is a [[human]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Fakkadi.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"There is no rebellion in Carbombya, we are facing [[Cobra]] militants!"]]
'''Abdul Fakkadi''' (also spelled '''Faghadi''') is the self-professed Supreme Military Commander, President-for-Life, and King of Kings of the [[Socialist Democratic Federated Republic of Carbombya]]. One gets the feeling that if you were to inform him that, by definition, a republic cannot have a king (much less a "King of Kings"), his likely response would be to stare blankly for a long moment, and then order your immediate beheading.

None too bright and none too stable, Fakkadi is concerned primarily with the accumulation of wealth and keeping "fanatics" and "imperialists" away from his homeland's shores. He is not averse to making deals with [[Decepticon]]s to help further these goals.

==Fiction==
===''The Transformers'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Philip L. Clarke]] (English), [[Toshiro Ishii]] (Japanese)|[[Wang Xiaobing]] (Chinese), [[Michael Rüth]] (German, "Thief in the Night"), [[Éric Etcheverry]] (European French, "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1]]"), [[Ayrton Cardoso]] (Portuguese, "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1"), [[Dario Lourenço]] (Portuguese, [[Thief in the Night]]")}}

[[Image:ThiefNight Fakkadi on camel.jpg|thumb|left|230px|"I swear by this camel I am jockeying, you will find no stereotypes in Carbombya!"]]

When [[Outback (G1)|Outback]] and [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] came looking for the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]], Fakkadi ordered the [[Autobot]]s to leave his country, and acted offended that Decepticons would use his country as a hiding place. It turned out that the Seekers [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] and [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] were hiding there. Whether or not Fakkadi knew is unaddressed. But as he was standing right next to Blaster and Outback, who saw the cons transform he probably did. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1}}

Later, Fakkadi made a deal with [[Octane]] to allow him and hide [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] in Carbombya while he recovered after his battle with [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. Trypticon served as a defense for Carbombya's coasts, while Fakkadi allowed Trypticon and Octane access to Carbombya's [[oil]] fields, making extremely powerful [[Energon]]. However, Trypticon's extreme fuel consumption angered Fakkadi. Worse, all the city did was shoot at passing tourist cruises (though in Trypticon's defense, he did think they were invading ships). Fakkadi threatened to call in the Autobots, but Octane managed to negotiate a deal, where Trypticon stole [[Fort Knox]], and its [[gold]], to appease Fakkadi. However, Fakkadi began forcing Trypticon to steal more monuments, to give Carbombya a thriving tourist trade.

[[Image:ThiefNight Fakkadi holding gold.jpg|thumb|right|220px|"Your offering of cheese pleases me."]]
Unfortunately, [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] tracked down Octane, but he was able to appease the Decepticon leader by giving him Carbombyan Energon. Fakkadi refused to deal with the Decepticons, but his Autobot trump card did not have the same effect on Galvatron as it did Octane. Running out of options, Fakkadi tried to send a message to the Autobots, authorizing them to invade Carbombya, but Galvatron imprisoned him. However, the Autobots managed to force the Decepticons away from Carbombya. [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] asked Fakkadi to return the monuments and never ally with the Decepticons again. Fakkadi promised the Autobot leader that he wouldn't make any more deals with the Decepticons, swearing by his relatives' various livestock. {{storylink|Thief in the Night}}

===''Transformers Legends'' anthology===
With his country occupied by [[NATO]] forces, and himself ousted from power, Fakkadi became leader of the [[Carbombian Protection League]], a group of freedom fighters working to take back their country. He was able to do a deal with [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] to purchase advanced weaponry for the cause, however his persistence began to irritate the Decepticon. Swindle finally agreed to deliver the promised weapons, however after the handover took place, Fakkadi was arrested by NATO forces, along with his son-in-law [[Pak Milaton]] and financier [[Anton Surich]]. Protesting loudly that they couldn't do this to him, Fakkadi was pistol-whipped into submission by [[Joseph Bergstrum|Major Bergstrum]]. {{storylink|Two for the Price of One}}

==Notes==
* The portrayal of Abdul Fakkadi as the stereotypical "evil Arab" prompted voice actor [[Casey Kasem]], who himself was of Lebanese descent, to quit the ''Transformers'' series.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=After Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, hate crimes and threats against Arab-Americans were reported across the United States. '"America’s DJ,"' Casey Kasem, writes about how anti-Arab stereotypes on television and in movies create a climate for such violence.|link=https://www.ameu.org/1990/12/21/arab-defamation-in-the-media/|name=Kasem, Casey|site=Americans for Middle East Understanding|title=Arab Defamation in the Media|year=1990|month=12|day=05}}</ref>
* Fakkadi is loosely based on real-world politician {{w|Muammar Gaddafi}}, the leader of Libya at the time of the cartoon's creation, and an on-again/off-again antagonist of the [[United States of America|United States]]. Fakkadi's grandiose collection of titles, meanwhile, appears to be based on {{w|Idi Amin}}, though Gaddafi ''would'' eventually be named "king of kings" by a group of [[Africa]]n rulers in [[2008]].<ref>{{citesocial|quote=A meeting of more than 200 African kings and traditional rulers has bestowed the title "king of kings" on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.|link=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7588033.stm|name=BBC staff|site=BBC|title=Gaddafi: Africa's 'king of kings'|year=2008|month=08|day=29}}</ref> Additionally, the title "King of Kings" could also be considered a reference to {{w|Haile Selassie}}.
* The spelling of Fakkadi as "Faghadi" is another reference to Gaddafi, who had at least one hundred and twelve acceptable spellings of his name.<ref>{{citesocial|name=Charles Gibson|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206125143/https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2009/09/how-many-different-ways-can-you-spell-gaddafi/|site=ABC News|title=How Many Different Ways Can You Spell 'Gaddafi' |year=2009 |month=09 |day=22}}</ref>

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Abdul Fakkadi''' (アブダル・ファカディ ''Abudaru Fakadi'')

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fakkadi, Abdul}}
[[Category:Fiction-only characters]]
[[Category:Generation 1 cartoon humans]]
[[Category:Human leaders]]
[[Category:Kings]]
[[Category:Politicians]]

To sell toys

2025-07-19T18:52:02Z

Timrollpickering: /* New toys with minimal fictional appearances */ Sixshot

[[File:MarvelUS-19.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Hasbro wasn't quite sure whether to advertise this expensive toy until the fans forced their hand.]]
To understand ''Transformers'' fiction, it is important to understand that it exists '''to sell toys.''' [[Hasbro]] and [[TakaraTomy]] are toy companies, and they are primarily interested in continuing to sell [[toy]]s to children and adults. The cartoons, comic books, etc., mostly exist to make this happen. To be sure, they normally [[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)#Reception|make a profit in their own right]], but this is regarded as mere gravy.

The "to sell toys" effect often distorts the fiction in interesting ways. Primarily, since you can't ([[Army-building|usually]]) sell someone the same toy twice,<ref>Although the toy lines from the [[live-action film series]] have given us multiple ''different'' toys of the ''same characters''.</ref> Hasbro and Takara constantly introduce new toys, and often require the creators of the fiction to introduce the new characters into ongoing storylines. Older characters (whose toys are no longer being sold) are shoved aside to make room.

Another effect of "to sell toys" is when the toys have gimmicks which must be explained in the fiction. Sometimes this is relatively easy, while other times it requires a lot of imagination on the part of the writers. Japanese-original shows such as ''[[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|The Headmasters]]'', ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce]]'', and the various instalments of the [[Unicron Trilogy continuity family|Unicron Trilogy]] often structure their casts and storylines around a single specific play feature, which is highlighted in just about every episode.

The UK [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|movie-based ''Transformers'' comic]] took this to more blatant heights. For its first year, it had a specific four-page feature every week called ''Top Gear'', which existed solely to promote the newest ''Transformers'' merchandise. ''Any'' merchandise. This led to readers being told how great [[Optimash Prime]] was. For the [[2010]] ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (franchise)|Transformers: War for Cybertron]]'' game franchise, [[Ironhide (Movie)|''Ironhide himself'']] opened letters pages by telling readers how ''awesome'' the game was and how [[you]] should buy it.

{{bigquote|Truly, I'm speechless. Your species characterizes the infinite wonders of the churning, whorling, chaotic cosmos through the lens of... merchandising?

I can see why Swindle loves you idiots.|[[Sideways (AVP)|Sideways]] on the concept, [[Ask Vector Prime]].}}

==Casting==
===Huge casts===
[[File:CosmicRust-BigGroup.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|[[Pokeformers|Gotta catch 'em all!]]]]
Hasbro makes a lot of toys at once, and they generally want all of them to appear in their fiction. This can force writers to bring in vast numbers of characters all at once, sometimes with awkward results. Examples include:

*The first issue of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Generation 1 comic]], "[[The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers]]", in which ''twenty-eight'' different robots appeared and introduced themselves, even though only a handful are important to the plot.
*"[[The Special Teams Have Arrived]]", a free mini-comic given away with issue [[Rock and Roll-Out!|#54]] of the [[Marvel Comics|Marvel UK]] [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|comic]], notoriously introduces the reader to ''twenty-four'' new Transformers in just three pages. Granted, four of those are the [[Combiner|combined forms]] of the other twenty, but that's still a lot of new names to remember.
*The 1987 ''[[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]]'' Limited Series, which introduced over ''sixty'' characters in the course of four issues, including all the first waves of [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] and [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]], all their [[Nebulan]] partners, the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]], [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]], and [[Monsterbot (G1)|Monsterbot]]s.
*The cartoon episode trilogy "[[The Rebirth]]" likewise abruptly introduced well over ''forty'' of the 1987 toyline characters, mostly the same ones seen in ''Headmasters''. In both cases, this wasn't helped by the fact that the nature of Headmasters and Targetmasters meant every new toy had to effectively get two introductions.
*In the first four episodes of [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 cartoon)|the 2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon]], eighteen characters are introduced in quick succession.
*From #9 onwards, [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Titan's movie-based ''Transformers'']] heavily bumped up the cast with new toys. In one example, #17 brought in nine new toys in eleven pages; only one of the five Decepticons got any real focus or dialogue.

===Random casting===
The Hasbro-induced need to show all the toys can also cause stories to suddenly focus on a new character, sometimes dropping ongoing plot threads about older ones. Examples include:

*Season 2 of the cartoon introduced many new characters/buyable toys with no explanation; despite never having been seen before, the story treats them as though they have [[Beachcomber (G1)|been there]] [[Perceptor (G1)|the whole]] [[Tracks (G1)|time]]. [[Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1|One episode]] even hinges on this idea.
[[File:Decepticonpretenders-behold.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|After seven issues, it's finally time for these six dudes to do something!]]
[[File:FlamesofBoltax-Triggerbots.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Apparently, the Triggerbots didn't make much of an impression on Prime.]]
*The comic issue "[[Pretender to the Throne!]]" suddenly introduces a dozen Autobots and Decepticons that we've never met before, and follows their adventures. The story adds nothing to the long-range plot that couldn't have been accomplished by using existing characters; these teams were added to the mix to promote their new toys.
*Many issues of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel comic]] had cover blurbs in the form "Introducing the _______!", where the blank was whatever the latest line of toys was. The following issues specifically introduce new toys on the cover: [[Repeat Performance!|#8]], [[The Next Best Thing to Being There!|#10]], [[Brainstorm!|#11]], [[Command Performances!|#19]], [[Aerialbots over America!|#21]], [[Crater Critters|#29]], [[The Cure!|#30]], [[Pretender to the Throne!|#40]], [[People Power!|#42]], [[Ca$h and Car-nage!|#46]], [[Club Con!|#47]], and [[Yesterday's Heroes!|#60]]. Throw in a few covers where new characters were pictured but not named, and that's 1/5th of the series.
*In [[Spacehikers!|issue #36]] of the Marvel comics, when [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] decides that he needs help in dealing with [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]]'s inept leadership, he doesn't turn to any of the ''dozens'' of Autobots aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], which include two combiner teams and Omega Supreme. No, he has to call in his "old buddy"/new toy, [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]].
*In the prelude to the [[Underbase Saga]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] were the lead characters in a story set before the Transformers came to [[Earth]]. But rather than palling around with the likes of Jazz or Soundwave, they are instead shown alongside the newest "gimmick" characters, the [[Triggercon]]s and the [[Triggerbot]]s.
*[[Mainframe Entertainment]] planned to use [[Wolfang (Maximal)|Wolfang]] in ''Beast Wars'', but [[Tigatron]] appeared instead because he had an upcoming toy, and to save money as his CGI model was only a slight tweak of [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]'s.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_frm/thread/9c79c4226fc6dd28/30c3cdf158ea6e52?lnk=st&q=bob+forward+beast+wars+tigatron+wolfang&rnum=1#30c3cdf158ea6e52 Ben Yee relays some info from Bob Forward in regards to Wolfang being replaced by Tigatron in the Beast Wars cartoon]</ref>
*Rather than revealing stuff about the [[Vok]] and [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]], a long-running subplot, "[[Other Victories]]" spends much of its time telling us how great [[Tigerhawk]] is and how we should buy his toy. Then, when it looked like Tigerhawk's toy would be canned, he was almost immediately killed off.
*Material released by both [[3H Productions|3H]] and [[Fun Publications]] tends to release characters from various series and continuities and then write stories featuring every character (usually with a particular focus on that year's box set), which often leads to some bizarre casting choices. [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]], [[Strika (BM)|Strika]], and [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] were all retroactively added to [[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]] and [[Machine Wars: Transformers|Machine Wars]] because they wanted to do toys of them that year. The [[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]] version of [[Tracks (SG)|Tracks]] is introduced from nowhere, has minimal characterization, and doesn't do anything, because they wanted to do [[Tracks (G1)#Transformers (2010)|Tracks's 2010 toy]] in [[Diaclone]]/[[Road Rage (G1)|Road Rage]] colors. And pretty much every story taking place in the [[Primax 207.0 Epsilon|Classicsverse]], ostensibly a [[Marvel Comics continuity|Marvel G1]]-based series, will introduce or reintroduce characters who were dead (the various [[Underbase Saga]] casualties), not even implied in the original stories ([[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]], [[Metalhawk (G1)|Metalhawk]]), or [[Female Transformer#Marvel Comics continuity|don't make sense in that universe to begin with]] ([[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]]). Sometimes this gets a token justification, other times not.
*The [[First (and Second) in Flight|sixth issue]] of ''[[Transformers Animated: The Arrival|The Arrival]]'' stops following the regular cast so it can flag the awesome cool out-now-in-shops [[Safeguard (Animated)|Safeguard]] toy.
*Prominent generals in [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Titan's movieverse]] Decepticon army change frequently and without any acknowledgment as new toys jostle for (and gain) space.
*[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]] and its lead-ins were packed with ''[[Thrilling 30]]'' toys, so suddenly ''Beast Wars'' characters [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] and [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] are in G1. Things got worse in later issues when [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] and [[Crosscut (G1)|Crosscut]] needed a comic; Tankor berates Starscream for a few panels in [[No Exit: Dark Cybertron Chapter 6|''Dark Cybertron'' #6]], while Crosscut and [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] briefly halt the plot in [[The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|''Dark Cybertron'' #7]] to tell you who Crosscut ''is''. Then he vanishes. They did end up getting increased roles in IDW fiction later, though.
*For "[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]", several Autobots had to abruptly depart the ''[[Lost Light]]'' for Cybertron so they could appear in their combiner teams. In the case of [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]], this was despite him having just become the Chief Medical Officer: a long-running plot!
*[[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] and [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] appeared in the IDWverse after a seven-year absence in ''[[Starscream: The Movie (comic)|Starscream: The Movie]]'' and ''[[The Falling, Chapter 2: Another Mine|Another Mine]]''. The fact that those two oft-ignored characters had new ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' and ''[[Power of the Primes (toyline)|Power of the Primes]]'' Legends Class toys released recently probably had something to do with the matter.

===Limited casting===
On the opposite side of things, Hasbro doesn't want to pay to depict characters that aren't selling toys. This can force a story, particularly an animated cartoon, to have a smaller cast than it otherwise might.

[[File:Metamorphdeceps2.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|The full might of the Decepticon army.]]
*The [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original cartoon]] and [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|early Marvel comics]] both featured an oddly lopsided cast, particularly at the beginning, with the Autobot forces on Earth outnumbering the Decepticons two to one. This difference was never really acknowledged, though the cartoon also used [[generic]]s to make it look like Megatron had more than four guys, three pets, and [[Reflector (G1)|a camera]] under his command.
*The early episodes of ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' featured only the toys available on the shelves. This resulted in two ridiculously small teams going to [[Earth]] for the all-important mission of gathering Mini-Cons, rather inexplicable in story terms.
*[[Transformers: Armada (Dreamwave)|Both the Dreamwave]] and [[Transformers: Armada (Panini)|Panini comics]] suffered exactly the same problem, but it gets worse: [[First Encounter|The first ''Armada'' episode]] reused models of older Transformers as [[generic]] background guys to bump numbers up. The comics ''didn't''. So Megatron apparently conquers all of planet Cybertron with an army of three guys, whereas the city/planet defending Autobots are just five blokes.
*Dreamwave would also [[Dreamwave Armada issue 10|feature a scene on Cybertron]], where the ''only'' Autobot who seemed to exist was [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]].
*For [[Transformers: Movie Prequel|the movie prequels]], IDW got around this by deciding that [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]] was going to be a [[Class Alpha drone unit|series of drones]] instead of one guy, allowing for really big battle scenes despite a then-limited number of toys. (It would later turn out there was ''also'' a Dreadwing who was one guy.) Titan Magazines would borrow this, and turn other Decepticons into drone series too.
*It seems unlikely that four bots and their human partners would be sufficient to handle every emergency on [[Griffin Rock]], but those four bots [[Transformers: Rescue Bots (toyline)|were the only ones on shelves at the time]] (other than [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus]] and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]], who were needed [[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|elsewhere]]), so they were the ones who went into [[Transformers: Rescue Bots (cartoon)|the show]]. As the toyline expanded, toy characters Blurr, Salvage, High Tide and Quickshadow were introduced into the cast.
*''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy (cartoon)|Kingdom]]'' acts as a celebration of the 25th anniversary of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', but only includes characters who were slated for the first three waves of the accompanying toyline (with the exception of [[Tigatron]], likely due to the ease of retooling [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]'s animation model into a spare character). This means that notable cartoon characters like [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] or [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] who didn't have toys in the first three waves never put in an appearance in the season. To compensate for the Predacons having depleted ranks as a result, [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] stays with the Predacons for most of his screentime while [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] was turned into a group of generics; Predacon [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] also says many Predacons have been lost in his war with the Maximals.
{{-}}

==Plot==
===Forced explication===
{{main|Introdump}}

Rather than simply showing up in the background, new toy/characters often overtly introduce themselves, often with a ridiculous description of their special abilities. The Marvel comic is rife with examples, but it shows up across numerous fictions.

[[File:Introdump decepticons marvelus01.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Reflector is actually here, he's just buried underneath a pile of speech bubbles.]]
*Again, [[The Transformers (issue)|''Transformers'' #1]] has two huge splash pages in which 28 characters do nothing but stand around and tell each other who they are and what they can do.
*Towards the end of "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]", Jazz puts together a strike team. Naturally, he does this by calling out their names one by one, so that the camera can cut to each Autobot in turn and show them transform in noticeable detail.
*The two-part original ''Transformers'' cartoon episode "[[Dinobot Island, Part 1|Dinobot Island]]" features many new 1985 characters getting their own short little introductory scene, often with a characteristic bit of self-description ([[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]]: "I'd rather stay in my stunning auto mode!" [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]: "I'm ''always'' ready for action!" [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]]: "Wow, like, I hope we don't destroy this place before we can study it!")
*"[[The Rebirth]]" has ''three different sequences'' in which large new groups of characters form a lineup and introduce themselves to viewers one after another. Strangely enough, much of this screen- and dialogue-time is given over to Nebulan partners; the "main" Transformer characters get no such introductions, even though they are the items kids would have to purchase to acquire the Nebulan accessories. For instance, [[Spasma]], [[Monzo]], and [[Peacemaker]] (all speaking characters) are introduced by name as part of various lineups, but their in-store hosts [[Apeface]], [[Weirdwolf (G1)|Weirdwolf]], and [[Pointblank]] are never named (and Weirdwolf never even speaks).
*"[[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]" has the Maximals walk on one-by-one admiring their [[beast mode]]s, loudly explaining their names and showing character traits. This even gives the impression they deliberately changed their names to fit these new beast modes for no apparent reason.
*Crosscut and Swerve fill in Crosscut's backstory and job during a fight. That's all Crosscut does in [[The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|''Dark Cybertron'' #7]].

===Gimmicks===
{{main|Gimmick}}
When the toys can do something special, fiction writers must often go out of their way to show the gimmick in action.

*The ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)#1986 .28Scramble City and 2010.29|Scramble City]]'' category of G1 combiner teams have the ability to freely swap around their limbs. Because of this, an unusual amount of Japanese fiction focuses on the idea of characters swapping limbs, best shown by ''[[Scramble City: Mobilization]]'', with rather variable consequences, and sometimes resulting in the creation of [[Scramble 7|whole new combiner characters]]. Sometimes, this purportedly results in some kind of increase in power or the combiner gaining different traits, but these changes are almost invariably told more than shown. In some cases, simply [[Free-Combination|changing the arrangement of an existing set of limbs]] is cited as something that can vastly alter a character's capabilities, with little real explanation.
*The Headmaster gimmick got [[The Transformers: Headmasters|an entire Limited Series comic book]] devoted to it.
*The comic issue "[[Pretender to the Throne!]]" features [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] proudly creating the [[Pretender]]s, gloating that they will hide the Decepticons' identities from the Autobots "until it is too late". Not only does the plan not actually work, it's also a plot point with absolutely zero lead-in or build-up—at no point has Scorponok ever expressed concern about his troops being detected by the Autobots (if anything, considering the altmodes of his troops, he seems to be the ''least'' concerned with stealth), nor has he demonstrated the science skills to pull this off, and we've never even met the Pretender characters before. It was brought about solely because the new toys had to be jammed into the story. (The, uh, story of returning Optimus Prime's character to the comic book because he had [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#PMOP|a new toy]].)
*[[Rotor Force]] made their debut in "[[New Dawn]]", and both here and in subsequent ''Generation 2'' issues would primarily fight enemies not with guns like everyone else, but by firing their giant rotors at them. Page 3 of ''New Dawn'' actually shows them having to ''stop and reattach their rotors'' before they can carry on fighting.
[[File:Mistaken Identity Galvatronscourge.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|[[Johnny Yong Bosch|It's Morphin Time! MASTODON!]]]]
*The [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 franchise)|2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' franchise]] [[Megatron (RID)|Megatron]] had six alternate modes and [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 cartoon)|the cartoon]] really wanted you to see them, which is why [[Battle Protocol!|his first appearance]] was as ''a giant hand punching through a building for no apparent reason''. The series would also make it routine for him to use different modes for specific purposes: He would arrive to battles in Jet Mode, observe fights and command his troops in Robot Mode, personally engage his foes in Dragon Mode, and retreat from battle in Bat Mode. His Car Mode and Hand Mode would be used far less often than those four, but situations that deliberately called for their use ''would'' still crop up. Things got even sillier when he turned into Galvatron and gained four ''more'' modes. In "[[Mistaken Identity]]", he turned into his "Iron Mammoth" form to brace himself against a hostile [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Fortress Maximus]]... only for the form to prove ''useless'' when Maximus called off his attack. His griffin form was later made out to be his most powerful form, which he used prominently during the series' [[The Final Battle (RID)|final episode]], while his Pteranodon and hydrofoil modes would each only be used once, in cases where Galvatron barely did ''anything'' in those modes (much like the case with his mammoth mode).
*[[Jetstorm (Animated)|Jetstorm]] and [[Jetfire (Animated)|Jetfire]] are the only Autobot jets in the ''Animated'' line. (Not counting the toyless [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]].) To fully big this up, their origin story has it that there have ''never been'' any flying Autobots before, despite them having been in (and won) a long and bitter war with enemies who ''often fly''. This one was silly enough that [[Endgame, Part I|a later episode]] explicitly joked on this, pointing out that there were multiple Autobots before and after Jetfire and Jetstorm with some kind of flight capability.
*The second season of the 2015 ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'' cartoon coincided with the release of the [[Deployer (WFC)|Deployer]] toys, which fire smaller [[Mini-Con]] figures. Suddenly, every Decepticon in the cartoon was partnered with a Mini-Con or two, even Decepticons who'd appeared in the past as solo operatives.

The [[Unicron Trilogy continuity family|Unicron Trilogy]], noted for its gimmicks in all three toylines, was particularly notorious in this regard:

*The quest for power-enhancing [[Mini-Con]]s practically defined the plot of the ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' cartoon, with both factions out to recruit or capture all the Mini-Cons.
*[[Powerlinx]]ing is shown again and again and again in ''[[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|Energon]]'', despite having comparatively little relevance to most episode plotlines. In fact, due to the fact much of Energon's action was firefights, Powerlinxing seemed to be a disadvantage, since it resulted in a single larger Autobot shooting instead of two smaller ones.
*[[Cyber Key]] powerups are likewise shown repeatedly in ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]].'' In this case, while most characters had basic weapons, the Cyber Keys were necessary to unlock hidden weaponry or special techniques. So, for example, Optimus might be able to shoot at the Decepticons with a smaller firearm, but to fire his larger cannons he would need to summon his Cyber Key. Some characters, however, needed their Cyber Keys to activate what one would expect to be their main weapons (e.g. Starscream activating his Null Ray Cannon).
*All three series were also marked by lengthy transformation sequences which highlighted the gimmicks in very toy-accurate animation (and also made production cheaper, thanks to [[Stock footage|recycled footage]]).

===Strange developments===
Shoehorning loads of new characters with new powers can compel the writers to do things with the plot that, in all probability, they otherwise wouldn't.

*Marvel UK had to promote the [[Special Teams]] toys ''before'' they knew how they'd be appearing in the US reprints. To get around this, [[Simon Furman]] wrote a story arc titled "[[Second Generation!]]", where [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]], Optimus and [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] <s>watched an advert</s> saw a Matrix-induced vision of the Special Teams in action. These events were previewed in "The Special Teams Have Arrived", nine issues earlier, with no indication that they were part of a vision, making their place in continuity uncertain.
*In the US Marvel comics, the simultaneous introduction of the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] and [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] and the introduction of the Pretenders both saw a lot of rigamarole involved in explaining why both the Autobots and the Decepticons had new members with identical numbers/gimmicks at the same time.
*Season 3 of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original ''The Transformers'' cartoon]] almost completely ignored the characters of the previous two seasons that were no longer on toy shelves. The 1985 Autobot cars, for example, are not seen at all. [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] and the 1985 Mini-Vehicles, by contrast, show up now and again, as their toys were still shipping. Even Starscream, who was ''dead'', managed to get a couple of Season 3 episodes all to himself; again, his toy sold through 1986.
*One season later, "[[The Rebirth]]" — the last episodes of the entire series — was almost entirely spent on introducing new characters and giving old ones upgrades, leaving just barely enough time to provide any kind of conclusion.
*''[[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|The Headmasters]]'' was absolutely crazy about this. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus]] (whose toy was long gone) kicks the bucket only three episodes in for the sake of a sacrifice that would be nullified only a few episodes later, putting new(er) toy [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] back in the command chair for a short while. In the tenth episode, Rodimus departs the series and hands the title of Supreme Commander to brand-spanking-new toy [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]], who's had a few months, tops, of combat experience. Much like Season 3, ''Headmasters'' also ignored most of the Season 3 regulars ([[Springer (G1)|Springer]], [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s, the [[Quintesson]]s) or removed them altogether, sometimes fairly dubiously ([[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] and [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] leave with Rodimus, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] gets shot a bit and dies, [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] is buried in ice and nobody digs him up until ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: The Battlestars (story page)|Battlestars]]''). By the end of the series, the only remaining Autobots from the first three seasons were the [[Special Teams]], [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Twincast]] and his cassettes, [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]], [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]].
*[[Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 2|''Transformers Comic-Magazin'' #2]] wrote an entire story devoted to Optimus sternly explaining which Autobots and Decepticons were on sale in [[Germany]] in 1989. The reason he had to? [[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]] had ''shot an Autobot''!
*The first thirteen issues of the ''[[Transformers: Armada (Dreamwave)|Armada]]'' comic were focused around the Mini-Cons, with plots often revolving around their desire to be seen as equals and not be enslaved. Then without ''any'' prior set-up, the last five issues turn into a dimension-spanning battle against [[Unicron]]—who had just had a new and expensive toy.
*[[Tigerhawk]] debuts in "[[Other Victories]]", where he's the reason the Predacons lose their base and [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] is killed. This disrupts any ending for the Tarantulas/[[Vok]] storyline, as the episode is left with little time to properly explain the mysteries of either character and the plot of last episode, Tarantulas trying to destroy the whole ''Ark'', is reduced to two lines about the [[Tripredacus Council]].
[[File:Samprowl.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|<s>Upgrades are bad.</s> Upgrades are GOOD. We have always been at war with <s>Eurasia</s> Eastasia.]]
*"[[A Fistful of Energon]]" has [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] learn not to use upgrades, and he gives up using powerful samurai armour. But whoops, Hasbro thought "hey, we could make a toy out of that armour"! And so in [[Five Servos of Doom|a later episode]], Prowl ''regains'' it and the show hurriedly claims that the upgrade is fine ''now'' because Prowl realizes now that it's the Autobot, not the upgrade.
*The [[France|French]] decided to be good sports and start using propeller-driven nuclear bombers again in [[All Hail Megatron issue 11|''All Hail Megatron'' #11]], just so [[Octane|Tankor]] could be used.
*[[Ransack (ROTF)|Ransack]] has been on Earth for a while, in hiding from other Decepticons while he waits for orders from [[the Fallen]] in "[[Transformers Comic issue 2.7|Turnabout]]". Ransack is a member of a race that can scan any object and take its form as a disguise. Ransack moves around in the cunning disguise of ''a 100-year-old plane''. (At least, unlike the previous example, the oldness of the alt mode was pointed out.)
*In Titan's ''Revenge of the Fallen'' comic, [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]] go from being [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee's]] responsibility to bugging [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] to being [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe's]] responsibility in the space of three issues, all to allow each issue to focus on a specific toy-bearing movie star. Similarly, only one or two Decepticons per issue are sent on a mission, when presumably the Fallen might want to send loads of guys to silence the twins.
*In ''Dark of the Moon'', nearly all of the Transformers switch from built-in weaponry to handheld weaponry. It just so happens that the gimmick of the ''Dark of the Moon'' toys was that they had "MechTech" weapons that could be held by any other figure.
*Also in ''Dark of the Moon'', most Autobots transform into [[Stealth Force]] mode, a weaponized vehicle mode that allows them to access various weapons in their otherwise defenseless disguises, an incredibly useful combat mode that's never used in any prior or later films. Uniquely, this was something Hasbro came up with for the toyline on their own; director [[Michael Bay]] decided to incorporate it into the film only after seeing what they were working on for the then-upcoming toyline and taking a personal liking to it.
*The [[subline imprint]] of the ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Prime]]'' [[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|toyline]] was the ''[[Transformers: Prime (toyline)#BH|Beast Hunters]]'' line, which took hold at about the time of the [[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|show]]'s third season, which was given the subtitle of the imprint. In the episode "[[Project Predacon]]", [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] awkwardly redubs [[Team Prime]] as the "Beast Hunters", when they begin looking for Predacon fossils. The Autobots must've felt the same way as we did about the sudden name change, since really only the protocol-obsessed [[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]] begins using the term. Thanks to behind the scene troubles and the whole concept being a late addition to the series, the team never actually ''hunts any beasts'', as only three Predacons ever take a central role in the story.
[[File:YouMeAndTheUniverse-Scoopcolors.jpg||thumb|upright=1.4|Talk about "shoehorned in".]]
*In [[Spotlight: Trailcutter]], [[Trailbreaker (G1)#2005 IDW continuity|Trailbreaker]] has an existential crisis, and worries that everyone only sees him as 'the forcefield guy'. Deciding to revamp his image, he decides that he'll now go by the much slicker(?) "Trailcutter"... just as [[Trailbreaker (G1)/toys#Generations|Thrilling 30 Trailcutter]] hit store shelves.
*The [[subline imprint]] for the ''Generations'' line from 2015 to 2016 was ''[[Combiner Wars (franchise)|Combiner Wars]]'', hence IDW's tie-in comic had to introduce a heapload of combiners in a universe that regarded combination as a lost art with unpredictable side-effects. (Devastator, Menasor, Superion, and Monstructor were around, but they had each been introduced separately, and each with their own unique explanations, over the course of ''ten years''.) Enter the [[Enigma of Combination]], an artifact of Nexus Prime with the power to merge any Transformers into a combiner. Not only is this artifact used on Superion, Menasor, and Defensor, it is also used on Optimus Prime and other selected Autobots to create [[Optimus Maximus (G1)|Optimus Maximus]]. The fact that Optimus had two Combiner Wars toys (one released, one upcoming at the time of the story's publication) might have influenced this decision.
*Also, the big toy of 2015 was a Titan Class Devastator... in his classic configuration instead of IDW's newly introduced 'Prowlastator' form. Unfortunately, Scrapper had been long dead and hence was unable to take his spot as the combiner's leg. However, IDW had another bulldozer-bot conveniently lying around — [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]]. Naturally, he was merged with the other Constructicons by the aforementioned Enigma, restoring Devastator's classic silhouette.
*A long-running plot thread of ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'', starting all the way back in [[How Ratchet Got His Hands Back|issue 5]], was [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] preparing [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] to succeed him as the ''[[Lost Light]]''{{'}}s Chief Medical Officer. [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|Issue 40]] ''finally'' sees Ratchet stepping down and leaving the ship (so he could participate in the events of ''[[The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone|Drift - Empire of Stone]]''), officially declaring First Aid "the new Chief Medical Officer"... but after only two issues in his new position, [[The One Where They Go to Earth|issue 43]] sees First Aid himself leave the ''Lost Light'' under a flimsy in-story pretense so he could participate in the events of ''Combiner Wars'', appointing [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] as his own successor (although he would later return to the ''Lost Light'' following the conclusion of ''Combiner Wars'').
*In a follow-up story, Galvatron creates two combiners out of random soldiers and foes. To plug the new merch, these are called [[Galvatronus (CW)|Galvatronus]] and [[Sky Reign]] but most of the characters that made them up in toy form were either on Cybertron, the ''[[Lost Light]]'', or dead at the time. Unusually for this page, Hasbro allowed IDW to use random limbs as long as the names were right but this leads to the comic pimping a toy you can't buy (though you could make it with others), and in Galvatronus' case a toy that doesn't even have the same face as in the comic.
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===Awkward continuity===
[[File:Earthforce.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|This happened... er.... look just buy the toys, ok?!]]
Sometimes the requirement to feature new toys can be so strong that continuity takes a major backseat and stories are produced that feature combinations of characters that make the story very difficult to slot into the main continuity. The Marvel UK comic was especially prone to this as it could not always foresee where, when and how characters would be introduced:

*The ''[[Transformers Annual 1985]]'' contains many stories featuring toys from the 1985 release long before they were formally introduced in the regular comic, often interacting with other characters who would be out of action by then. As a result, few of the stories easily fit the continuity of the weekly comic.
*The demands of Hasbro UK for the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] and [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]] to be featured heavily even before the US ''[[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]]'' mini-series was available meant that both the ''[[Transformers Annual 1987]]'' and the regular strip "[[Worlds Apart!]]" contain a slightly different set of events that are at odds with the mini-series.
*The requirement to give prominence to the rereleased toys in the [[Classics (Europe)|Classics]] range resulted in one of the biggest continuity trainwrecks of all, [[Earthforce]]. Over three decades later fans are still uncertain where it fits in continuity, and even [[Simon Furman]] admits to being unsure.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Looking back, as I try my hardest not to do, it's very hard to tie the Earthforce stories into a specific time frame (in terms of the US continuity), because (if I'm brutally honest) I didn't try too hard to make it work in the first place. By that point, I was just trying to tell a bunch of fun UK stories that didn't necessarily impact on the larger (US) storyline. How was I to know 15 or so years later people would be trying to reconcile it all?|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914233035/http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_furman.php|name=Simon Furman|site=TransFans.co.uk|title=Interviews: Simon Furman - Part 1 'The Past'|year=2004|month=08}}</ref>
*Germany's ''[[Transformers Comic-Magazin]]'' started in 1989 and reprinted older Marvel US and UK strips. Since, of course, these would rarely show the current toys, Comic-Magazin ran text stories from #2 that showcased ''completely different'' Transformers that were on Earth at the same time, and just happened not to be seen in the strips.
*Trapped between the need to pimp toys and the problem of not knowing what the plot of ''Revenge of the Fallen'' would be, Titan just threw up their hands and unambiguously set their lead strip in [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)#Alternate universe|an alternate universe]]. Similarly, the [[Dark of the Moon (video games)|video games]] for ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (franchise)|Dark of the Moon]]'' were all prequels so that the games would not directly contradict the then-upcoming movie's plot while still using some of the characters and settings who would be featured (some minor plot contradictions ''did'' occur, but few fans have ever accepted the video games to be in perfect continuity with the films anyway).
*Based on evidence from various sources, it's been speculated that the episode "[[Starscream's Ghost]]" was originally meant to star [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], who at the time had been exiled from the Decepticons and was on somewhat friendly terms with the Autobots. Instead, his role was taken over by new toy [[Octane]]. The only other episode to prominently feature Octane, "[[Thief in the Night]]", which was aired ''after'' "Starscream's Ghost", kinda sorta explains his falling out with the Decepticons—except it doesn't: While said episode ''does'' have him go rogue, not only is he ''still'' a bad guy—by the end of that episode, ''Galvatron is no longer on bad terms with Octane''! Likewise, the episode "[[The God Gambit]]" starred [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], Starscream and Thrust, with Astrotrain (a new toy at the time) taking on a leadership role more akin to Megatron rather than the bus he's reduced to in almost every other episode.
*The Japanese broadcast of ''Animated'' outright skipped "[[Rise of the Constructicons]]" and "[[Sari, No One's Home]]", as they largely revolve around the toy-less [[Mixmaster (Animated)|Mixmaster]] and [[Scrapper (Animated)|Scrapper]]. Meanwhile, "[[Sound and Fury (episode)|Sound and Fury]]" was moved up to be the first episode to air after the pilot to promote Soundwave's toys, which is at odds with continuity since Megatron only came back online during "[[Home Is Where the Spark Is]]", which was pushed to air ''after'' "Sound and Fury".
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===Power levels===
In order to make new characters seem more ''totally awesome'', they're often depicted as ultra-powerful in their initial appearances. Once they become old news, they frequently seem to lose their super-charged abilities.

*The original ''Transformers'' cartoon introduced [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] as the ultimate threat. Once newer combiner teams came along, however, he was less of a threat, easily defeated at various times by [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] and even [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]].
[[File:Buzzsawyikes4.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Buzzsaw reminds Omega Supreme he's not a new toy any more.]]
*The Marvel comics feature [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] as nigh-invulnerable and ultimately powerful in [[Command Performances!|his debut issue]], slaughtering all but two of the Decepticon forces sent to attack him. Just [[Dark Star|two years later]], he's getting his butt handed to him by the likes of [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]], one of his original victims. He was also drawn as [[Scale|truly colossal]] in his first appearance, before becoming just a head taller than [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] by the time of his death.
*[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s first action was to turn Starscream into a pile of ash in a single shot from his cannon mode, and he accomplishes an even more impressive feat upon his reintroduction in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2]]" when he destroys the entire planetoid of Thrull. In later episodes, his attacks seem to be, at most, somewhat stronger than those of the other Decepticons, and characters can withstand shots from him in cannon mode without any serious injuries.
*[[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], in a weird case of this, actually seemingly ''[[Scale|shrank]]'' between the third season of the G1 toon and [[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|''The Headmasters'']], going from being drawn as a genuine giant to barely bigger than the average combiner. Even in official [[scale charts]], he dropped from being shown as 800 meters tall to about 45. This was likely to avoid upstaging new-kid-on-the-block [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus.]]
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] was, amazingly, something of a threat in early episodes; he holds his own against [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] in his debut. He only became significantly weaker than the other Predacons during the second season.
*In her first appearance on the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon, [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] effortlessly blasts [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] to pieces. She never displays such a level of power again.
*Similarly, [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] was presented as a huge threat when he first appeared, but just a few episodes later, he seems just slightly tougher than the average Predacon (save for a few notable occasions).
*[[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] was actually a credible threat for his first couple of episodes.
*The [[Commando (RID)|Commandos]] were far more powerful and competent than the Predacons, who were made even ''less'' powerful and competent as episodes went on. Remarkably, this was actually used in the plot, with Megatron focusing on the new toys while the Predacons became underdogs trying to get their old status back and one-up the new guys.
[[File:ArmTVTidalWave.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Before he shrank in the wash.]]
*''Any'' new toy character in the Unicron Trilogy cartoons is almost guaranteed to win the day's battle.
*[[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] was a staggering behemoth as big as the sky in his introduction, and his ability to combine with Megatron gave the battle advantage to the Decepticons until his equally powerful counterpart [[Overload (Armada)|Overload]] was introduced. By the time of the ''Energon'' cartoon, Tidal Wave is just this tall guy (but not as tall as he used to be) and is treated as just another Decepticon, even after he gets a body upgrade in the form of "Mirage".
*When the newly redecoed Jetfire and [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus]] combine in Dreamwave's Armada comic, they are so powerful ''they can hurt Unicron himself''.
*[[Jungle Planet (colony)|Jungle Planet]] ruler [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]] was incredibly powerful when he was first introduced, but later on, he's getting slaps on the wrist by [[Lori Jiménez|Lori]] and [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]], and schooled by [[Bud Hansen|Bud]], ultimately becoming more of a sympathetic comedic bumbler than a credible threat.
*The Decepticons in ''Animated'' started off as being so horrifically powerful that the entire Autobot team had to take on a ''single'' one. By Season 3, this no longer happens. Uniquely, this was ''deliberate'' by the writers: they wanted to show the Decepticons as supreme threats, and have the Autobots gradually being better at dealing with them.
*The [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] in ''Prime'' started off pretty tough; easily wearing down [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]] in a group, then just two giving [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] a tough time. In the next episode, they've got Stormtrooper aim, and basically exist to give the Autobots someone to kill while saving the named Decepticons from the scrapheap. It gets to the point where in the third season, [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] actually ''counts'' on the Vehicons failing to execute [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]], and Wheeljack makes several amusing comments about the Vehicons' incompetence.
*Additionally, the [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticons]] started off as nightmarishly strong monsters. One wears ''[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]]'' to the point of exhaustion before dying (admittedly, Megs was deprived of his main asset when Airachnid webbed his fusion cannon). However, for the remainder of the series, the Insecticons are just as weak as the Vehicons, being blasted down in one shot, despite a return to form in "[[Tunnel Vision (episode)|Tunnel Vision]]" and "[[Toxicity]]" (the latter of which saw the debut of notorious Autobot killer [[Hardshell]]).
*When [[Lightlong|Lightning]] [[Optimus Prime (WK)|Optimus]] first debuted in ''Wild King'', he was pretty powerful, able to send [[Leafback]] flying in a single blow and fight on even terms with [[Captain Volca|Flame]] [[Megatron (WK)|Megatron]] compared to regular Optimus, requiring the latter to further combine into Flame-Grass Megatron to seemingly defeat him. However, 2 episodes later, ''[[Ignite Leo|a single energy beast]]'' is more than capable of doing that, with the only reason Lightning Optimus doesn't fall being [[Hydrophant]] gaining the courage to strike back, but even then he still had to combine with Hydrophant into Lightning Aqua Optimus to defeat his opponent.
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===New bodies===
There's rarely a compelling reason for a Transformer to get a brand-new body in fiction; it's simply to promote a new toy. It has become a default way to keep a popular character on shelves, rather than having to kill them off and introduce a new character to keep moving toys. Sometimes fiction writers are able to work these alterations in elegantly... sometimes not.

[[File:Bumblebeeskindeep.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Ratchet pulls a Kitty Pryde on Bumblebee.]]
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] was rebuilt into Goldbug following his near-destruction... and was later re-rebuilt back into Bumblebee to sell the [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Pretender|new Classic Pretender toy]]. The reason given in [[Skin Deep|the comic storyline]] was that [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] reverted him without his consent because Ratchet liked his old form better, something Bumblebee is strangely fine with.
*Season 2 of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' introduced the new [[Transmetal]] toys in short order, requiring some strange sci-fi waffling to explain why members of both teams suddenly got special new bodies. The writers had originally planned to introduce these changes gradually, across the length of Season 2, but Hasbro ordered them to be brought in immediately. (The slow-and-gradual notion would eventually appear during Season 3.)
[[File:Retailbuyer decisiontree.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
*The [[Unicron Trilogy]] cartoons feature [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]] getting recolored and renamed "Galvatron" ''three times''; at the start of each subsequent series, he's given a different body but called Megatron ''again'', because the name "Megatron" just sells more toys. (This also means Hasbro gets to keep the [[trademark]] "Galvatron".) The Japanese versions handled this differently (with Megatron known as Megatron throughout Armada even after his upgrade, and being known as Galvatron throughout all of Energon) due to different trademark laws. Galaxy Force (the Japanese version of Cybertron) played it straight with Master Megatron being upgraded into Master Galvatron.
*Several times during the Unicron Trilogy, characters get new paint jobs as part of some magical power-up enhancement. These new color schemes exist solely to promote redecorated toys like "[[Ironhide (Energon)|Energon Ironhide]]" or "[[Hot Shot (Armada)/toys|Powerlinx Hot Shot]]". Even the comics got in on the action, introducing the redecorated versions of Jetfire and Optimus during the Unicron arc.
*The three future members of the [[Cybertron Defense Team (Cybertron)|Cybertron Defense Team]] get shot up by Megatron, then transmogrify through the power of [[burning spirit]] into new forms. These new forms, of course, were just hitting shelves at a toy store near you.
*In the course of the [[Transformers (film)|live-action movie]], [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] gets irritated at a slight against his alternate mode, and scans a new form. Voilà, suddenly he's got ''two'' toys on the shelf! He later pulls the ''exact same thing'' in ''[[Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction]]'', but by now, he's been established as having a fragile ego, explaining the constant desire to switch alternate modes.
*When [[IDW Publishing|IDW]]'s ''Transformers'' comic originally came out, there were no Generation 1-themed toys to flog, and many characters were given altered designs for the series. Then along came ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'', featuring new toys of Generation 1 characters, and suddenly multiple characters get new, toy-accurate bodies in ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'', for no apparent in-story reason. Later, [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] even gets a namechange to ''Silver''streak to fit his toy.
*Sometimes, IDW's comics don't even bother with a reason: you just get the latest issue and a character suddenly resembles the latest toy. This can sometimes be explained as artist interpretation, but at other times...
*[[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] was originally grey, but when he was reunited with the ''Animated'' Decepticons, he changed his colours to purple while referring to it as his proper look. Why he changed colouration to go undercover was not explained, but it may have something to do with a purple-coloured Shockwave toy being out when that episode aired.
*In ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]] start out as an old ice cream truck combiner but after a disastrous mission [[NEST]] decides to upgrade them to new individual [[General Motors]] vehicles. New toys ''and'' product placement!
*[[Starscream (Armada)#Generations|''Armada'' Starscream]] got a new toy in 2014. There wasn't an ''Armada'' comic but there ''was'' a Generation 1 comic with a Starscream, which was then [[pack-in material|packed in]] with the toy series including Armada Starscream. And lo and behold, for ''[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]]'' Starscream got a new body! A year later, he swapped to ''another'' body for "[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]", which was his then-new Leader Class toy, and several issues were devoted to him choosing it and then flaunting it. Then again, this ''is'' Starscream we're talking about...
*[[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] finally got a new toy as well. Problem is, his comic body didn't look much like the toy. Then, in ''[[Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Dark Cybertron Chapter 11]]'', he revealed his new invention: reactive armor that changed his body to look like his opponent's. Who did he use this armor to battle? Why, it's Starscream, the guy his toy was retooled from!
*2015's "[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]" comic series brought back almost all of the combiner characters that have appeared in the IDW continuity thus far. However, [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] was apparently killed by [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] quit the Stunticons... so that [[Alpha Bravo]] and [[Offroad (CW)|Offroad]] can replace them! Meanwhile, Starscream rebuilds Devastator; not only does Devastator suddenly resemble his toy counterpart, but [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] is no longer a required member of the combiner team, leaving him free to combine with Optimus Prime and company to become the brand-new combiner [[Optimus Maximus (G1)|Optimus Maximus]]. Superion and Menasor, who had made previous appearances in IDW fiction, are both rebuilt by the [[Enigma of Combination]], causing their bodies to more closely resemble their toy counterparts.

===Character pimping===
Characters with toys may get more attention than those without:

*"[[Matrix Quest]]" has four separate teams on a mission. You could use any three Transformers in one of these teams, right? Nope, Furman has toys to promote: out go nine new Autobot characters and three existing ones with new toys.
*[[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge's]] presence in all three of his first three ''Beast Wars'' episodes: one for his origin, another for him joining the Maximals after all, and then an abrupt appearance at the very end of "[[Cutting Edge]]" where he turns up and single-handedly drives off a Predacon force.
*When ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)#Japanese release|Animated]]'' was released in Japan, episodes focusing on the [[Constructicon (Animated)|Constructicon]]s were never broadcast on television (instead being reduced to bonus content on the DVDs), as the Constructicons did not have toys. The episode order was also rearranged (and thus the internal narrative of the series, as well) so that episodes introducing new toys could air earlier than those that didn't.
*IDW's ''[[The Transformers: Spotlight|Spotlight]]'' came back in 2013 in order to promote six of the upcoming ''Generations'' toys. Even [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], a little-used character who would never have been given a ''Spotlight'' otherwise! (Initially published through Diamond and Comixology as per IDW's usual practice, these comics were subsequently packed-in with the toys they were based on, aiming to use the higher sales of the toys to boost comic sales in a "I'll scratch your back, you scratch mine" scenario.) Likewise, Waspinator, having a new toy out in late 2013, began making appearances and took on increased importance in the IDW universe. An upcoming [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] toy brought forth a Tankor appearance in Dark Cybertron. The opening arcs of the second seasons of ''More Than Meets The Eye'' and ''Robots in Disguise'' (as well as ''Windblade'' vol. 1) in 2014 also heavily feature casts of characters with new toys, such as Nightbeat, Rattrap, Arcee, and Jetfire.
* When [[Steeljaw (RID)|Steeljaw]] frees some Decepticons in the second season of ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'', the freed 'Cons include his former minions [[Clampdown (RID)|Clampdown]] and [[Thunderhoof (RID)|Thunderhoof]], yet not the other two members of the Pack, [[Fracture (RID)|Fracture]] and [[Underbite]]. He instead frees [[Bisk (RID)|Bisk]], [[Groundpounder (RID)|Groundpounder]], [[Overload (RID)|Overload]], [[Quillfire (RID)|Quillfire]] and [[Springload (RID)|Springload]]. There's no reason to neglect those who have already proven to be able to work together in the Pack (and thus Steeljaw should know would help in his eventual coup), except for the fact that the toys of both Fracture and Underbite had already sold, and the newly freed Decepticons have new figures on the shelves.

===Abrupt conclusions===
[[File:MarvelUSG2-12.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|It's the end of the road for Transformers Generation 2! That can't bode well for the toyline.]]
Just as ''Transformers'' fiction lives at Hasbro's pleasure, so too does it die. Falling sales, a change of plans, and standard [[rebranding]] can all cause a storyline to come to a sudden end when Hasbro decides to pull the plug.

*The American Generation 1 cartoon got a somewhat rushed conclusion in the form of "[[The Rebirth]]", rather than a full fourth season.
*The Generation 1 comics were nearly canceled at [[On the Edge of Extinction!|issue #75]], but granted a reprieve. The stay of execution was only temporary, however; with the Generation 1 toyline ending, the comic was terminated a mere five issues later, resulting in a rather hasty concluding plotline.
*Hasbro was only willing to support the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|''Generation 2'' comic]] for twelve issues, unless it proved an unqualified (perhaps phenomenal) success. Aware of this from the start, writer Simon Furman was able to plot a story arc that reached its finale as the series ended (and poked fun at it with a character whose name is a pun on "[[Jhiaxus (G2)|Gee, axe us]]".)
*The writers of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon reportedly never had any idea if they'd be back for another season. When the axe fell with Season 3, they had only three episodes left to wrap up the whole series.
*Hasbro nearly killed off the just-begun comic series ''[[Transformers: The Wreckers|The Wreckers]]'' in 2003, wishing instead for [[3H Productions|3H]] to focus on a ''[[Transformers: Universe (comic)|Universe]]'' comic advertising its current toyline.
*Even though ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' wasn't abruptly canceled, Kids WB ended the series on the [[cliffhanger]] of the episode "[[Revelation (episode)|Revelation]]", leaving millions of kids tuning in next time only to get a re-run of ''Xiaolin Showdown''. The reason? The Cybertron Defense Team toys hadn't hit stores yet.
*With ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' coming out in June, Titan had to end their alternate universe storyline in May so they could tie in early—an issue earlier than planned. The main strip handled this, with the notable exception of [[Jazz (Movie)#Titan Magazines Transformers movie comics|the Jazz plot arc]] going completely unresolved, but it played havoc with working out the IDW reprints!
*According to [[Rik Alvarez]], IDW was asked to drop their G1 continuity and move to the brand-spanking new [[Aligned continuity family|Aligned]] one. (They said "nah".)
{{-}}

==Death==
===Killing off old product===
[[File:Tftm1986a.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Guess who's no longer in the Mini Vehicles case assortment?]]
[[File:Newyorkunderbase.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Publisher's clearing house.]]
[[File:BW Scorponok Terrorsaur deaths.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Scorponok, Terrorsaur, we're condemning you to a fiery death 'cause Waspinator has a bigger fan club.]]
The most obvious To Sell Toys effect comes from the temporary nature of retail sales. Even in the 1980s, toys rarely stayed on the shelves past two years; today that timespan is much smaller. Once a toy is no longer selling, Hasbro has no interest in supporting fiction about that character—especially when there are newer toys to promote. Therefore, writers are often compelled to remove characters from the story by killing them off. Sometimes this happens through carefully developed story arcs, but it's easier to do it with huge, apocalyptic battles with massive numbers of casualties.

*Right before the introduction of most of the 1985 cast, the Marvel comic saw eleven of the original Autobots taken offline within a single issue in "[[Prime Time!]]". A few issues later, six of the original Decepticons met [[Command Performances!|a similar fate]] at the hands of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (which doubled as character pimping for the big guy). Though it was suggested they could be repaired, the vast majority of casualties wouldn't reappear in the US until they popped up in crowd shots [[Totaled!|thirty issues later]], and a number had their next appearance being a ''second'' death in the Underbase Saga.
*In ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', numerous main characters are killed or changed in the movie's first 30 minutes, including [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], and [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]]. They are replaced by a slew of new characters; in fact, the poster for the movie shows ''only'' new characters. And [[Laserbeak]].
*Numerous characters are killed in the Marvel UK comics saga "[[Time Wars]]". The Grim Reaper seemed to spare either popular characters (Megatron and [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]) or newer characters ([[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]], [[Catilla (G1)|Catilla]] and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], for example.)
*The [[Underbase Saga]] features a super-powerful [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] killing literally ''dozens'' of characters; some place the count over fifty. The survivors were mostly from the [[Pretender]], [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]], and [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] ranks, those being the then-current toy lines. However, the explanation ([[Underbase]] power didn't affect those TFs with organic components) meant that even the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]], new toys at the time and introduced three issues before, met their end.
*The climactic [[On the Edge of Extinction!|battle with Unicron]] 25 issues later killed off many of the Underbase survivors, whose shelf run had ended.
*With its enormously expensive CGI animation, ''Beast Wars'' was particularly vulnerable to toy-based interference. The expense of creating and animating a CGI body model meant that the character roster had to remain fairly constant; the introduction of all-new characters usually required the removal of an equal number of existing characters. And so, [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] and [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] die just in time for the arrival of [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] and [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)|Silverbolt]]. (Frustrated with the situation, the writers carefully planned out<ref>http://www.builtstlouis.net/tf/manic/m-botcon.html</ref> the demise of [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]], anticipating that someone would have to be removed to make way for [[Rampage (BW)|newer characters]].)
*''[[Transformers: The Reign of Starscream|The Reign of Starscream]]'' would end up killing a large number of Autobots in [[The Reign of Starscream issue 5|issue #5]], after their toys had been around for a while; as they'd not made an appearance in the comics until this mini, this is both an example of Huge Cast ''and'' Product Clearing. It would then go on to bump off some Decepticons, while its sequel ''[[Transformers: Alliance|Alliance]]'' slaughtered ''hordes'' of Decepticons with old toys. Mowry is the new Furman...
*The ''Dark of the Moon'' [[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (Xbox 360/PS3)|console video game]] is a prequel to the film and can't afford to kill off most of its characters due for an appearance in the then-upcoming film. Luckily, there's several characters who've been around since the ''Revenge of the Fallen'' franchise who can be used to give the game some bosses to kill off like [[Mixmaster (ROTF)|Mixmaster]], [[Breakaway (ROTF)|Breakaway]], and [[Stratosphere]]! Like the prior comics, ''[[Transformers: Rising Storm]]'' also wipes out a lot of characters not due for an appearance in ''Dark of the Moon'' like [[Jolt (ROTF)|Jolt]] and [[Elita-One (Movie)|Elita-One]], though some stragglers like the Twins, Arcee, and Chromia survive.
*Another odd case of this in the [[live-action film series]], which, as well as advertising toys, also serves as advertising for [[General Motors]] vehicles. Hence, Autobots whose cars are no longer in demand have an uncanny tendency to either lose prominence or perish. The most prominent example would be [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] — the GMC Topkick had been discontinued for two years by ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (franchise)|Dark of the Moon]]'', and so, despite a fifty-dollar toy on the shelves, Ironhide dies halfway in. Similarly, [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] is the major Autobot casualty of ''[[Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction]]'' due to his Hummer H2 vehicle mode being a thing of the past by the time the film hit theaters (though unlike Ironhide, Ratchet had next to no representation in the toyline).
*IDW's [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|''Robots in Disguise'']] ongoing has to promote a [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]... with [[Alpha Bravo|a new helicopter]] instead of [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]]. Hence, Slingshot is the one to suffer most and die from the injuries caused when [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] tore him in half. This is especially weird considering that Devastator tore through Superion from the ''right'', and Slingshot was Superion's ''left'' arm at the time. Not to mention that Silverbolt, the torso, was explicitly ripped in half... The series would go on to have [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] leave the Stunticons over a humiliating defeat... one he suffered years ago, in [[The Question|Spotlight: Bumblebee]]. Naturally, the empty position was filled by new toy [[Offroad (CW)|Offroad]]. Then Hasbro decided to release Quickslinger and Brake-Neck (Slingshot and Wildrider renamed for trademark issues) ''much'' later after the others' release, part of a strategy that effectively forced fans to buy toys ''both'' of the "replacement" characters ''and'' the original characters.

This has become less common in recent years, as Hasbro has come to realize that their target audiences can actually get attached to certain [[character]]s, and might not enjoy seeing them die random, brutal, meaningless [[death]]s.
{{-}}

===Hi-and-die===
[[File:Chuffer cof.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Likely dialog: "SHEEEAAGH!!"]]
Kids don't want to buy a toy of a character who's dead. So if the plot calls for someone to die, smart money bets on the character who has a toy as the survivor. The guy without a toy, who you've never heard of before? Toast. This is the ''Transformers'' version of ''[[Star Trek]]''{{'}}s infamous {{w|redshirt syndrome}}. The stereotypical hi-and-die character is killed off in the same episode/issue that introduces him, if not the very same scene.

*This approach was particularly common in the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#UK comics|UK comics]]. Characters created specifically so they could be killed off include Wrecker leader [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]], Autobot/zombie food [[Chuffer]], Tailgate's Autobot trainee buddies/mutant fodder [[Subsea]] and [[Flattop (Marvel)|Flattop]], and the sixth member of the "Magnificent Six", [[Stampede]].
*The U.S. comics also used this approach on occasion, as with [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]'s poignantly adorable buddy [[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]].
*[[Transmutate (BW)|Transmutate]] showed up and died in [[Transmutate (episode)|that episode]], of course Hasbro doesn't make [[Transmutate (BW)#Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|a toy]] [[Action Master|that don't transform]], right?
*The ''Energon'' cartoon introduced [[Padlock (Energon)|Padlock]], whose purpose was to die at [[Shockblast]]'s hands, providing motivation for toy-character [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]].
*''Animated'' chucked in [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]] so Ratchet could have a tragic past where he failed to save someone. (And ''then'' she got a toy!)
*The [[Transformers Animated (Titan)|''Animated'' comic]] wants to do a story arc about an Autobot who's really a spy and then have him killed. Quick, [[Afterburn|make someone up]]!
*''[[Transformers: Exodus|Exodus]]'' invents hordes of characters solely to populate the story with casualties while preserving the classic characters: [[Chromatron]], [[Gauntlet (WFC)|Gauntlet]], [[Halogen (WFC)|Halogen]], [[Drixco]], [[Revo]], [[Catalycon]], and dozens of other unnamed Autobots, Decepticons and [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]].
*[[James Roberts]] elevated hi-and-die to an artform; though his run on ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' is crammed with minor non-toy characters who wind up dead, many still received some backstory, history, or distinctive characterization before — or even after — being killed off. Examples from ''More than Meets the Eye''{{'}}s first "season" include [[Polaris]], [[Hyperion (G1)|Hyperion]], [[Shock (G1)|Shock]], [[Ore]], [[Animus]], [[Dent]], [[Sonic (IDW)|Sonic]], [[Boom]], [[Piston (Wrecker)|Piston]], [[Crest]], [[Torque (G1)|Torque]], [[Sherma]], [[Momus]], "[[Fallout (G1)|Fallout]]", "[[Streaker]]", [[Heavies|Hammer and Anvil]], [[Trepan]], [[Frak]], [[Rushcut]], [[Rossum]], [[Tripodeca]], [[Pivot]], [[Scattergun]], [[Blockus]], [[Datum]], [[Ramp]], and [[Suture (G1)|Suture]]. Similarly, ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' introduced us to [[Squadron X]], comprising just about every Decepticon hi-and-die character from the Marvel continuity, who were then all slaughtered by Impactor.
*[[Moonracer (G1)|Moonracer]] shows up during the ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy (cartoon)|Transformers War For Cybertron Trilogy]]'' cartoon, even though she did ''not'' have a new toy as part of the [[War for Cybertron Trilogy (toyline)|toyline]]. Since she ends up as part of a squad filled with characters who ''do'' have toys, and her animation model is simply a redeco of [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia's]], no prizes for guessing who ends up being the one to bite the dust.
{{-}}

===Resurrection===
Killing off a character isn't always toy-motivated; sometimes it's a dramatic plot development. But it can also be a problem if Hasbro decides to make a new toy of that character.

[[File:Inferno dies agenda2.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Only a flesh wound!]]
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] has been resurrected [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|so many times]] that it's practically a defining character trait. His original revival in the cartoon didn't correspond to any actual toy release, but the Marvel comic brought him back specifically to advertise his [[Powermaster]] form. A second death-and-revival introduced his [[Action Master]] body. And a ''third'' death-and-revival in ''Generation 2'' brought him into his [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#G2Hero|Hero]] toy form.
*The Japanese killed off Optimus (or "Convoy" as they called him) in [[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|''The Headmasters'']]. A few years later, they not only brought him back with a new toy, the ''entire franchise'' for that year was called ''[[Transformers: Return of Convoy (franchise)|Return of Convoy]]''.
*Numerous "dead" characters were brought back into the Marvel comic series when their Classics and/or Action Master versions were released. Many were "deactivated" rather than outright dead; however, very few ''non'' Action Master characters showed up alongside them.
*The series writers for ''Beast Wars'' considered [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] dead and gone at the end of Season 1. Hasbro, however, had a [[Transmetal]] Optimus Primal toy to promote, and so he was returned to life in Season 2. Hasbro wanted him brought back in the first minutes of the season premiere, but the writers managed to convince them that it would be better to do so at the ''end'' of the two-episode story following the premiere.
*At the end of Season 2 of ''Beast Wars'', [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] was pretty clearly shown being killed—being ''disintegrated''—but in the next season appeared to have just been bruised and cracked, because Hasbro was not ready to have a Mega-scaled toy removed from the series.
*Pretty much ''nobody'' could successfully die in the [[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|''Energon'' cartoon]]. [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]], [[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Starscream]], [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]], [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]], [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Dagger]], and [[Inferno (Energon)|Inferno]] all die and/or are resurrected from the dead during the course of the show.
*[[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] still had toys out in 2008. The [[bio]] for AllSpark-Enhanced Autobot Jazz states he was brought back from near-death by the AllSpark and is "more powerful than ever". Voilà, Jazz comes back from the dead thanks to the AllSpark in [[Transformers Comic issue 16|Titan's tie-in comic]]! Optimus even uses the ''term'' "Autobot Jazz" in [[Transformers Comic issue 21|a later issue]]...
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] was shot in the head and abandoned on [[Gorlam Prime]] back in "[[Spotlight: Hardhead]]". Six years later, Hasbro were releasing a new Nightbeat toy and back he comes into ''Dark Cybertron'', a chatty undead from the [[Dead Universe]]. He proceeds to survive the destruction of the Dead Universe and wound up on the ''Lost Light'' before dying again years later.
*[[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]'s IDW incarnation first appeared in the ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]'' limited series, set millions of years in the past. The final issue originally left his exact fate following his final confrontation with Megatron ambiguous; according to artist [[Alex Milne]], Sentinel was ''not'' dead ''yet'' as far as he was concerned, and the script had called for him to look like he could go either way.<ref name="milne">[https://web.archive.org/web/20110822003501/http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=37411 Post by Alex Milne on the IDW Publishing Forums]</ref> However, ''[[Spotlight: Optimus Prime]]'', published around the same time, at least ''implied'' that he was dead in the present day just like in other continuities, given how Optimus Prime had succeeded him. Subsequently, ''[[Spotlight: Blurr]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy]]'', among others, presented [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]] as the Prime who chronologically succeeded Sentinel, before being himself killed by Megatron and succeeded by Optimus. Fast forward to several years later, when Hasbro's [[Titans Return (toyline)|''Titans Return'' toy line]] introduced a new Sentinel Prime toy that was also a [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] with a [[Titan Master]] named [[Infinitus]], and lo and behold, the IDW version of Sentinel, having been presumed dead for four million years, suddenly makes an unexpected return in a ''[[The Last Autobot|Titans Return]]'' one-shot, with absolutely no buildup beforehand, and is revealed to actually ''be'' a smaller robot named Infinitus who survived the destruction of his larger body. After menacing everyone a little for a few issues, he gets dropped down a very big hole, never to be spoken of again.
{{-}}

===Untouchables===
[[File:Armorhide drawhisfire.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Really, they could just stand there making rude noises at Starscream.]]
Obviously, if a character ''does'' have a current toy (or soon will), they're ([[Cliffjumper (WFC)|usually]]) not going to die, even if the plot or common sense indicates they should. This is sometimes because Hasbro itself declares a character unkillable, and so comics and TV writers must follow suit.
*In "[[Optimal Situation]]", [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] had betrayed [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] to the Maximals, ruining his greatest shot at victory. As he declared, "There will be no more betrayals!", she would pay the price: being knocked into stasis lock so the Maximals could fix her and she could stay on their team.
*Megatron himself was in a prime position to be terminated, as were the Maximals later on, in "[[The Weak Component]]". Since this was only episode 6 and everyone had toys out, the cast politely agreed not to take this opportunity to end a brutal war for the planet.
*Titan's Movie strip was moved to an alternate universe, where you'd [[Rhythms of Darkness!|expect nobody to be safe from death]]. However, most of the cast had toys out, so whether it was a desperate guerrilla fight against Decepticon occupation, the rise of [[Unicron]], a [[Decepticon Civil War]], or the final battle, very few characters bought it. The big exception was [[Divebomb (Movie)|Divebomb]], dying in his first battle.
*In ''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' (mentioned earlier), James Roberts observed that Impactor was the only character who was guaranteed not to be killed. However, Hasbro shot down the idea of Perceptor or Springer dying, and so most of the fatalities were less well-known characters like Pyro, Ironfist, and eternally unlucky Wreckers Twin Twist and Topspin.
*Similar to his Beast Era counterpart, ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Prime]]'' [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] was worn down to the point of exhaustion, and was at [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]]'s mercy. Optimus, now [[One Shall Fall|sworn to outright kill Megatron when he gets the chance]], is about to pull the trigger, but ends up backing down when he's threatened by Decepticon reinforcements... in this case, the laughing stock redshirt Vehicons. It doesn't help that the ''[[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|Prime]]'' toyline had ''just'' gotten on shelves, but seriously? Optimus felt threatened by ''Vehicons''?
*If a Decepticon with a current toy is about to be captured in ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'', they can pull off the most miraculous of escapes, sometimes [[Bee Cool|disappearing under our heroes' noses]].
*Starscream, the end.

==Notable exceptions==
There are, however, a few notable exceptions to the To Sell Toys effect, such as fictional characters without a toy counterpart, and other anomalies:

===Toys not released in the relevant market===
[[File:Swoopg1marvelukfirst.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|YOU CAN'T HAVE ME.]]
Occasionally the ''Transformers'' fiction released in a particular country features characters whose toys were not released in that country. The Marvel UK comic featured two variations of this phenomenon:

*Characters inherited from the U.S. strips. Some, such as [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]], [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] and the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]], were given fairly prominent roles in the U.S. stories reprinted in the UK comic and so it was hard to ignore them completely in the UK originated material despite their toys not being around to need advertising. However the decision to develop the Predacons (even before their US appearances were reprinted), to have entire storylines focusing on Swoop, and also to keep Shockwave in continuity even after he'd been (supposedly) killed off in the US comic goes beyond this.
*Characters not featured in the U.S. strips. Bizarrely the UK comic also made use of some characters such as [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]], [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], [[Chop Shop (G1)|Chop Shop]], and [[Venom (G1)|Venom]], despite their toys not being available on UK toy shelves. None of these characters were inherited from the US material.

Writer [[Simon Furman]] has since stated that when writing the stories he was generally unaware of which toys were unavailable in the UK.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=We largely took our cue from what characters were being introduced into the US storyline. If there was a release schedule for the toys in the UK, we rarely saw it... But in the case of Swoop and the Predacons, I don't think I was consciously aware (at the time) that we were dealing with toys not generally available in the UK. They were just extant characters, and therefore fair game.|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914233035/http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_furman.php|name=Simon Furman|site=TransFans.co.uk|title=Interviews: Simon Furman - Part 1 'The Past'|year=2004|month=08}}</ref>

This would happen again with Titan, as foreign exclusives such as [[Bludgeon (ROTF)|Bludgeon]] and [[Slap Dash (ROTF)|Slap Dash]] palled around with UK-available toys.

Another example would be the original text stores published by [[Condor Verlag]] in their ''[[Transformers Comic-Magazin]]'': The text story from [[Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 11|issue 11]] features the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]], even though catalogs from the era, backed up by German fans' recollections, suggest that the German release of the ''[[Classics (Europe)|Classics]]'' line-up omitted the Classic Combaticons, possibly due to their "war" theme.
{{-}}

===Post-Marvel, pre-2013 G1 comics===
[[File:Infiltration 1b.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"Hey, Runamuck, it's our first appearance on a comic book cover in twenty years!" "Heh heh, now if only we could appear on toy store shelves..."]]
Both [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] and [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] comics, the two recent holders of the license to publish ''Transformers'' comic books, sometimes produce comics using whichever toy line is current (e.g., Dreamwave's ''[[Transformers: Armada (Dreamwave)|Armada]]'' comic or IDW's [[Transformers (film)|2007 movie]] tie-ins), and sometimes publish comics using whatever characters they please (e.g., ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]''). The characters in their "discretionary" comics are often not currently available in toy form ([[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]], a character appearing in numerous stories from IDW's G1 continuity during their early years, only had [[Hardhead (G1)#Universe (2008)|another toy]] on shelves at around 2009, a good twenty-two years since [[Hardhead (G1)#Generation 1|his last toy]]), sometimes are drawn with bodies that have ''never'' been toys (most of the ''War Within'' characters), and sometimes are toys that were never available outside of specific countries ([[Lio Convoy]] in IDW's ''Beast Wars'').

[[Chris Ryall]], IDW Editor-in-Chief and writer of the miniseries adapting the 2007 movie to comics, had stated on IDW's forums that Hasbro does not dictate what comics IDW must make ("Nope, no dictates at all from Hasbro. We put the plan together, send to them for approval.").<ref>http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=69377</ref> By the time of ''All Hail Megatron'', however, the ''Universe'' line came out and Hasbro asked IDW to start using some of those designs.<ref>[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=102461#102461 Guido reveals the Hasbro request]</ref> Though this practice did not influence the subsequent [[The Transformers (IDW)|ongoing series]], it did raise its head again in 2013, as Hasbro and IDW began working together to create new toys based on character designs from the comics, to promote upcoming toys with New Bodies and to include the [[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]] event (including various preludes) with the toys.

===New toys, same basic design===
In more recent times (mostly in the case of the [[live-action film series]]), Hasbro has used a combination of minor [[redeco]]s, [[retool]]s and sculpts based on the same basic designs to create new toys, instead of giving recurring characters a major design overhaul for the next installment. The fiction then rarely, if ever, acknowledges any of those minor design changes. According to screenwriter [[Roberto Orci]], some people at Hasbro even argued against changing the designs of some returning characters in ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen]]'', so that parents would '''not''' have to buy the same toy twice for their children just because of a minor change or modification to the characters' designs.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showpost.php?p=2186879&postcount=171 Roberto Orci posting at TFW2005.com]</ref> (Hasbro still released new, or modified, toys of those characters, prompting [[completist]]s to buy them as well, and the film gave some of the characters slight tweaks in their [[alternate mode]]s, based on changes in the real-life vehicle designs, which the toys had to incorporate.)

===Killing off characters with new toys===
Even characters with new or expensive toys can get the axe early on if the plot calls for it... or when poor timing caused by unplanned executive decisions resulted in bad coordination between in-fiction developments and toy release schedules.
* In ''Beast Wars'', [[Tigerhawk]] was introduced and then killed off within three episodes, due to corporate uncertainty about whether the [[Size class#Beast Wars|Ultra-sized toy]] would actually be produced.
*Despite being killed off in the middle of ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]'', [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] got a lot of new toys, including a Leader Class figure, a Voyager Class figure, and a Halloween costume for children!
*''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Prime]]'' [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]] was hyped up as a major character in the lead-up to the show's premiere, and got several toys like the other members of the main cast. He dies within the first five minutes of the [[Darkness Rising, Part 1|premiere episode]]. However, later he gets his fair share of screentime by [[Out of the Past|flashbacks]] and the like.
*Due to behind the scenes budget issues and the ''Prime'' [[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|toyline]] getting pushed back thanks to the ''Dark of the Moon'' [[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (toyline)|toyline]], [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] is quickly shut away inside a stasis pod in "[[Armada (episode)|Armada]]" for much of the remainder of the series at the ''same time'' as the mass release of her toy; [[Breakdown (WFC)|Breakdown]] also suffered a grimmer fate as he was killed off just a few episodes earlier (by Airachnid herself, no less). Even more egregious than that would be [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]], who would be killed off in the show just ''one day'' before his toy hit shelves.
*IDW [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]] gets a new ''Titans Return'' toy in mid late 2016, but was killed off at about the same time his toy was hitting shelves in the [[All Hail Optimus Part 6: No Fair Fights|final issue]] of the second season of ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]''.
*In ''[[Transformers (2023 comic)|Transformers 2023]]'', Slingshot is killed off in issue [[Transformers (2023) issue 21|#21]], even though he had received a new toy as part of the ''[[Transformers: Age of the Primes|Age of the Primes]]'' toyline that had just come out a few months prior.

===New toys with minimal fictional appearances===
Sometimes, characters that have a new or expensive toy barely see use in fiction.
*Generation 1 Whirl and Roadbuster were larger and more expensive than many of the other Autobots, but never appeared in the original cartoon. They were featured in the UK comics as members of the Wreckers.
*Sixshot's only appearance in the original cartoon is a quick sequence where he transforms into each of his alt modes to defeat the Aerialbots. He is never seen again. He does not appear at all in the original comics.
*In ''Transformers: Armada'', Optimus Prime is the only character to not receive an upgrade after being defeated by Nemesis Prime, despite having an expensive $40 redeco on store shelves. Optimus does receive the redeco colors in the final episode of the series, but he returns to his old colors by the episode's conclusion.
*[[Optimus Prime (Movie)|"Silver Knight" Optimus Prime]] had an entire thematic segment of the [[Transformers: Age of Extinction (toyline)|''Age of Extinction'' toyline]] dedicated to him that was exclusive to [[Target]] stores. However, the planned upgrade of Optimus Prime was cut from the theatrical release of ''Age of Extinction''.
*''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]'' Quickslinger and Brake-Neck, meant to be [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] and [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]], did not get any focus in the accompanying IDW fiction: Slingshot is dead and Wildrider's whereabouts are unknown after his leaving the Stunticons. Instead, their selling point is giving fans the chance to complete G1-accurate [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] toys. Meanwhile, the Autobot [[Rook (CW)|Rook]] made only a background appearance in the event, and was so overlooked he had to be digitally added ''to'' those backgrounds; [[Alpha Bravo]], his [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] counterpart, gets a bit more but nothing you'd miss. (When Rook ''did'' get some work later, he was promptly killed off!)
*''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' introduced a massive amount of new toys and a ''massive'' amount of Headmasters, including many familiar G1 characters redone as Headmasters. However, very few of these new toys were given focus in IDW's [[Titans Return (comic)|tie-in comic arc]], including prominent characters such as [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]. ([[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] is a notable exception, returning after a long absence.) Also, despite the heavy emphasis on [[Titan Master]]s in the toyline, only one character, [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]], displayed actual Headmaster ability. [[Alpha Trion]] is briefly decapitated and turned into a lifeless body for [[Infinitus]] to take control of, for no real reason other than to show off the head-swapping gimmick inherent in all ''Titans Return'' figures. And, with a colossal new [[Fortress Maximus (G1)#Generations|Titan-class]] toy for [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] as the centerpiece of the line, you'd expect some significant toy-shilling action. Instead, Fortress Maximus's brand-new Titan body gets smacked around a bit before utterly failing in its one job of defending [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]]'s [[space bridge]] from the [[zombie]] Titans.
*Most likely caused by the complaints from fans about the small amount of Decepticons in the 2015 [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 toyline)|''Robots in Disguise'' toyline]], [[Steeljaw (RID)|Steeljaw]] breaks out many monsters of the week from the first season. Each one gets a figure, yet they all get one or two episodes to shine. [[Bisk (RID)|Bisk]] is the greatest example, appearing very briefly in Episode 4 of Season 1, getting captured, going free, and getting captured again in the next Episode.
**Every major 'Con from or affiliated with Decepticon Island gets Mini-Cons, who do very little but appear anyway only because they had toys. Ratchet gets one as well.
[[File:TF-TLK-Berserker.jpg|right|upright=1.7|thumb|'''DELUXE ROOK''' with Amazing '''STANDING AROUND ACTION!''']]
* After having a Deluxe-sized figure despite being the largest [[Dinobot (AOE)|Dinobot]] in ''[[Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction]]'', [[Scorn]] got a larger, more movie-accurate Voyager class figure for the toyline of ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (toyline)|The Last Knight]]''. Unfortunately, Scorn didn't even appear in the [[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|actual film]]!
* A more egregious ''The Last Knight'' example occurs in the case of [[Berserker]]. Despite being on-screen for only ''8.39 seconds'' (in which he's a prisoner of war and not even released from incarceration), and having only one line, Berserker got several toys to himself, one of which was an entirely new Deluxe class figure. This is in stark contrast to more prominent Decepticons [[Onslaught (ROTF)|Onslaught]], [[Dreadbot]], and [[Mohawk]], none of whom received toys until Mohawk got a ''[[Studio Series]]'' figure ''seven years later''. Set photos seem to indicate that Berserker was going to have a larger role than he did, explaining why he was given such a prominent role in the toyline.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Toys]]

Wanted: Galvatron â€” Dead or Alive!

2025-07-07T07:19:38Z

Timrollpickering: /* Continuity notes */ grammar

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #113–114
|prev=King of the Hill!
|next=Burning Sky!
|title="Wanted: Galvatron — Dead or Alive!"
|image=MarvelUK-113.jpg
|caption=Rodimus realises that Galvatron has eaten the last muffin!
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=
|coverdate=[[May 16|16th]]–[[May 23|23rd May]] [[1987]]
|script= [[Simon Furman]]
|art= [[Geoff Senior]] (113)
|pencils= [[Will Simpson]] (114)
|inks= [[Tim Perkins]] (114)
|colours= [[Steve White]]
|letters= [[Annie Halfacree]] (113), [[Richard Starkings]] (114)
|editor= [[Ian Rimmer]]?
|chronology=[[Marvel Comics timeline#1987|1987]]/[[Marvel Comics timeline#Original future|Original future (2007)]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]] ([[Primax 984.20 Gamma|Marvel UK]])
}}
'''Rodimus Prime offers a bounty on the missing Galvatron which attracts the attention of Death's Head.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Deathshead113timejump.jpg|thumb|left|"I wore a fifteen pound skirt of bees for that woman, but it just wasn't enough."]]
In the year [[2007]], unable to find any trace of [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] after he threw him out of [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]], [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] in desperation places a bounty of 10,000 [[Shanix]] on him, dead or alive. On the planet [[Elpasos]] this attracts the attention of [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]], a bounty hunter (he prefers to be called a freelance peacekeeping agent).

Determined to claim the reward, after attacking a [[Elpasos barkeep|barkeep]] over the price of three quarts of [[oil]], Death's Head tracks down [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and beats out of them the details of how they and Galvatron [[Time travel|travelled back in time]]. Realising that Galvatron has probably fled back to the past, Death's Head decides to [[Time-jump mechanism|follow him]].

====First Blood!====
Rodimus, [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]], [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]], and [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] are cornered and shot by a [[Airborne hunter squad|squad of Decepticon planes]], resulting in the [[Ferak|squad leader]] standing over Rodimus, taunting him to beg for his life. However it's really an ambush and a hidden set of Autobots leap into action, quickly turning the battle around. When the squad leader begs for his own life to Rodimus, his request is brutally denied.

Later Rodimus and Kup debate about killing and the difference between Autobots and Decepticons.

Cyclonus and Scourge return to Decepticon headquarters and tell [[Nautilus]], a deep cover Autobot spy, about how Death's Head beat them up. Nautilus breaks cover and tells Rodimus Prime what he has learned. Rodimus is appalled at what he has set in motion.

In the past, [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] witnesses [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] being [[Mass substitution|displaced]] to [[Limbo]] as Death's Head arrives. Unwilling to allow any witnesses to know he is there, Death's Head blows Bumblebee apart.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] (5)
*Rodimus Prime (6)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (7)
*[[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]] (8)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] (13)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (14)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Cliffjumper]] (15)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|2007 Bumblebee]] (16)
*[[Autobot flunky]] (18)
*[[Nautilus]] (19)
*1987 Bumblebee (20)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (21)
|c2=
*[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (4)
*[[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] (9)
*[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (10)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (11)
*[[Airborne hunter squad]] (17)
|h3=[[Junkion (species)|Junkions]]|c3=
*[[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (12)
|c4=
*[[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]] (1)
*[[Elpasos barkeep]] (2)
*[[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] (3)
}}

==Quotes==
"'''Not''' bounty-hunter, yes? Don't like that term, understand? Freelance peace-keeping agent, yes? For certain financial remuneration, of course."
:—'''Death's Head'''

"I tell you, '''Cyclonus''', if that one-eyed '''freak''' ever talks to me like that again, I'll tap-dance on his brain-module!" 
"Only if you get to him before me, '''Scourge!'''"
:—'''Scourge''' and '''Cyclonus'''

"The Decepticons are evil, merciless - '''killers''', pure and simple. They kill in the name of conquest...They kill because they '''like''' it! But does that make our killing them any more justifiable? Doesn't it make us as bad as them?"
:—'''Rodimus Prime''' has a crisis of faith.

"Makes you an endangered species, eh?" 
"Huh! '''Says you!'''" 
"Yep."
:—'''Death's Head''' clobbers '''Bumblebee'''

==Notes==

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Rodimusprimerequestdenied.jpg|thumb|Quoting ''The Transformers: The Movie'' before it became a fad!]]
*This is the first part of a story arc that continues in "[[Burning Sky!]]", "[[Hunters]]", "[[Fire on High!]]" and "[[Vicious Circle!]]", and the first "post-[[The Transformers: The Movie|movie]]" story, showing that while 1986 animated movie (or a version thereof) appears to have taken place, the comic is not going to be using the [[The Transformers (cartoon)#Season 3|cartoon season 3]] status quo.
*During ''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers (comic)|G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]'', Bumblebee was destroyed and rebuilt into Goldbug. However, the crossover was not considered part of UK continuity (and, indeed, wasn't reprinted in the UK comic for several years). As a result, Simon Furman needed a different way of changing Bumblebee into Goldbug in order to match up with future US reprints. Hence, Death's Head's actions here. (Goldbug's origins are actually one of the biggest points of divergence between the US and UK comics).
*Nobody can remember Galvatron travelling to Earth's past, despite (at the very least) Ultra Magnus and Bumblebee being around and active participants of those events. This is largely consistent across most of the UK time travel stories which treat 1986-1989 almost as a parallel universe, rather than the past of the "future" universe. The only real exception is some stuff that happens in "[[Time Wars]]" (and that's a whole other can of messy [[time travel]] related worms).

===Transformers references===
*There's a callback to the movie here, when Rodimus does Optimus' "you who are without mercy" scene... and then shoots the Decepticon dead. This quickly sets up for the reader that Rodimus is not the same type of guy as Optimus. (And it's also a sneaky nod to ''Judge Dredd'' story ''The Apocalypse War'', where Dredd gives exactly the same response to someone's "beg" for mercy.)
*The [[2005 IDW continuity]] version of [[Ferak]] (who in Marvel continuity tangled with [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] way back in "[[The Smelting Pool!]]") was given a [[robot mode]] that strongly resembled the leader of the airborne hunter squad pictured above in ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|The Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'', where his background information hinted that they were the same individual. In [[2015]], the Facebook version of [[Ask Vector Prime]] would retroactively identify the squad's [[alternate mode]]s as [[hunter-seeker skyship]]s and confirm that their leader was indeed Ferak, who had survived his encounter with Blaster.

===Real-life references===
*Wreck-Gar is uncharacteristically quite quiet in issue #114, dropping only one of the many "British Junkionisms" that he would fling about with abandon in later stories. Here, he refers to ''{{w|Bob's Full House}}'', a [[BBC]] quiz show from the late 1980s. On the cover for this issue, he drops another, with "What's yours called?" referencing a contemporary advert for the {{w|Renault 5}} car.
*After Death's Head beats the mech-fluid out of him, the barkeep says "That'll do nicely", referencing a contemporary advert for {{w|American Express}}.

===Errors===
*On the cover of UK issue #114, most of Rodimus Prime's wheels clearly are unattached to the body at their hubs. The body is just resting on top of the wheels.
*Bumblebee is shown as being functional in 2007 as part of the Autobot ambush, despite being destroyed in 1987 and rebuilt as [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]] (although as he is later rebuilt again back into [[Pretender]] Bumblebee, maybe this isn't an error after all?).

===Trivia===
*The story starts on Elpasos, the first Marvel Transformers story partially set on a planet other than [[Earth]] or [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. The US continuity would have to wait until [[Nebulos]] in "[[Ring of Hate!]]".
*[[Fallen Angel|Like]] [[Gone but Not Forgotten!|some]] [[Burning Sky!|other]] [[Worlds Apart!|issues]], a free version of issue #113 (with an altered corner box) was given out at the chain of British steakhouses Berni Inn.
*[[James Roberts]] became hooked on Transformers due to issue #113, and after growing up to write Transformers comics professionally, he would pay homage to the issue that started it all by including the number 113 in many of his stories. Often it is just used to casually number or measure things (characters might travel 113 kliks, or something might occur for the 113th time), but a few of the more notable or recurrent uses of the number include [[Dominus Ambus|Agent 113]], [[Room 113]] and the [[113th Battalion]].

===Back-up stories===
'''Issue #113:'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''[[Inhumanoids|The Inhumanoids]]'' - "The Battle Down Below!" and ''[[Robo-Capers]]''
'''Issue #114:'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''The Inhumanoids'' - "The Battle Down Below!" and a [[Robo-Capers issue 114|''Robo-Capers'' strip]] featuring Transformers who didn't quite make the grade.

===Covers (2)===
*'''Issue #113 cover:''' Rodimus Prime is as mad as hell and he's not going to take it any more, by [[Geoff Senior]].
*'''Issue #114 cover:''' Wreck-Gar tries to sell us a flaming Winnebago, by [[Jeff Anderson]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-113.jpg|'''Issue #113'''
File:MarvelUK-114.jpg|'''Issue #114'''
</gallery>

===Reprints===
*'''Issue #221 cover:''' [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] & [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]/[[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]] split cover by Jeff Anderson.
*'''Issue #222 cover:''' Springer and [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]] chow on Nightmare Ant, by [[Simon Coleby]].
*'''Issue #223 cover:''' the [[Air Strike Patrol]] give [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] the business, by Geoff Senior.
*'''Issue #224 cover:''' Rodimus and Galvatron engage in some hurt/comfort slash, by Geoff Senior.
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-221.jpg|'''Issue #221''' (Marvel Comics, 1989)
File:MarvelUK-222.jpg|'''Issue #222''' (Marvel Comics, 1989)
File:MarvelUK-223.jpg|'''Issue #223''' (Marvel Comics, 1989)
File:MarvelUK-224.jpg|'''Issue #224''' (Marvel Comics, 1989)
</gallery>
*'''''[[Transformers: Fallen Angel]]'' cover:''' Death's Head, by [[Geoff Senior]] and [[Oliver Harud]].
*'''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 4|''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 4]] cover:''' Rodimus and Galvatron fight whilst Scorponok squeezes [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] and Goldbug rides Wreck-Gar, by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 8: Wanted: Galvatron – Dead or Alive ''''': [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] by ??? and [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] by [[Dan Reed]]
<gallery>
File:TitanFA.jpg|'''''Fallen Angel''''' (Titan Books, 2003)
File:Classicuk4.jpg|'''''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 4''' (IDW Publishing, 2013)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v8.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection Vol. 8''''' (Hachette Partworks Ltd, 2017)
</gallery>

[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Talk:Totaled!

2025-04-15T16:55:02Z

Timrollpickering: /* Red Alert? */ new section

Totalled! (two 'L's) is the Marvel UK-reprinted name for this story. It was originally Totaled! (one 'L'). [[User:J'mie|J'mie]] 22:34, 24 April 2007 (UTC)

==absence of the Protectobots?==

From [[Child's Play (issue)]]: "Hot Spot chooses not to arrest Blaster, realizing that to do so would be to go against his own principles. The mode lock is instead attached to the Combaticon Blast Off, enabling Blaster to treat the children to a ride in space. No sooner do they achieve orbit than Blaster and the children find themselves fired upon. The Ark is spaceworthy once again, and Grimlock is using it to make sure Blaster is brought to justice! "

Doesn't this explain the abscence of the Protectobots better than that they were "disobeying orders"? They were still on Earth after the Ark was launched again, and from the text ot doesn't sound like there was time for the Ark to return to earth, pick them up, and then intercept Blaster before he had achieved orbit in Blast Off?

I would rewrite this section but I don't have either issue to hand, if someone can confirm this is the sequence of events I'll change that bit. [[Special:Contributions/80.176.139.71|80.176.139.71]] 12:42, 17 December 2009 (EST)

:Blaster's surrender to the Dinobots in space occurred in #36, ending that continuous sequence of events. Goldbug sent a message into space in #37, which was picked up by the Headmasters, who had to travel all the way from Nebulos to Earth, then Spike was rebuilt into a Headmaster, Goldbug was recovered and his body restored, they had adventures at the Decepticon island base and against the Pretenders, and several attempts to rebuild Optimus Prime's body had failed...by the start of this issue, #41. I think there was plenty of time during all those events for the Ark to send a shuttle down for the Protectobots. --[[User:Xaaron|Xaaron]] 12:55, 17 December 2009 (EST)

::Cool - I though that Goldbug's message and all that stuff happened more or less simultanesly. Guess I need to re-read the comics. Thanks for clarifying! [[Special:Contributions/80.176.139.71|80.176.139.71]] 13:03, 17 December 2009 (EST)

Can anyone help I.D. the UNKNOWN Transformers who stands behind Fort Max when he leaves the Steelhaven? (page 11)

I can I.D. To the left: Chromedome, Hardhead, Highbrow, Brainstorm, behind them are Waverider, Lightspeed, Hot Rod, Pointblank, Sureshot, UNKNOWN1, Grotusque, Doublecross, UNKNOWN2

To the right: Scattershot, Crosshairs, Blurr, Kup, Skyhigh, behind them are Nosecone, UNKNOWN3, Afterburner and behind them Repugnus walking down from the Steelhaven

+ there are at least 2 TF that are behind Fort Max and can't be identified

Missing TF that should be there: Strafe, Cloudburst (who appears on the cover), Outback and Broadside (who appear in the issue)

(Destron1, Israel, 20.10.2011)

==Grotusque?==

I'm seeing his name twice on the list of featured Autobots, once at #16 and again at #67. [[User:Ironhold|Ironhold]] ([[User talk:Ironhold|talk]]) 17:13, 1 November 2014 (EDT)

== Ironhide? ==

No way he should be position #78 on the appearance list. He's on page 10 with all the other Autobots, standing just behind Bluestreak and in front of Mirage[[User:Ryan Frost|Ryan Frost]] ([[User talk:Ryan Frost|talk]]) 17:11, 13 April 2015 (EDT)

US#41 Transmissions - https://imgur.com/OFH82nx [[User:Shadow XGX-9|Shadow XGX-9]] ([[User talk:Shadow XGX-9|talk]]) 16:11, 30 May 2022 (EDT)

== Red Alert? ==

In the panel where Brawn is blasted by Swindle, is that Red Alert below him? It's the same vehicle mode as on the cover.

And in the panel of Fortress Maximus blasting Bombshell's insect mode(!), who is that in the background? A Battlecharger or Pipes? [[User:Timrollpickering|Timrollpickering]] ([[User talk:Timrollpickering|talk]]) 12:55, 15 April 2025 (EDT)

Annie Halfacree

2025-04-15T16:06:18Z

Timrollpickering: /* Letterer */ chronological order

{{disambig3|Ann}}
'''Annie Halfacree''' (now '''Annie Parkhouse''') is a British letterer, who worked on [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Generation 1]] Marvel UK titles.

She began her career working at {{w|IPC Media|IPC Magazines}} before moving on to work at a number of major comic companies including Dark Horse, DC and [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]]. During her time at Marvel, she worked on [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Transformers]] and [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]] among other titles. Currently she's working for 2000AD as the lead letterer on the Judge Dredd strip. During her 30 year career, she received an [http://www.eagleawards.co.uk/ Eagle Award] for her lettering.<ref>http://www.2000adreview.co.uk/features/interviews/2006/parkhousedeville/parkhousedeville.shtml</ref>

She's married to fellow Marvel UK letterer, [[Steve Parkhouse]], whom she met during their days at IPC.<ref>http://www.2000adreview.co.uk/features/interviews/2004/parkhouse/parkhouse.shtml</ref>

==Letterer==
{{collist|3|
* [[The Wrath of Guardian!]]
* [[Dinobot Hunt!]]
* [[To a Power Unknown!]]
* [[Victory!]]
* [[Robot Buster!]]
* [[Second Generation!]]
* [[In the National Interest]]
* [[Target: 2006]]
* [[Prey!]]
* [[Under Fire!]]
* [[...The Harder They Die!]]
* [[Distant Thunder!]]
* [[Fallen Angel]]
* [[Resurrection!]]
* [[Wanted: Galvatron — Dead or Alive!]]
* [[Ancient Relics!]]
* [[Worlds Apart!]]
* [[Kup's Story!]]
* [[Grudge Match!]]
* [[Ladies' Night (issue)|Ladies' Night]]
* [[Stargazing]]
* [[The Legacy of Unicron!]]
* [[Legion of the Lost!]]
* [[Wrecking Havoc]]
* [[Time Wars]]
* [[Out to Lunch!]]
* [[Mind Games]]
* [[Demons!]]
* [[Shadow of Evil]]
}}

==External links==
*[http://www.2000adreview.co.uk/features/interviews/2006/parkhousedeville/parkhousedeville.shtml An interview with Annie Parkhouse and Ellie De Ville at 2000AD review ]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Halfacree, Annie}}
[[Category:Letterers]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics]]

Transformers AtoZ

2024-10-30T19:42:42Z

Timrollpickering: /* Transformers AtoZ profiles */ move 1991 annual up to publication

[[File:Transformers atoz marvel uk 190.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
'''''Transformers AtoZ''''' is a series of [[profile]]s that was serialised in the ''[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Transformers]]'' UK comics by [[Marvel Comics]] between [[1987]] and [[1989]] which followed on from the previous series of ''[[Fact File|Fact File Interfaces]]''. Originally little more than a snazzier-designed reprint of the Marvel US ''[[The Transformers Universe|Transformers Universe]]'' series, in later issues and [[Transformers Annual|annuals]] it branched out and featured new characters (and new versions of characters) not originally covered by the American books.

The earlier, ''[[The Transformers Universe|Universe]]''-based entries were redesigned so that the majority of them could fit two per page (in the US printing each character had their own separate page). The most significant details changed were the first appearance entries, which were adjusted from US issue numbers to UK issue numbers, and the decision to designate the characteristic quotes as "mottoes" (despite not originally being identified as such).

Those ''AtoZ'' profiles published in the Annuals (and in the main comic from issue #311 onwards) were for the most part based on the second ''Transformers Universe'' series that started in [[1988]] and dealt with the 1987-1988 characters. They usually had the same format as the regular issue ''AtoZ'' profile, but now each character took up a whole page. In the Annuals, [[package art]] was generally used as the profile image rather than the ''Transformers Universe'' art.

Furthermore, some of the UK profiles were re-written to tie them directly into the contemporary storylines, even referencing plot-points within the text (for example the entries for [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and the "Classic Heroes").

In addition to ''Transformers AtoZ'', Marvel UK also published a handful of exclusive profiles written specifically for the [[Primax 984.20 Gamma|Marvel UK continuity]].

==''Transformers AtoZ'' profiles==
{{collist|3|
*[[Aerialbots over America!|''The Transformers'' #89]] - [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] and [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]
*[[The Gift|''The Transformers'' #93]] - [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] and [[Blades (G1)|Blades]]
*[[Fallen Angel|''The Transformers'' #101]] - [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] and [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]
*[[Gone but Not Forgotten!|''The Transformers'' #108]] - [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] and [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]
*[[Burning Sky!|''The Transformers'' #116]] - [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] and [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]]
*[[Hunters|''The Transformers'' #117]] - [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] and [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]]
*[[Fire on High!|''The Transformers'' #119]] - [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] and [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]
*[[Transformers Annual 1987]] - [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]], [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]], [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]], [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]], [[Skullcruncher (G1)|Skullcruncher]], [[Weirdwolf (G1)|Weirdwolf]]
*[[Crater Critters|''The Transformers'' #124]] - [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] and [[Cliffjumper (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Cliffjumper]]
*[[Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom|''The Transformers'' #128]] - [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] and [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]]
*[[Headhunt|''The Transformers'' #133]] - [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]
*[[Ladies' Night (issue)|''The Transformers'' #138]] - [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] and [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]]
*[[Used Autobots|''The Transformers'' #139]] - [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] and [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]]
*[[Spacehikers!|''The Transformers'' #143]] - [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]]
*[[The Legacy of Unicron!|''The Transformers'' #146]] - [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] and [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]]
*[[The Legacy of Unicron!|''The Transformers'' #148]] - [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] and [[Groove (G1)|Groove]]
*[[The Legacy of Unicron!|''The Transformers'' #150]] - [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]]
*[[The Legacy of Unicron!|''The Transformers'' #151]] - [[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]] and [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]]
*[[Toy Soldiers!|''The Transformers'' #155]] - [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] and [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hotspot]]
*[[The Desert Island of Space!|''The Transformers'' #158]] - [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]
*[[Legion of the Lost!|''The Transformers'' #166]] - [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] and [[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]]
*[[Totaled!|''The Transformers'' #174]] - [[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] and [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]
*[[People Power!|''The Transformers'' #177]] - [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]
*[[Transformers Annual 1989]] - [[Nautilator]], [[Seawing (G1)|Seawing]], [[Skalor]], [[Snaptrap (G1)|Snaptrap]], [[Tentakil (G1)|Tentakil]], [[Overbite (G1)|Jawbreaker]]
*[[Monstercon from Mars!|''The Transformers'' #190]] - [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]
*[[Club Con!|''The Transformers'' #195]] - [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]
*[[Club Con!|''The Transformers'' #196]] - [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]
*[[The Man in the Machine!|''The Transformers'' #211]] - [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]
*[[The Fall and Rise of the Decepticon Empire.|''The Transformers'' #213]] - [[Mirage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Mirage]] and [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]]
*[[Race with the Devil|''The Transformers'' #215]] - [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] and [[Octane]]
*[[Survivors!|''The Transformers'' #220]] - [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]
*[[Survivors!|''The Transformers'' #221]] - [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] and [[Outback (G1)|Outback]]
*[[Survivors!|''The Transformers'' #222]] - [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] and [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]]
*[[Aspects of Evil!|''The Transformers'' #223]] - [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] and [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]]
*[[Aspects of Evil!|''The Transformers'' #227]] - [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] and [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]]
*[[A Small War!|''The Transformers'' #233]] - [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] and [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]
*[[A Savage Place!|''The Transformers'' #239]] - [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] and [[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]]
*[[Whose Lifeforce Is It Anyway?|''The Transformers'' #249]] - [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] and [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]
*[[The Greatest Gift of All!|''The Transformers'' #250]] - [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]
*[[Transformers Annual 1990]] - [[Race Car Patrol]], [[Off Road Patrol]], [[Air Strike Patrol]], [[Sports Car Patrol]], [[Rescue Patrol (G1)|Rescue Patrol]], [[Battle Patrol]]
*[[The Void! (UK)|''The Transformers'' #251]] - [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]] and [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]]
*[[Edge of Impact|''The Transformers'' #252]] - [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] and [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]]
*[[Shadow of Evil|''The Transformers'' #253]] - [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] and [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]]
*[[Once upon a Time...|''The Transformers'' #265]] - [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]
*[[Snow Fun!|''The Transformers'' #267]] - [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] and [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]
*[[Mystery!|''The Transformers'' #269]] - [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] and [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]
*[[The Living Nightlights!|''The Transformers'' #271]] - [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] and [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]]
*[[Wolf in the Fold!|''The Transformers'' #273]] - [[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]] and [[Slag (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Slag]]
*[[Bugged!|''The Transformers'' #276]] - [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] and [[Sludge (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Sludge]]
*[[Internal Affairs!|''The Transformers'' #277]] - [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] and [[Snarl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Snarl]]
*[[The House that Wheeljack Built!|''The Transformers'' #278]] - [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] and [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]]
*[[Divide and Conquer!|''The Transformers'' #279]] - [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]
*[[The 4,000,000 Year Itch!|''The Transformers'' #280]] - [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] and [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]
*[[Makin' Tracks!|''The Transformers'' #281]] - [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] and [[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Swoop]]
*[[Shut Up!|''The Transformers'' #282]] - [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] and [[Tantrum (G1)|Tantrum]]
*[[Manoeuvres!|''The Transformers'' #283]] - [[Thundercracker (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Thundercracker]] and [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]
*[[Assassins|''The Transformers'' #284]] - [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] and [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]]
*[[External Forces!|''The Transformers'' #285]] - [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] and [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]
*[[The Lesser Evil!|''The Transformers'' #286]] - [[Twin Twist]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]]
*[[Inside Story!|''The Transformers'' #287]] - [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]]
*[[Front Line! (issue)|''The Transformers'' #288]] - [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] and [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]]
*[[End of the Road! (UK)|''The Transformers'' #289]] - [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]]
*[[Dark Creation|''The Transformers'' #290]] - [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] and [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]]
*[[Transformers Annual 1991]] - Classic Hero bio update: [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], [[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]], [[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]], [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]], [[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]]
*[[The Pri¢e of Life!|''The Transformers'' #309]] - Thundercracker and Thrust
*[[The Pri¢e of Life!|''The Transformers'' #310]] - Optimus Prime update
*[[Surrender!|''The Transformers'' #311]] - [[Getaway]] and [[Joyride (G1)|Joyride]]
*[[...All This and Civil War 2|''The Transformers'' #313]] - [[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]]
*[[...All This and Civil War 2|''The Transformers'' #314]] - [[Punch (G1)|Punch and Counterpunch]]
*[[Out of Time!|''The Transformers'' #315]] - [[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]]
*[[The Void! (US)|''The Transformers'' #317]] - [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]]
*[[The Void! (US)|''The Transformers'' #318]] - [[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]]
*[[On the Edge of Extinction!|''The Transformers'' #319]] - [[Fangry (G1)|Fangry]]
*[[On the Edge of Extinction!|''The Transformers'' #320]] - [[Squeezeplay (G1)|Squeezeplay]]
*[[On the Edge of Extinction!|''The Transformers'' #321]] - [[Siren (G1)|Siren]]
*[[On the Edge of Extinction!|''The Transformers'' #322]] - [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]]
*[[Still Life!|''The Transformers'' #323]] - [[Grotusque]]
*[[Still Life!|''The Transformers'' #324]] - [[Horri-Bull]]
*[[Exodus!|''The Transformers'' #325]] - [[Weirdwolf (G1)|Weirdwolf]]
*[[Exodus!|''The Transformers'' #326]] - [[Skullcruncher (G1)|Skullcruncher]]
*[[A Savage Circle|''The Transformers'' #327]] - [[Pounce]]
*[[A Savage Circle|''The Transformers'' #328]] - [[Repugnus (G1)|Repugnus]]
*[[The Last Autobot?|''The Transformers'' #329]] - [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]
}}

==Other Marvel UK-only profiles==
*[[Transformers Annual 1986]] - Datafile: [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]

==Notes==
*The publication schedule of the ''Transformers AtoZ'' was quite irregular. A box on the ''Transformation'' page of issue [[Mind Games|#243]] noted:
{{quote|'''ALAS POOR AtoZ!''' There's not much sign of the AtoZ these days, basically because of the lack of room. We'll try and get it in somewhere - promise!}}
:*True to their word, the feature returned in issue #249, though they had petered out again by issue [[Two Steps Back!|#262]], when another box read:
:{{quote|'''What ''AtoZ?!''''' Yes, we know we said there would be more ''AtoZs<nowiki>'</nowiki>''{{sic}}, but with all these epics going on, there just hasn't been enough room for them recently. But we'll see what we can do from now on - promise! We'll be carrying on from where with left off with a full-page profile on Shockwave. Wow!}}
::This would appear in issue #265.
*The profiles for Thundercracker and Thrust in issue #283 were the only ones to be printed in black and white. They were reprinted in colour in issue #309.
*The entry for Bluestreak rendered the character's name as "Blue Streak".
*For some reason, the five smaller Seacons' entries in the 1989 annual were rewritten from their ''Universe'' profiles to remove any reference to their third [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] mode:
**Nautilator also possesses a [[Torpedo cannon|heat-seeking torpedo cannon]].
**Seawing carries a [[Proton blaster|dual proton blaster]] in [[robot mode]].
**Skalor carries a [[Corrosive slime-shooter|twin-barrelled, corrosive slime shooter]] in sub-aqua mode.
**In robot mode, Tentakil carries a [[Lightning rifle|50,000 volt lightning gun]] alongside a [[Slime laser|dual slime laser]].
**Overbite's ''Universe'' profile states that his Targetmaster mode is an upgrade of his robot mode's [[jawbreaker cannon]] and so its omission here isn't so much of an issue, although because the ''AtoZ'' was a UK publication Overbite is confusingly called "Jawbreaker" instead; see [[Overbite (G1)#Notes]] for more details.
*Although written and designed in the style of the ''AtoZ'' series, the Micromaster entries in the 1990 annual were not actually named as such; the usual "Transformers A To Z" backdrop was replaced with one that simply read "Micromasters". These profiles were exclusive to the UK.
*The "Classic Hero bio update" feature was also written exclusively for the UK; much like the "[[Earthforce]]" stories, it existed to promote the European ''[[Classics (Europe)|Classics]]'' reissues.
*The Fortress Maximus profile in issue #329 is a straight reprint of his ''Transformers Universe'' entry, with none of the usual changes to the formatting.
*A complete list of characters who received ''Universe'' profiles but not ''AtoZ'' profiles is as follows:
**[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]], [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], [[Eject (G1)|Eject]] and [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] were all omitted.
**Many of the movie characters who received profiles in ''Universe'' #4 were omitted: [[Arblus]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]], [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], [[Kranix (G1)|Kranix]], the [[Quintesson]]s, [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], the [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]]s, [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] and [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]].
**Of the second run of profiles featuring 1987-1988 characters, a sizeable portion (specifically, the vast majority of those published in US issues [[Club Con!|#47]][[...All This and Civil War 2|-72]]) were missed: the [[Horrorcon]]s, the new-character Targetmasters (all twelve of them), the [[Throttlebot]]s, the Autobot [[Clone (subgroup)|Clone]]s, [[Slugfest (G1)|Slugfest]] and [[Overkill (G1)|Overkill]], the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]]s (plus [[Computron (G1)|Computron]]), [[Piranacon (G1)|Piranacon]], [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] and [[Hosehead (G1)|Hosehead]], the [[Triggerbot]]s and [[Triggercon]]s, [[Battletrap (G1)|Battletrap]], [[Blot (G1)|Blot]], [[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]], and [[Skullgrin]].

{{bookstub}}

==See also==
*''[[Fact File]]''
*''[[The Transformers Universe]]''
*''[[Who's Who]]''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Atoz}}
[[Category:Generation 1 comic series]]
[[Category:Profile books]]
[[Category:Marvel Generation 1 issues| ]]

Combat Colin issue 300

2024-09-10T14:37:05Z

Timrollpickering: /* Notes */ Mega-Brain also missing

{{comicstory|seriesissue=''[[Combat Colin]]''
|prev=Christmas with Combat Colin
|title=Combat Colin #300
|image=Combat Colin 300 full strip.jpg
|caption=
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|published in=[[Rhythms of Darkness!|''The Transformers'' (UK) #300]]
|date=[[December 8|8th December]] [[1990]]
|coverdate=[[December 15|15th December]] 1990
|script=[[Lew Stringer]]
|art=Lew Stringer
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''Colin gets a bit too big for his boots.'''

==Synopsis==
Colin and Steve plan to take the day off to celebrate the [[Rhythms of Darkness!|300th issue of ''Transformers'']], but outside the [[Combat Shed]] many of their enemies have joined forces and are about to launch a joint attack. Fortunately, Colin is not caught unaware and he takes them all out with a giant boxing glove on a spring, which leads him to boast that after such an easy victory he should boot out the [[Transformer]]s and take over the whole comic. The arrival of a ticked-off [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] quickly dissuades him of that notion.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters|c1=
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (12)
|c3=
*[[Colin Doobrey-Smiff|Combat Colin]] (1)
*[[Semi-Automatic Steve]] (2)
*Moptop (3)
*Professor Madprof (4)
*The Amazing Dave (5)
*Skydriver (6)
*Bankrobber Man (7)
*Jane Bondski (8)
*DJ Yampy (9)
*Mr. Magno (10)
*Ragdoll (11)
}}

==Notes==
*Once again the fourth wall takes some stick, with Colin seemingly fully aware that he's a character in a comic strip.
*The villains' ringleader Amazing Dave appeared in the [[Christmas with Combat Colin|previous ''Transformers''-relevant strip]] in his alter ego of Mountain Man.
*Notably absent from the line-up of recurring villains is Aunt Arctic, presumably because she got freakin' ''eaten alive'' by ''T. rexes'' in issue 280!
*Also absent is Mega-Brain who had been left trapped in Earth's future in issue 299.

[[Category:Back-up strips]]

Toy Fair 1986

2024-08-25T19:02:10Z

Timrollpickering: fix link

'''[[Toy Fair]] [[1986]]''' was held in [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]] from 10 February to 19 February.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1986/02/08/style/toy-fair-fantasy-and-electronics-vie.html Greer, William ER. "TOY FAIR: FANTASY AND ELECTRONICS VIE" New York Times 8 February 1986]</ref> It's likely that the event was more geared towards retailers than the press. The notion of catering to communities of [[fandom|adult fans and collectors]] would probably have seemed fanciful at the time, and there certainly was no online fanbase (or for that matter, much of an online anything).

Below are scans from [[Hasbro]]'s pre-Toy Fair 1986 catalog, which also included pages on ''[[My Little Pony]]'', ''Hasbro Softies'', and ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]''. Many of the toys seen in the images are not final. Some don't even appear to be transformable. The reason for this is that the catalog was thrown together quickly to convince rival company Mattel that Hasbro had dropped plans to make ''[[Jem]]'', a would-be competitor for Mattel's ''Barbie''. And so to combat corporate espionage, Hasbro produced a very limited number of pre-Toy Fair catalogs, sans Jem, with what toy samples they had available at the time.<ref>http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=67034&view=findpost&p=1473392</ref>

==Gallery==
<center>
<gallery>
File:ToyFair1986-cover.jpg
File:ToyFair1986-TFpage00.jpg
File:ToyFair1986-TFpage01a.jpg
File:ToyFair1986-TFpage02.jpg
File:ToyFair1986-TFpage03.jpg
File:ToyFair1986-TFpage04.jpg
File:ToyFair1986-TFpage05.jpg
File:ToyFair1986-TFpage06a.jpg
File:ToyFair1986-TFpage07.jpg
File:ToyFair1986-TFpage08.jpg
File:ToyFair1986-TFpage09a.jpg
</gallery>
</center>

==Differences==
'''Page 1 (Minibots)'''
*[[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] and [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] have switched color schemes.
*"Hub Cap" here is actually just a white [[Cliffjumper (G1)/toys|Cliffjumper]] with a red face. Note the head and spoiler.
*[[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] has a slightly different face.
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] has different color highlights.
*[[Outback (G1)|Outback]]'s face is red rather than silver.

'''Page 2 (Tapes)'''
*The insane stickers are pulled randomly from other 1984-85 figures.
*Eject and Rewind have no hands whatsoever. It actually looks like the sculpted parts on the sides may have been intended as hands at the time.
*Ramhorn has a slightly different head.
*Steeljaw's sticker looks completely original.
*This is exactly the page shown on Hasbro's Transformer Checklist website page around 2007.

'''Page 3 (Combiners)'''
*Given the handpainted nature of these, all the colors are slightly different from finals.
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] has real shoulders instead of elbow...ders! LAME!
*Swindle has a separated windshield as opposed to a single glass pane like on the final version.
*[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] has a rounded turret, which we've seen on a set of [[Combaticon (G1)|animation models]] before. No, the twin cannon is not actually pivoting, but appears to be propped up behind the rear of the tank out of sight.
*Brawl is particularly unfinished, having a head that is basically a block with a visor. He's got the gun that [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]'s final version does.
*Blast-Off appears to have a peculiar radar dish styled handgun instead of his usual one with the ammo clip off the side.
*[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] has a different handgun, or one that attaches in a slightly different way.
*The front of Vortex's helicopter mode is much more rounded, explaining some things about the character model.
*[[Groove (G1)|Groove]] is largely lacking details on his chest piece and waist.
*[[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] seems to be a handmade mockup. He has Tracks' head and is lacking the joint in the hood of the car.
*[[Blades (G1)|Blades]] has a very long stalk under the rotors for some reason.
*Blades is also holding Swindle's handgun.
*Groove and [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] are both carrying Aerialbot weapons.
*First Aid has red windows rather than blue.
*More odd stickers on the Aerialbots, probably pulled from older sticker sheets.

'''Page 4 (Combiner Leaders)'''
*[[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] and [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] are handmade mockups lacking most detailing whereas [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] and [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] look much closer to finished.
*Hot Spot has Perceptor's head but painted black, and a mockup body with no combination sockets.
*Hot Spot has [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]'s ladder.
*Onslaught is also missing combiner sockets, has a much larger chestplate, and a much thinner, shorter rifle.
*Onslaught's head is actually Inferno's, painted black and shaved down some on the sides and top.
*[[Superion (G1)|Superion]]'s combiner [[kibble]] is mostly ''blue'', except for the white feet (and silver paint for the face and the antennae).
*[[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]]'s head is actually just Devastator's.

'''Page 5 (Ultra Magnus)'''
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys|Ultra Magnus]] is the final version, albeit with the cab's robot mode stickers misapplied to the super robot mode.

'''Page 6 (Battle"springers")'''
*Recycled stickers again, obvious color changes.
*Again, handmade mockups so there are lots of details lacking. Those heads are HUGE.
*Despite both being black, they are actually entirely different mockups. The gray section on which the heads are mounted is the best way to tell them apart.

'''Page 7 (Autobot Cars)'''
*While [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]'s body is the same, his face and helmet are different. Both are shorter than the final, and his face is unfinished.
*Blurr's head is mounted differently. It has a very large, square black section underneath it, as opposed to the thin hinge the final has. It's possible that the helmet originally rotated to cover the face, as opposed to the whole head pivoting.
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/toys|Hot Rod]] is, of course, on the pinker side of red, and has clear (or rather, extremely light blue) windows. Also, his legs are extended farther than is possible on the final version (without opening it up and cutting some added plastic stops, that is), as shown by the little tapering going on above the red knee sections. His face is also unfinished. The designers likely sanded down and puttied over the existing sculpt and redid it whenever an updated character model came in. Note that the color seen here matches Hot Rod's character model as well as the flame stickers that remained on the sides of the final toy.
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] has some color differences and lack of paint, as well as a different, pudgier face with a thinner nose. The stickers appear to be very rough versions.
*Kup's legs also come together in a slightly different way, as the belt buckle is split three ways, whereas it is untouched on the final.
*Kup's arms are also flipped around, with the inner arm facing outwards. Granted, that's likely just a mistake on their part, since screw holes should not be facing us.
*He might, ''might'' have rubber tires in the back, but it's really hard to tell. In any case, they're different tires than what either final version has.
*All of the 1985 Autobot Cars are part of the assortment, but these toys were discontinued in 1986.

'''Page 8 (Decepticon Jets)'''
*The catalog mistakenly swaps Scourge and Cyclonus's names.
*[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] looks like his face has also been puttied over and resculpted at least once. He has a very pronounced "angry" brow. Not much unfinished here. Missing fist holes. Different landing gear wheels as seen on the sides of his legs.
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/toys|Cyclonus]] has a different, silver head. Strangely, he's got stickers on his shoulders, but they've been painted over, and his shoulder stickers as we know them are on his forearms. The face looks the same, but the helmet is shaped differently. It appears to have originally been a separate piece on the silver plastic sprue, along with the face. The hands are slightly smaller as well. This prototype was also pictured in a 1986 European pack-in catalog.

'''Page 9 (Galvatron)'''
*Possibly the single earliest model in the catalog, all three of [[Galvatron (G1)/toys|Galvatron]]'s modes are non-transforming models, as the screwholes and joints are all missing. Poor guy.
*The obvious stuff is the color change on the particle cannon from smoke to sparkly orange, the giant handgun, and the colored fists.
*It's hard to tell exactly how Galvatron is carrying his cannon. He may very well be holding it, or there's a hole on the upper arm we can't see.
*The placeholder stickers on top of the cannon mode are pretty amusing, since they're basically saying, "SCULPT VENT PART HERE". Looks like something else was there before, but was carved off pretty quickly before painting.
*The mockups are all missing the circle on the sound effects button.
*The cannon barrel has three etched rings on it, as well as a different kind of, er, swervy divots between the start of the barrel and the rest of it.
*He has eyes with hilarious goofy pupils. Note that the description makes no note of light-up eyes, so that function was likely not implemented yet.

==Transformers Fan Community Charity Drive==
On [[February 23]], [[2010]], an auction for the above pre-Toy Fair catalog was spotted on [[eBay]]. Paying the required $500 would have been overkill for one person, but it was suggested that if multiple fans donated $5 each, the catalog could be bought and shared with everyone. [http://www.allspark.com/ The Allspark] (a Transformers fan message board) orchestrated this drive and very quickly reached the required monetary amount.

In fact, the Allspark raised more money than was needed. It was therefore suggested that instead of returning the surplus donations, the excess funds would be donated to [http://www.hasbrochildrenshospital.org/ Hasbro Children's Hospital]. The drive continued, but this time with the goal of raising $2000. Ultimately, the charity drive raised $2340. The names of the contributors are listed below.

===Contributors===
{|cellspacing="5" cellpadding="0" width="100%"
|-valign="top"
|
*Alan Wilkinson
*[[User:Abates|Alden Bates]]
*An Allspark Lurker
*[[User:Andrusi|Andrusi]]
*Anthony Oster
*Asquian
*[[User:Autobus Prime|Autobus Prime]]
*[[User:Awa64|awa64]]
*Axaday
*Bainreese
*Bass XO
*[[Bill Forster]]
*Bill Heaston/Fangwing
*Bleargh001
*Blindmouse
*BlitzwingHaz
*Blue Fuel
*Bonebot
*Boss Borot
*BraveMax
*Brett Goldman/Deathy G1
*Brett Sommers
*[[User:Kilby|Brian Kilby]] (Radio Free Cybertron)
*Brian Orms
*Buster D
*BWBM (Tformers)
*[[User:Cabooceratops|Caboose]]/April Cooley
*Camron King/TM Silverclaw
*Chaotic Descent
*Cheetimus Primal/Billie Shively
*ChessPieceFace
*[[User:Chip|Chip]]
*Chris Carolan/Terminal Hipster
*Christine Love
*Christopher Cerny
*[[Chris McFeely|Chris]] [[User:Chris McFeely|McFeely]]
|
*Chug
*Ciaran Fitzgerald/Sprocket
*Counterpunch
*CreatureSH
*DanHibiki
*Daniel Sayre/Mr Blud
*[[User:LBD Nytetrayn|David Oxford/LBD "Nytetrayn"]]
*[[David Willis]]/[[User:ItsWalky|Walky]]
*Daytonus
*Detective Fork
*[[User:Detour|Detour]]
*Dilbertron
*Donocropolis
*[[Kris Carter|Drivaaar]]
*Edwin
*Emeraldbeacon
*Engledogg
*Eric Wilson
*[[User:Esser-Z|Esser-Z]]
*Fair Playthings
*Fenrir
*[[User:FortMax|FortMax]]
*Fullstrength Motleypuss
*Gabriel Owens
*Galen Rafferty/Galenraff
*Geoffrey Sproule
*Gothsaurus
*[[Graham Weaver]]
*Greg Kuhn/Kalidor
*[[Greg Sepelak]]/[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]]
*Gryphman
*HellCat
*InfiniteCron/ Mark Valencia
|
*[[User:Interrobang|Interrobang]]
*Jason DuBose/Onyx Minor
*Jeff Willoughby/Magick
*Jeremy Carmichael/J Gargoyle220
*Jerry Blaise/Big Show
*[[Jesse Wittenrich|Jesse Wittenrich/NightViper]]
*[[User:Jeysie|Jeysie]]
*[[User:Jimsorenson|Jim]] [[Jim Sorenson|Sorenson]]
*Jose Negron
*[[Justin Severson]]/[[User:Spectre|Spectre]]
*Kevin Sigmund
*Kurai Z
*Logan Rogan
*[[Luke Thompson]]
*[[Mark Baker-Wright|Mark Baker-Wright/G.B. Blackrock]]
*[[User:DrSpengler|Mark Pellegrini/DrSpengler]]
*Master Fwiffo
*Matt Hume
*[[Matthew Karpowich|Matt Karpowich]]/[[User:Monzo|Monzo]]
*[[User:Primal Rage|Mathew Ignash]]
*Michael Ivey/General Tekno
*[[User:Might Gaine|Might Gaine]]
*Mike Estipona/Lastmaximal
*Mikeatron
*Mkall (Seibertron)
*Mouse_Pad
*Msol
*mx-01 archon
*Newsy891
*[http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showuser=246 Nic Woodward/tec]
*[[User:Ennby|Nicolas I./Nightblade]]
*Noah Carroll/Defunct
*Owen Brownell/Robogeek1973
*Paladin
|
*Phil Barker/Daith
*[[Phil Zeman]] (ASM)
*Pyre
*Quicky
*[[Randy Para]]/[[User:Poweredconvoy|Powered Convoy]]
*Ray Kremer
*Razorclaw0000 (Seibertron)
*Redjack Ryan
*Robert Chambers/Agent X
*Robert Petrimoulx
*RockinRobin
*Sam Helbling/shellspark
*Sara Franks-Allen
*[http://ssjmihoshi.deviantart.com/ Sara Rude]
*Sean Curry/Dake
*Sebastien Blouin/Devcon
*Shawn Chellis
*Silverwynde & Defensis Prime
*Simon Dick
*Solarstorm/Nicholas Sampone III
*Solarstorm's kids, Laurita and Victoria Sampone
*Solidgoomba
*[[User:MCRG|Spark]]
*Specimen-17
*Stackups Immy
*Steve Kushnir/Soundwave9
*Strangefour
*Sunlink (TFW2005)
*[[User:Swift|Swift]] & Quez
*T16skyhopp (TFW2005)
*Tentakil
*[[User:Lonegamer78|Tiffany T. Wong/Lonegamer]]
*[[User:Tigerpaw28|Tigerpaw28]]
*Tom Rutzler/Fenix Twilight
*[http://callmewingus.deviantart.com Wing/Valora Caston]

*Wolfboy
|}

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://www.allspark.com The AllSpark]
*[http://www.allspark.com/content/view/6756/20/ "Transformers Fan Community Charity Drive, Organized by Allspark.com and TFwiki.net"]
*[http://www.hasbrochildrenshospital.org/ Hasbro Children's Hospital]
*[[wikia:gijoe:Toy Fair 1986|G.I. Joe catalog pages at Joepedia]]

[[Category:Fandom]]
[[Category:Toy Fair]]

Toy Fair 1986

2024-08-25T19:01:49Z

Timrollpickering: date of Toy Fair

'''[[Toy Fair]] [[1986]]''' was held in [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]] from 10 February to 19 February.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1986/02/08/style/toy-fair-fantasy-and-electronics-vie.html Greer, William ER. "TOY FAIR: FANTASY AND ELECTRONICS VIE" New York Times 8 February 1986</ref> It's likely that the event was more geared towards retailers than the press. The notion of catering to communities of [[fandom|adult fans and collectors]] would probably have seemed fanciful at the time, and there certainly was no online fanbase (or for that matter, much of an online anything).

Below are scans from [[Hasbro]]'s pre-Toy Fair 1986 catalog, which also included pages on ''[[My Little Pony]]'', ''Hasbro Softies'', and ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]''. Many of the toys seen in the images are not final. Some don't even appear to be transformable. The reason for this is that the catalog was thrown together quickly to convince rival company Mattel that Hasbro had dropped plans to make ''[[Jem]]'', a would-be competitor for Mattel's ''Barbie''. And so to combat corporate espionage, Hasbro produced a very limited number of pre-Toy Fair catalogs, sans Jem, with what toy samples they had available at the time.<ref>http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=67034&view=findpost&p=1473392</ref>

==Gallery==
<center>
<gallery>
File:ToyFair1986-cover.jpg
File:ToyFair1986-TFpage00.jpg
File:ToyFair1986-TFpage01a.jpg
File:ToyFair1986-TFpage02.jpg
File:ToyFair1986-TFpage03.jpg
File:ToyFair1986-TFpage04.jpg
File:ToyFair1986-TFpage05.jpg
File:ToyFair1986-TFpage06a.jpg
File:ToyFair1986-TFpage07.jpg
File:ToyFair1986-TFpage08.jpg
File:ToyFair1986-TFpage09a.jpg
</gallery>
</center>

==Differences==
'''Page 1 (Minibots)'''
*[[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] and [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] have switched color schemes.
*"Hub Cap" here is actually just a white [[Cliffjumper (G1)/toys|Cliffjumper]] with a red face. Note the head and spoiler.
*[[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] has a slightly different face.
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] has different color highlights.
*[[Outback (G1)|Outback]]'s face is red rather than silver.

'''Page 2 (Tapes)'''
*The insane stickers are pulled randomly from other 1984-85 figures.
*Eject and Rewind have no hands whatsoever. It actually looks like the sculpted parts on the sides may have been intended as hands at the time.
*Ramhorn has a slightly different head.
*Steeljaw's sticker looks completely original.
*This is exactly the page shown on Hasbro's Transformer Checklist website page around 2007.

'''Page 3 (Combiners)'''
*Given the handpainted nature of these, all the colors are slightly different from finals.
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] has real shoulders instead of elbow...ders! LAME!
*Swindle has a separated windshield as opposed to a single glass pane like on the final version.
*[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] has a rounded turret, which we've seen on a set of [[Combaticon (G1)|animation models]] before. No, the twin cannon is not actually pivoting, but appears to be propped up behind the rear of the tank out of sight.
*Brawl is particularly unfinished, having a head that is basically a block with a visor. He's got the gun that [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]'s final version does.
*Blast-Off appears to have a peculiar radar dish styled handgun instead of his usual one with the ammo clip off the side.
*[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] has a different handgun, or one that attaches in a slightly different way.
*The front of Vortex's helicopter mode is much more rounded, explaining some things about the character model.
*[[Groove (G1)|Groove]] is largely lacking details on his chest piece and waist.
*[[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] seems to be a handmade mockup. He has Tracks' head and is lacking the joint in the hood of the car.
*[[Blades (G1)|Blades]] has a very long stalk under the rotors for some reason.
*Blades is also holding Swindle's handgun.
*Groove and [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] are both carrying Aerialbot weapons.
*First Aid has red windows rather than blue.
*More odd stickers on the Aerialbots, probably pulled from older sticker sheets.

'''Page 4 (Combiner Leaders)'''
*[[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] and [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] are handmade mockups lacking most detailing whereas [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] and [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] look much closer to finished.
*Hot Spot has Perceptor's head but painted black, and a mockup body with no combination sockets.
*Hot Spot has [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]'s ladder.
*Onslaught is also missing combiner sockets, has a much larger chestplate, and a much thinner, shorter rifle.
*Onslaught's head is actually Inferno's, painted black and shaved down some on the sides and top.
*[[Superion (G1)|Superion]]'s combiner [[kibble]] is mostly ''blue'', except for the white feet (and silver paint for the face and the antennae).
*[[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]]'s head is actually just Devastator's.

'''Page 5 (Ultra Magnus)'''
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys|Ultra Magnus]] is the final version, albeit with the cab's robot mode stickers misapplied to the super robot mode.

'''Page 6 (Battle"springers")'''
*Recycled stickers again, obvious color changes.
*Again, handmade mockups so there are lots of details lacking. Those heads are HUGE.
*Despite both being black, they are actually entirely different mockups. The gray section on which the heads are mounted is the best way to tell them apart.

'''Page 7 (Autobot Cars)'''
*While [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]'s body is the same, his face and helmet are different. Both are shorter than the final, and his face is unfinished.
*Blurr's head is mounted differently. It has a very large, square black section underneath it, as opposed to the thin hinge the final has. It's possible that the helmet originally rotated to cover the face, as opposed to the whole head pivoting.
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/toys|Hot Rod]] is, of course, on the pinker side of red, and has clear (or rather, extremely light blue) windows. Also, his legs are extended farther than is possible on the final version (without opening it up and cutting some added plastic stops, that is), as shown by the little tapering going on above the red knee sections. His face is also unfinished. The designers likely sanded down and puttied over the existing sculpt and redid it whenever an updated character model came in. Note that the color seen here matches Hot Rod's character model as well as the flame stickers that remained on the sides of the final toy.
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] has some color differences and lack of paint, as well as a different, pudgier face with a thinner nose. The stickers appear to be very rough versions.
*Kup's legs also come together in a slightly different way, as the belt buckle is split three ways, whereas it is untouched on the final.
*Kup's arms are also flipped around, with the inner arm facing outwards. Granted, that's likely just a mistake on their part, since screw holes should not be facing us.
*He might, ''might'' have rubber tires in the back, but it's really hard to tell. In any case, they're different tires than what either final version has.
*All of the 1985 Autobot Cars are part of the assortment, but these toys were discontinued in 1986.

'''Page 8 (Decepticon Jets)'''
*The catalog mistakenly swaps Scourge and Cyclonus's names.
*[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] looks like his face has also been puttied over and resculpted at least once. He has a very pronounced "angry" brow. Not much unfinished here. Missing fist holes. Different landing gear wheels as seen on the sides of his legs.
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/toys|Cyclonus]] has a different, silver head. Strangely, he's got stickers on his shoulders, but they've been painted over, and his shoulder stickers as we know them are on his forearms. The face looks the same, but the helmet is shaped differently. It appears to have originally been a separate piece on the silver plastic sprue, along with the face. The hands are slightly smaller as well. This prototype was also pictured in a 1986 European pack-in catalog.

'''Page 9 (Galvatron)'''
*Possibly the single earliest model in the catalog, all three of [[Galvatron (G1)/toys|Galvatron]]'s modes are non-transforming models, as the screwholes and joints are all missing. Poor guy.
*The obvious stuff is the color change on the particle cannon from smoke to sparkly orange, the giant handgun, and the colored fists.
*It's hard to tell exactly how Galvatron is carrying his cannon. He may very well be holding it, or there's a hole on the upper arm we can't see.
*The placeholder stickers on top of the cannon mode are pretty amusing, since they're basically saying, "SCULPT VENT PART HERE". Looks like something else was there before, but was carved off pretty quickly before painting.
*The mockups are all missing the circle on the sound effects button.
*The cannon barrel has three etched rings on it, as well as a different kind of, er, swervy divots between the start of the barrel and the rest of it.
*He has eyes with hilarious goofy pupils. Note that the description makes no note of light-up eyes, so that function was likely not implemented yet.

==Transformers Fan Community Charity Drive==
On [[February 23]], [[2010]], an auction for the above pre-Toy Fair catalog was spotted on [[eBay]]. Paying the required $500 would have been overkill for one person, but it was suggested that if multiple fans donated $5 each, the catalog could be bought and shared with everyone. [http://www.allspark.com/ The Allspark] (a Transformers fan message board) orchestrated this drive and very quickly reached the required monetary amount.

In fact, the Allspark raised more money than was needed. It was therefore suggested that instead of returning the surplus donations, the excess funds would be donated to [http://www.hasbrochildrenshospital.org/ Hasbro Children's Hospital]. The drive continued, but this time with the goal of raising $2000. Ultimately, the charity drive raised $2340. The names of the contributors are listed below.

===Contributors===
{|cellspacing="5" cellpadding="0" width="100%"
|-valign="top"
|
*Alan Wilkinson
*[[User:Abates|Alden Bates]]
*An Allspark Lurker
*[[User:Andrusi|Andrusi]]
*Anthony Oster
*Asquian
*[[User:Autobus Prime|Autobus Prime]]
*[[User:Awa64|awa64]]
*Axaday
*Bainreese
*Bass XO
*[[Bill Forster]]
*Bill Heaston/Fangwing
*Bleargh001
*Blindmouse
*BlitzwingHaz
*Blue Fuel
*Bonebot
*Boss Borot
*BraveMax
*Brett Goldman/Deathy G1
*Brett Sommers
*[[User:Kilby|Brian Kilby]] (Radio Free Cybertron)
*Brian Orms
*Buster D
*BWBM (Tformers)
*[[User:Cabooceratops|Caboose]]/April Cooley
*Camron King/TM Silverclaw
*Chaotic Descent
*Cheetimus Primal/Billie Shively
*ChessPieceFace
*[[User:Chip|Chip]]
*Chris Carolan/Terminal Hipster
*Christine Love
*Christopher Cerny
*[[Chris McFeely|Chris]] [[User:Chris McFeely|McFeely]]
|
*Chug
*Ciaran Fitzgerald/Sprocket
*Counterpunch
*CreatureSH
*DanHibiki
*Daniel Sayre/Mr Blud
*[[User:LBD Nytetrayn|David Oxford/LBD "Nytetrayn"]]
*[[David Willis]]/[[User:ItsWalky|Walky]]
*Daytonus
*Detective Fork
*[[User:Detour|Detour]]
*Dilbertron
*Donocropolis
*[[Kris Carter|Drivaaar]]
*Edwin
*Emeraldbeacon
*Engledogg
*Eric Wilson
*[[User:Esser-Z|Esser-Z]]
*Fair Playthings
*Fenrir
*[[User:FortMax|FortMax]]
*Fullstrength Motleypuss
*Gabriel Owens
*Galen Rafferty/Galenraff
*Geoffrey Sproule
*Gothsaurus
*[[Graham Weaver]]
*Greg Kuhn/Kalidor
*[[Greg Sepelak]]/[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]]
*Gryphman
*HellCat
*InfiniteCron/ Mark Valencia
|
*[[User:Interrobang|Interrobang]]
*Jason DuBose/Onyx Minor
*Jeff Willoughby/Magick
*Jeremy Carmichael/J Gargoyle220
*Jerry Blaise/Big Show
*[[Jesse Wittenrich|Jesse Wittenrich/NightViper]]
*[[User:Jeysie|Jeysie]]
*[[User:Jimsorenson|Jim]] [[Jim Sorenson|Sorenson]]
*Jose Negron
*[[Justin Severson]]/[[User:Spectre|Spectre]]
*Kevin Sigmund
*Kurai Z
*Logan Rogan
*[[Luke Thompson]]
*[[Mark Baker-Wright|Mark Baker-Wright/G.B. Blackrock]]
*[[User:DrSpengler|Mark Pellegrini/DrSpengler]]
*Master Fwiffo
*Matt Hume
*[[Matthew Karpowich|Matt Karpowich]]/[[User:Monzo|Monzo]]
*[[User:Primal Rage|Mathew Ignash]]
*Michael Ivey/General Tekno
*[[User:Might Gaine|Might Gaine]]
*Mike Estipona/Lastmaximal
*Mikeatron
*Mkall (Seibertron)
*Mouse_Pad
*Msol
*mx-01 archon
*Newsy891
*[http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showuser=246 Nic Woodward/tec]
*[[User:Ennby|Nicolas I./Nightblade]]
*Noah Carroll/Defunct
*Owen Brownell/Robogeek1973
*Paladin
|
*Phil Barker/Daith
*[[Phil Zeman]] (ASM)
*Pyre
*Quicky
*[[Randy Para]]/[[User:Poweredconvoy|Powered Convoy]]
*Ray Kremer
*Razorclaw0000 (Seibertron)
*Redjack Ryan
*Robert Chambers/Agent X
*Robert Petrimoulx
*RockinRobin
*Sam Helbling/shellspark
*Sara Franks-Allen
*[http://ssjmihoshi.deviantart.com/ Sara Rude]
*Sean Curry/Dake
*Sebastien Blouin/Devcon
*Shawn Chellis
*Silverwynde & Defensis Prime
*Simon Dick
*Solarstorm/Nicholas Sampone III
*Solarstorm's kids, Laurita and Victoria Sampone
*Solidgoomba
*[[User:MCRG|Spark]]
*Specimen-17
*Stackups Immy
*Steve Kushnir/Soundwave9
*Strangefour
*Sunlink (TFW2005)
*[[User:Swift|Swift]] & Quez
*T16skyhopp (TFW2005)
*Tentakil
*[[User:Lonegamer78|Tiffany T. Wong/Lonegamer]]
*[[User:Tigerpaw28|Tigerpaw28]]
*Tom Rutzler/Fenix Twilight
*[http://callmewingus.deviantart.com Wing/Valora Caston]

*Wolfboy
|}

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://www.allspark.com The AllSpark]
*[http://www.allspark.com/content/view/6756/20/ "Transformers Fan Community Charity Drive, Organized by Allspark.com and TFwiki.net"]
*[http://www.hasbrochildrenshospital.org/ Hasbro Children's Hospital]
*[[wikia:gijoe:Toy Fair 1986|G.I. Joe catalog pages at Joepedia]]

[[Category:Fandom]]
[[Category:Toy Fair]]

Talk:Toy Fair 1986

2024-08-25T16:17:57Z

Timrollpickering: /* Differences */

==eBay Sighting==
Guess what I found on eBay: [http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180326276436 Toy Fair 1986 catalog!] Featuring Blue Superion and Wacky-Gunned Galvatron! It, uh, costs $500 to bid on, so we're probably gonna hafta deal with the annoying and obtrusive watermarks if we steal any images from it. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 12:18, 23 February 2010 (EST)
:We've seen smaller, grainier pics of that proto-Galvatron before: they were in the same Japanese laserdisc booklet that had the pics of proto-Arcee. They're already up..... uhh.... on some site. Either Zob or Prime Saber or the STA. --[[User:Thylacine 2000|Thylacine 2000]] 20:56, 23 February 2010 (EST)
::This is the third time that auction's been up. I think the last time it was priced at $600, but I have the auction images from the first time it showed up. Toy Archive had the laserdisc scans.--[[User:MCRG Again|MCRG Again]] 21:10, 23 February 2010 (EST)
:::[http://www.allspark.com/content/view/6741/20/ Allspark is getting folks together to help raise money for it so the Wiki can scan and archive it.] --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 13:01, 24 February 2010 (EST)

==Scans Discussion==
Feel free to make this page pretty as I do the dirty work of scanning the pages. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 15:25, 1 March 2010 (EST)
: Also, if anyone else is better than me (read: any proficiency at all) at getting collist to work, please fix up the donator list that I've temporarily made invisible. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 15:31, 1 March 2010 (EST)
::The collist seems to works just fine for me in Firefox, although you might want to mark it up as an actual list. Collist ''only'' works in FF, though, since that's the only browser with multi-column support, so maybe that's your issue? If you want something cross-browser, it'll have to be a table. --[[User:Jeysie|Jeysie]] 15:38, 1 March 2010 (EST)
:::Ah, yeah, I use Chrome. D'oh. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 15:41, 1 March 2010 (EST)
::::I just stuck it in a table... uh, hopefully it looks good on larger resolutions, too. :> Also, maybe we should try linking up anyone who has matching wiki userpages or articles? --[[User:Jeysie|Jeysie]] 15:54, 1 March 2010 (EST)
:I'm just curious, will you be scanning more than just the TF stuff? Because I wouldn't mind seeing the G.I.Joe pages myself. --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 16:05, 1 March 2010 (EST)
::I'll scan everything. Won't put everything up here, though. So hope you like My Little Pony! --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 16:06, 1 March 2010 (EST)
:::It's probably worth asking if YoJoe or someone wants the appropriate pages. I know there are MLP fansites that would love to get their mitts on that stuff, and I imagine the Jem fanbase would be interested, too. -hx, at work.
::::I'm surprised Stormrave over at the Allspark hasn't been squeeing yet, considering she's an MLP buff. --[[User:Jeysie|Jeysie]] 17:04, 1 March 2010 (EST)
:::::I am almost done scanning MLP. Will probably link them on this talk page from a directory on my SP! server for now. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 17:07, 1 March 2010 (EST)
::::I [http://gijoe.wikia.com/wiki/Toy_Fair_1986 added the GI Joe images] and a copy of this page to Joepedia, with the appropriate credit pointing back here. Didn't include the list of contributors, but instead added another link back to '''this''' page, so everyone can come see those who gave. I was going to add a link to Joepedia in the "External links" section here, but I didn't know if that would be kosher—any objections? --[[User:Buttbutt|Buttbutt]] 21:12, 1 March 2010 (EST)
:::If there's Voltron stuff in there, I know some places that would like to see/host it. (I didn't donate as I didn't know of it until today, but I'll gladly throw some money at the charity in return.) --[[User:GrantB|GrantB]] 09:25, 2 March 2010 (EST)
::::Uh, Voltron wasn't Hasbro, dude. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 10:29, 2 March 2010 (EST)
:::::Doh, my mistake. I thought it was a general non-company-specific Toy Fair catalog. Should have read closer. --[[User:GrantB|GrantB]] 23:43, 4 March 2010 (EST)

HEY GUESS WHO'S HOTLINKING OUR IMAGES
It's Seibertron. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 10:30, 2 March 2010 (EST)
:Is there any way we could replace some of the images they're hotlinking with, like, a big sweaty dick or something? That'll learn 'em. -- [[User:Semysane|Semysane]] 16:07, 2 March 2010 (EST)
::But who would we get to take a picture of themselves?

==MyLittlePony==
*[http://www.shortpacked.com/images/misc/ToyFair1986-MLPpage01.jpg Page 01]
*[http://www.shortpacked.com/images/misc/ToyFair1986-MLPpage02.jpg Page 02]
*[http://www.shortpacked.com/images/misc/ToyFair1986-MLPpage03.jpg Page 03]
*[http://www.shortpacked.com/images/misc/ToyFair1986-MLPpage04.jpg Page 04]
*[http://www.shortpacked.com/images/misc/ToyFair1986-MLPpage05.jpg Page 05]
*[http://www.shortpacked.com/images/misc/ToyFair1986-MLPpage06.jpg Page 06]
*[http://www.shortpacked.com/images/misc/ToyFair1986-MLPpage07.jpg Page 07]
*[http://www.shortpacked.com/images/misc/ToyFair1986-MLPpage08.jpg Page 08]
*[http://www.shortpacked.com/images/misc/ToyFair1986-MLPpage09.jpg Page 09]
--[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 17:27, 1 March 2010 (EST)
==HasbroSofties==
*[http://www.shortpacked.com/images/misc/ToyFair1986-Softiespage01.jpg Page 01]
*[http://www.shortpacked.com/images/misc/ToyFair1986-Softiespage02.jpg Page 02]
*[http://www.shortpacked.com/images/misc/ToyFair1986-Softiespage03.jpg Page 03]
*[http://www.shortpacked.com/images/misc/ToyFair1986-Softiespage04.jpg Page 04]
*[http://www.shortpacked.com/images/misc/ToyFair1986-Softiespage05.jpg Page 05]
*[http://www.shortpacked.com/images/misc/ToyFair1986-Softiespage06.jpg Page 06]
*[http://www.shortpacked.com/images/misc/ToyFair1986-Softiespage07.jpg Page 07 (with more MLP)]
--[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 17:53, 1 March 2010 (EST)
:Rhinokeeeeeeey!
:...
:...ahem. - [[User:Chris McFeely|Chris McFeely]] 17:55, 1 March 2010 (EST)
:I don't remember the second-year Wuzzles at all. However: Woolrus is awesome. -[[User:LV|LV]] 17:58, 1 March 2010 (EST)
::I remember Koalakeet. I think I had a storybook with him in it. - [[User:Chris McFeely|Chris McFeely]] 18:01, 1 March 2010 (EST)

==G.I.Joe==
*[http://www.shortpacked.com/images/misc/ToyFair1986-JOEpage01.jpg Page 01]
*[http://www.shortpacked.com/images/misc/ToyFair1986-JOEpage02.jpg Page 02]
*[http://www.shortpacked.com/images/misc/ToyFair1986-JOEpage03.jpg Page 03]
*[http://www.shortpacked.com/images/misc/ToyFair1986-JOEpage04.jpg Page 04]
*[http://www.shortpacked.com/images/misc/ToyFair1986-JOEpage05.jpg Page 05]
*[http://www.shortpacked.com/images/misc/ToyFair1986-JOEpage06.jpg Page 06]
*[http://www.shortpacked.com/images/misc/ToyFair1986-JOEpage07.jpg Page 07]
And that's it.
--[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 18:15, 1 March 2010 (EST)
:Awesome. Thanks. --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 18:41, 1 March 2010 (EST)

==Differences==
So I went through and documented every difference I could find over [http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=67034&view=findpost&p=1472493 here]. Shall I mirror it in a subsection on the Toy Fair 1986 page? (Also, holy crap, logging into my old account doesn't cause a server error anymore!)--[[User:MCRG|MCRG]] 20:42, 1 March 2010 (EST)
:You missed Outback's red face. Other than that, great work. Should someone document the mistransformations (such as face up Powerglide jetform)? [[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 20:48, 1 March 2010 (EST)
::Also First Aid's clear red windows. [[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 20:51, 1 March 2010 (EST)
:Yes, please do so—that sounds like a good idea. --[[User:Buttbutt|Buttbutt]] 21:12, 1 March 2010 (EST)
:Kup is so totally not finished. I go over all of the crazy changes in tonight's blog over at Shortpacked!. I don't think anything on him is final. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 21:31, 1 March 2010 (EST)
:::Like I said, I could only ascertain so much from the scans on here at the time. You had the super hi-res ones to work from, so that has since been amended now that I have them too.--[[User:MCRG|MCRG]] 00:10, 2 March 2010 (EST)
::I'm amending things now that I've got access to the super hi-res scans. I'd like to have it complete before adding it here. I've also chosen to ignore to ignore the mistransformations, since they don't really pertain to what I'm trying to document.--[[User:MCRG|MCRG]] 00:05, 2 March 2010 (EST)
:And yes, that picture with Cyclonus (actually the whole picture of all five toys) were used in the 1986 Euro catalog (I live in Denmark, so that's probably why you thought about Denmark/Sweden). Also, I *think* (need to check that) that the group shots of the combiner limbs were used in the same catalog as well. Big kudos to all for those killer pics! --[[User:Fighbird|Fighbird]] 03:15, 2 March 2010 (EST)
::The UK catalogue for 1986 also uses that Decepticon Planes picture and some of the other photos such as the Triple Changers appear to use the same backdrop, suggesting the same photo shoot. [[User:Timrollpickering|Timrollpickering]] ([[User talk:Timrollpickering|talk]]) 12:17, 25 August 2024 (EDT)

== Galvatron's cannon ==

Just thinking... at what point was it decided that the best way to stop kids getting confused when they shot at each other with pretend guns was to make the barrels orange? I'm wondering if that was the reason for the particle cannon colour change. Either that, or maybe they thought that the black cannon made him look too much like Megatron? [[User:LiamK|LiamK]] 17:31, 3 February 2011 (EST)
:I'm fairly certain that the orange barrels are so cops don't think some kid is pointing a real gun at them and shoot them. -- [[User:Semysane|Semysane]] 19:07, 3 February 2011 (EST)

Prime Bomb!

2024-07-22T16:45:45Z

Timrollpickering: /* Notes */ disc is not an error but the UK spelling (computing use of "disk" had not fully taken off at the time); many compound words have been hyphenated

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[Transformers Annual 1989]]
|prev=Altered Image!
|next=All in the Minds!
|title="Prime Bomb!"
|image=Prime bomb.jpg
|caption=If the Prime drops below fifty, it will explode.
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=October [[1988]]
|coverdate=[[1989]]
|script=[[Ian Rimmer]]
|illustrations=[[Robin Smith]]
|lettering=
|colours=[[Steve White]]
|editor=
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''There's a bomb on Optimus Prime that will go boom.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Getaway manacles.jpg|left|upright=0.9|thumb|Manacles del sino!]]
The [[Autobot]] [[Powermaster]]s [[Getaway]], [[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]], and [[Joyride (G1)|Joyride]] arrive to guard a warehouse belonging to [[Ethan Zachary]]'s [[Alternate Reality, Inc.]] computer company, where a ''backup'' of the [[floppy disk]] containing [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s personality is stored. They relieve the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] so that they can travel to [[Rutter U.S. Military Base]], where the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] have been spotted. However, once the Protectobots are gone, [[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]] and [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] attack the base. Dreadwind takes out Slapdash and Joyride with his [[thermal melter]]s but Getaway makes it inside the warehouse to confront Darkwing, managing to injure the Decepticon with his [[plasma-shell shotgun]] before being disarmed by Darkwing's [[electro-kinetic blaster]]s and after a struggle with [[Rev]], Darkwing's [[Nebulan]] partner [[Throttle (G1)|Throttle]] steals the disk.

Getaway grabs onto Darkwing and Dreadwind as they combine and ends up trapped in their joints as they escape. The newly returned Protoctobots form [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]], but are unable to shoot the Decepticons down without also destroying Getaway and Rev. The appearance of four of the Combaticons ([[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] had been tasked with transporting the stolen military equipment) allows Darkwing and Dreadwind to escape.

Getaway is imprisoned on board [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]]'s [[Semper Tyrannis|orbiting space ship]]. He learns that the stolen equipment, two missiles with warheads and most of the components for the advanced [[ABC]] guidance computer, are going to be used to create a smart bomb, designed to home in on Optimus Prime using the specifications on the disk. Despite being restrained by energy manacles, Getaway is able to escape from a cell via the creative use of a credit card. Still manacled, he and Rev reach the ABC (which has been completed with Cybertronian technology) and retrieve the disk with Prime's backup. Getaway interfaces with the upgraded ABC, but is unable to change its rigid human programming. Getaway speaks eloquently about Optimus Prime's good nature, but the computer still refuses to stop the missile. Rev secures an escape pod, and they are forced to flee, radioing a warning to Optimus Prime.

Optimus Prime flees to the mountains, where he can face the missile with minimal interference and a decreased risk of collateral damage. However, the smart bomb proves to be a clever opponent for Optimus. When he tries to trick it into a collapsing tunnel, it evades. When he tries to blast it out of the sky, it retreats. Deciding to outwait its fuel supply, Optimus Prime races to a nearby lake, where the missile would be unable to strike them beneath the water. However, his Nebulan partner [[Hi-Q]] so over-strains his systems to get them to the lake ahead of the missile, the breathing system in his [[Powermaster]] exo-suit malfunctions. Rather than let Hi-Q drown, Prime surfaces. Prime leaves Hi-Q at the shore and then sprints far enough that Hi-Q will not be harmed by the explosion. Bereft of any other options, when the missile comes at him, Optimus Prime punches it.

The missile fails to explode. It seems that the ABC computer had been so moved by Getaway's description of Optimus Prime's good character that it overcame its programming and disarmed the warhead. Prime laments that Scorponok will almost certainly destroy the computer for its disobedience, but the Autobots instead choose to celebrate its—no, ''his''—life as the first Earth machine to achieve free will.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Hot Spot (G1)|Hotspot]] (1)
*[[Getaway]] (2)
*[[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (3)
*[[Joyride (G1)|Joyride]] (4)
*[[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]] (5)
*[[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (18)
*[[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (19)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (20)
*[[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (21)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (25)
|c2=
*[[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] (6)
*[[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]] (7)
*[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (13)
*[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (14)
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (15)
*[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (16)
*[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (17)
*[[Dreadwing (G1)|Dreadwing]] (22)
*[[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]] (23)
|h4=[[Nebulan]]s|c4=
*[[Hi-Test (G1)|Hi-Test]] (8)
*[[Rev]] (9)
*[[Lube]] (10)
*[[Hotwire (G1)|Hotwire]] (11)
*[[Throttle (G1)|Throttle]] (12)
*[[Hi-Q|HiQ]] (26)
|h5=Others|c5=
*[[ABC]] (24)
}}

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*The appearance of Dreadwind and Darkwing turns this story into something of a continuity headache, as they were never seen working for Scorponok in the main comic storyline, and in fact spent very little time on Earth at all. It's ''possible'' they worked for him after leaving Nebulos but before taking up their robot-spotting gig with the [[Mecannibal]]s (after all, they left Cybertron specifically to find Scorponok and his crew), but there's no direct evidence for it outside this story. They also reappear on Earth in the equally problematic Annual story "[[Dreadwing Down!]]", this time with the Shockwave or Ratbat-allied Seacons coming to their rescue. Apparently, they'll work for anybody.
*Having Optimus Prime on Earth as a Powermaster, and the Protectobots still active, should place the story shortly before the [[Underbase Saga]]. However, the Combaticons are shown working for Scorponok, which could not have happened until he assumed command of the Earth Decepticons—which would place it ''after'' the [[Underbase Saga]].
*There is implication elsewhere that most of the non-organic Transformers (which would include the Protectobots and Combaticons) went offline during the Underbase Saga, which basically means this story couldn't happen at all.
*Try not to think too hard about it.
*Slapdash's Nebulan partner [[Lube]] does not appear in this story—Slapdash forgot about him, trapping himself in vehicle mode.
*In [[Source:Dread Tidings#Issue 251|#251's letters page]], someone asked how come Optimus sacrifices his trailer but can still transform into his normal large self. Dreadwind theorised "he had a spare?".
*Throughout, "disk" is spelt "disc" (there's even a reference to Throttle being a "disc jockey") and Getaway's shotgun is hyphenated as "shot-gun".

===Transformers references===
*Optimus Prime chose not to destroy the copy of his mind on [[floppy disk]] for sentimental reasons. He thought it was his last contact to the computer generated characters from [[Hyper-Fax]] he got to know in "[[Pretender to the Throne!]]".

===Courtesy of my...===
The Powermasters' [[weapon]]s get some time in the spotlight:
*Dreadwind takes out Joyride and Slapdash with his [[thermal melter]]s.
*Getaway shoots Darkwing with his [[plasma-shell shotgun]].
*Darkwing in turn shoots Getaway's plasma-shell shotgun with his [[electro-kinetic blaster]]s.

===Cover===
*'''Transformers Annual 1989 cover:''' Scorponok, by [[Lee Sullivan]].
<gallery>
File:Transformers annual 1989.jpg|'''Transformers Annual 1989'''
</gallery>

===Reprints===
*'''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 5|''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 5]]:''' the head of [[Unicron]] watches over [[Triton]] swapping his [[Insignia|badge]], [[zombie]] [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] attacking [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], a fleeing [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and an angry [[Flame (Marvel)|Flame]], by [[Andrew Wildman]].
<gallery>
File:Classicuk5.jpg|'''''Classics UK'' Volume 5''' (IDW Publishing, 2014)
</gallery>

[[Category:Marvel UK Annual stories]]
[[Category:Marvel UK text stories]]

Deadly Games!

2024-07-12T19:00:28Z

Timrollpickering: /* Real-life references */ repeated in 1993

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #170–171
|prev=Meltdown!
|next=Wrecking Havoc
|title="Deadly Games!"
|image=MarvelUK-171.jpg
|caption=It's the eye of the tiger and the thrill of the fight...
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[June 11|11th June]] - [[June 18|18th June]] [[1988]]
|coverdate=18th June - [[June 25|25th June]] 1988
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Dan Reed]]
|colour=[[Euan Peters]]
|letterer=[[Gary Gilbert|Glib]]
|cover=[[Jeff Anderson]] and [[Jerry Paris]]
|chronology=[[Marvel Comics timeline|1988]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]] ([[Primax 984.20 Gamma|Marvel UK]])
}}
'''Ultra Magnus finds himself up against a real hooligan...'''

==Synopsis==
The [[Jekka Amphitheatre]] was once host to the [[Games (competition)|State Games]], in which noble warriors fought [[gladiatorial combat|honourable duels]] against one another, but that was long ago before the war. Nowadays, there are only... ''"Deadly Games!"''

[[File:Hooligan marvel uk 170.jpg|left|thumb|New generic or early Optimus Minor cameo? You make the call.]]
In the arena, the [[Autobot]] [[Chameleon (G1)|Chameleon]] fights a losing battle against the mechanoid [[Hooligan (G1)|Hooligan]]. He tries to escape by using his cloaking powers, but the crowd tell Hooligan what is happening. The brutal mechanoid switches to heat vision and chops off Chameleon's right arm. The Autobot tries transforming, but the pain is too much and he collapses. Hooligan asks the lord of the games for a verdict, which is death.

The next day, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] and the [[Sparkabot|Sparkler Mini-Bots]] are searching [[Tyrest]] to find out what killed Chameleon, who had reported a deal between the [[Decepticon]]s and an alien. Ultra Magnus had been preparing to return to [[Earth]] with the [[Wreckers]] to confront [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] when Chameleon's corpse was brought in (minus an arm), and Magnus and the Sparklers decided to disobey [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]]'s orders not to leave [[Autobase]] to investigate. Having found nothing, they are about to return, when [[Sizzle (G1)|Sizzle]] spots the old amphitheatre and convinces the others to take a brief look inside, even though Magnus believes it will be deserted. In a tunnel, they find a huge pile of corpses, including Chameleon's missing arm. Then they are confronted by Decepticons, led by the [[Firecon]]s, who have been aching for a rematch with the Sparkabots. As the two confront each other, Ultra Magnus is grabbed by an alien. [[Zabra]], the lord of the games, declares that Ultra Magnus will be the star of the next fight!

===Game On!===
[[File:Hideousgiantbrainguy.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Even in 1988, Transformers had rampant fanboys.]]
The amphitheatre rapidly fills up with spectators and souvenir salesmen, with everyone enjoying the games, bar those due to die in them. In the cells, Zabra has Magnus beaten before being taken up, with the warning that if he resists, the Firecons will kill one of the Sparklers. Magnus points out the games are illegal under [[intergalactic law]] and asks Zabra if "living off other creatures' suffering" ever bothers him. But the alien argues he is just the supply part of a supply and demand situation, taking the money whilst the games bring trade to the Decepticons and joy to the audience, all under the cover of war. Magnus now enters the arena to see his opponent: Hooligan.

In the cells, the Sparklers start arguing and fighting with one another, but it proves a ploy to lure in the Decepticon guard and overpower him. Up in the arena, Ultra Magnus tries to convince Hooligan he is being exploited for the pleasure of others, but Hooligan responds that he likes fighting. Meanwhile, the Sparklers debate whether to follow Magnus's orders to return to Autobase and take his place on the mission to Earth. [[Fizzle]] argues this isn't the right course of action. Back in the arena, Magnus decides that since Hooligan is as perverted as Zabra, he doesn't need to hold back. He fights fiercely and overpowers Hooligan. Up in his box, Zabra is glad, as it means Ultra Magnus will become the new star of the games.

[[File:Zabra 2 deadly games marvel uk 170.jpg|left|thumb|Deal with this, Zabra.]]
The crowd goes wild and urges Ultra Magnus to kill Hooligan, but Magnus instead declares that the games are over. He leaps up to the box and attacks Zabra. The Decepticon guards are about to shoot Magnus when they are gunned down by the Sparkabots, who have decided to stay and help. With the games collapsing, the Firecons decide to escape.

Ultra Magnus finishes subduing Zabra and tells the crowd he isn't going to kill the alien, but will instead take him into custody. He goes on to explain that killing is not a sport and shouldn't be taken lightly; it should only happen when it's unavoidable. People should cherish life and not throw it away senselessly. He tells the crowd to go away and think about it.

But as the crowd leaves, one of them talks of a great murderpit on [[Derut Four]]...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Chameleon (G1)|Chameleon]] (2)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (4)
*[[Sizzle (G1)|Sizzle]] (5)
*[[Fizzle]] (6)
*[[Guzzle (G1)|Guzzle]] (7)
*[[Xaaron|Emirate Xaaron]] (8)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (9)
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (10)
*[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] (11)
|c2=
*[[Flamefeather (G1)|Flamefeather]] (12)
*[[Cindersaur (G1)|Cindersaur]] (13)
*[[Sparkstalker]] (14)
|h3=[[Alien]]s
|c3=
*[[Hooligan (G1)|Hooligan]] (1)
*[[Zabra]] (3)
*[[Hideous giant brain guy]] (15)
}}

==Quotes==
"Genuine bits of competitors, Autobot insignias - '''get 'em here!'''" 
"How much for that foot?"
:—A '''souvenir seller''' and '''Hideous Giant Brain Guy'''

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
*TBD

===Continuity errors===
*TBD

===Continuity notes===
*The big one is the nod to "State Games".
*This is the first appearance of the Firecons in [[robot mode]].
*The latter part of this story overlaps with the first part of "[[Wrecking Havoc]]" in the next issue, explaining why Ultra Magnus is unable to join the Wreckers on their mission to Earth.
*This story is the last time the present-day incarnation of Ultra Magnus appears in the comic, although his counterpart in the future timeline made further appearances over the next fifty-four issues.

===Real-life references===
*The cover for #171 clearly states Hooligan is from the planet Mil-Wal. At the time of original publication, UK football club Millwall were notorious for being in the news for the rioting and general bad behaviour of their fans. The Millwall supporters club did not see the funny side of the image and sent the comic an angry letter.<ref>''Transformers Classics UK Volume 5'': "Ah yes, the Millwall controversy..." sighs Furman. "Millwall has an utterly terrible reputations and yes, the supporters club sent us an outraged 'how dare you?' letter. But we felt totally validated in doing it. The hooliganism was so well reported at the time..."</ref> Despite this the 1993 reprint special did not modify the cover to change the offending word.

===Back-up material===
'''Issue #170'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]]'' - "Thunder Machine" and ''[[Combat Colin]]''
*Issue #170 also came with a one-page bonus strip that was actually an advert for the comic. Ultra Magnus explains the war against the Decepticons, ending with Galvatron being pimped as their greatest threat. "Only a miracle can save us now!", Magnus tells us, and an insert of the head of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Power Master Optimus Prime]] (who'll be making his comeback in six issues and will get a cliffhanger battle against Galvatron in "[[Time Wars]]").

'''Issue #171'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Action Force'' - "Snap Decisions" and ''Combat Colin''

===Generics===
Once again, Dan Reed is called upon to populate Cybertron with weird and wonderful [[generic]]s. The crowds at the amphitheatre are a mix of aliens and Decepticons, and even some aliens wearing Decepticon [[insignia]].
{{main|Hideous giant brain guy}}
<gallery>
File:Generic aliens decepticons marvel uk 170.jpg|Some bizarre aliens and a marvellous generic Decepticon berate Hooligan.
File:Generic aliens decepticons 2 marvel uk 170.jpg|The front two could be Decepticons or mechanoid aliens.
File:Generic aliens decepticons 3 marvel uk 170.jpg|Who's that strangely blue human in the crowd? A [[:File:DanReed01.jpg|self-portrait]]?
File:Generic aliens decepticons marvel uk 171.jpg|Note the slug-like alien playing dress-up as a Decepticon.
File:Generic guard marvel uk 171.jpg|The guard who, er, guards the Sparkabots is almost definitively generic. His lack of insignia means we can't even tell if he's supposed to be a Decepticon. Perhaps one of the aliens stole it.
File:Generic decepticons marvel uk 171.jpg|Three Decepticon guards prepare to shoot Ultra Magnus. They are slagged by the Sparklers in the next panel.
File:Generic aliens decepticons 2 marvel uk 171.jpg|Two of these three aliens would later deliver the punchline to this story.
</gallery>

===Covers (2)===
*'''Issue #170 cover:''' Zabra terrorises Ultra Magnus and the Sparklers; art by [[Jeff Anderson]].
*'''Issue #171 cover:''' Ultra Magnus in the Jekka Amphitheatre; art by [[Jerry Paris]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-170.jpg|'''Issue #170''' - Zabra gets a cool sticker of some robots for his blade
File:MarvelUK-171.jpg|'''Issue #171''' - Kneel before Zod!
</gallery>

===Reprints===
*'''[[Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 23|''Transformers Comic-Magazin'' #23]]:''' Some kid watches Ultra Magnus and Hooligan fight.
*'''''[[Transformers Collected Comics|Transformers Holiday Special]]'' 1993:''' recolored version of issue #171.
*'''''[[Transformers: City of Fear]]'' TPB:''' Ultra Magnus and the Wreckers battle the zombie horde; art by [[Geoff Senior]].
*'''''[[The Transformers: Best of UK: City of Fear|Best of UK: City of Fear]]'' #5 Regular cover:''' Ultra Magnus vs Hooligan; art by [[Andrew Griffith]].
<gallery>
File:Tf commag 23.JPG|'''''Transformers Comic-Magazin'' #23''' (Condor Verlag, 1992) Possibly the most accurate ''Comic-Magazin'' cover yet
File:Tfcolcom23.jpg|'''''Holiday Special'' 1993''' (Marvel Comics UK, 1993) Now with 50% less neon
File:TitanCoF.jpg|'''''City of Fear'' TPB''' (Titan Books, 2004)
File:BoUK CityofFear 5reg.jpg|'''''Best of UK: City of Fear'' #5 (Regular cover)''' (IDW Publishing, 2009)
</gallery>
*'''''Best of UK: City of Fear'' #5 RI cover:''' Ultra Magnus holds a defeated Zabra; art by [[Dan Reed]] and [[Euan Peters]].
*'''''Best of UK: City of Fear'' TPB:''' Trypticon destroying zombies; art by Andrew Griffith.
*'''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 5|''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 5]]:''' The head of [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] watches over [[Triton]] swapping his badge, [[Zombie]] [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] attacking [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], a fleeing [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and an angry [[Flame (Marvel)|Flame]], by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]] Volume 13: City of Fear:''''' Trypticon and a zombie killing Chuffer.
<gallery>
File:BoUK CityofFear 5RI.jpg|'''''Best of UK: City of Fear'' #5 (RI cover)''' (IDW Publishing, 2009)
File:BoUK_CityofFear_TPB.jpg|'''''Best of UK: City of Fear'' TPB''' (IDW Publishing, 2009)
File:Classicuk5.jpg|'''''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 5''' (IDW Publishing, 2014)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection_v13.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection'' Volume 13: City of Fear''' (Hachette Partworks Ltd., 2019)
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://s90690880.onlinehome.us/jhiaxus/generic/ukgeneric/uk170.htm The generics of issue #170 at the Obscure Transformers Website]

[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Talk:Time Wars

2024-05-12T11:21:17Z

Timrollpickering: /* Soundwave and the Terrorcons */

...Perchance to Dream

2024-01-21T19:51:15Z

Timrollpickering: /* Other trivia */ toyline not timeline

{{disambig2|the original Marvel UK comic|the [[Titan Books]] trade paperback|Transformers: Perchance to Dream}}
{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #255–260
|prev=White Fire
|next=The Primal Scream
|title="...Perchance to Dream"
|image=MarvelUK-260.jpg
|caption=Galvatron admires his G1 collection
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=
|coverdate=[[February 3|3rd February]] - [[March 10|10th March]] [[1990]]
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Andrew Wildman]] (#255, #257, #260) [[Staz]] (#256, #258) [[John Stokes]] (#259)
|inks=
|lettering=[[Gary Gilbert|Glib]] (#255-256) [[Stuart Bartlett]] (#257-260)
|editor=
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]/[[Earthforce]]
}}
'''Five Autobots remember their past mistakes, and Galvatron prepares to muck up UK continuity forever.'''

==Synopsis==
{{Earthforcefiction}}
The [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] is unoccupied for an unknown reason and, watching from his [[Galvatron's ship|ship]] nearby, an alternate-reality [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] sneaks a "[[mind bug]]" on board. With this probe device, he looks through the memories of the injured and offline [[Autobot]]s, trying to find ones with dark sides that he can permanently unleash, now that he knows their brain patterns, creating a new army!

In turn, his device probes [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]], [[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]], [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], [[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]], and [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], causing them all to dream about times on [[Earth]] when they committed questionable acts:

===Prowl===
[[File:MarvelUK-255.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|{{w|Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?|So, androids ''don't'' dream of electric sheep...}}]]
Prowl remembers trying to stop the [[Battlecharger]]s, when his aggressive approach and their response left a trail of devastation. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] stepped in, telling Prowl that, as an Autobot, he couldn't endanger humans like this, Prowl thought to himself, "Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire!"

Galvatron chuckles, musing to himself that with that thought, Prowl has become exactly what he's looking for, then turns to his next subject...
{{-}}

===Ironhide===
[[File:MarvelUK-256.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|If Prime can be John Wayne, I'll be Clint Eastwood!]]
Ironhide remembers finding himself near a siege in [[Los Angeles]], where [[Greater glory terrorists|unnamed terrorists]] were holding hostages. Believing the hostages would be killed if the police went in, Ironhide attacked in full force to intimidate the terrorists into surrendering. However, the police came in at the last moment and ruined the effect, prompting the lead terrorist to try and detonate his suicide bomb. Ironhide had to kill him by freezing him in place and berated the police as "dumb organisms".

This too, pleases Galvatron.
{{-}}

===Sunstreaker===
[[File:MarvelUK-257.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb]]
[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] and Sunstreaker were on a covert recon mission to scout out [[Fortress Sinister]], but the Autobot pretty-boy blew it by showing off, attracting the attention of [[Thundercracker (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]]. The [[Decepticon]]s attacked, injuring Jazz, and, scared at the thought of being made "a mess" himself, Sunstreaker abandoned his comrade and deliberately drew the Decepticons near the US military encampment so the humans would drive them off. Sunstreaker congratulated himself and admired how he'd saved his good looks, while many soldiers lay badly wounded as a result of his tactic.

Galvatron is amused by this and welcomes Sunstreaker to the team.
{{-}}

===Wheeljack===
[[File:MarvelUK-258.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Please, Wheeljack. Let Nightbeat do the detective work.]]
Wheeljack remembers running into [[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]] at [[Blackrock Aerospace Assembly Plant Number One]], following the [[Dinobot Hunt!|Dinobot Hunt]]. He wanted to find the technology used to make [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] so he could repair the injured Autobots, and so made a deal with Ravage: In return for the technology, he'd brainwash Jetfire with Ravage's [[neuro-control helmet]] into returning to the Decepticons. Despite not trusting Jetfire, he backed out at the last minute. He later found out Ravage had destroyed the factory, meaning he'd almost betrayed his comrade for no end result.

However, back on the Ark, the mind bug has awoken Wheeljack from his slumber...
{{-}}

===Silverbolt===
[[File:MarvelUK-259.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Those be some mighty big humans.]]
Silverbolt remembers battling [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]], a battle where [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] was needed, despite (still!) not being fully tested. [[Aerialbots over America!|This time, the process worked]], but it also caused the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] to see inside one another's minds. His secret fear of heights revealed, Silverbolt caused Superion to go savagely berserk.
{{-}}

===Galvatron===
[[File:PerchanceToDream2.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Prowl and Wheeljack > Wreckers and Mayhems.]]
Galvatron's probe accidentally causes all the Autobots to revive. Boarding the Ark himself, he uses his mind-control device on Wheeljack and Prowl. However, as Autobots, they're easily able to deny their baser instincts, and they shoot him down without warning. Galvatron is then sent into a comatose state by a device Wheeljack created, leaving him trapped in Autobot custody and dreaming of being defeated over and over again.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks or dreams. 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] (3)
*''[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]'' (4)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]] (6)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (8)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (9)
*''[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]]'' (10)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] (15)
*''[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]'' (16)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (18)
*''[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]]'' (19)
*''[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]]'' (20)
*''[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]]'' (21)
*''[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]]'' (22)
*''[[Superion (G1)|Superion]]'' (23)
*''[[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]]'' (24)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*''[[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]]'' (1)
*''[[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]]'' (2)
*[[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] (5)
*''[[Thundercracker (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Thundercracker]] (11)
*''[[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]]'' (12)
*''[[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'' (13)
*''[[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]]'' (14)
*''[[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]'' (17)
|c3=
*''[[Greater glory terrorists|Terrorists]]'' (7)
}}

==Quotes==
"Do I detect a certain...'''hostility''' emanating from these vehicles, '''Runamuck?'''" 
"Yep." 
"'''Good!'''"
:—'''Runabout''' and '''Runamuck'''

"That does it, ''''Cons''' - I'm '''through''' playin' by the rules!"
:—Who are you and what have you done with '''Prowl'''?

"[''Bursts through a wall''] '''Surprise, surprise!'''"
:—'''Ironhide''' channels the Kool-Aid Man.

"Kee-keep back! I will-" 
"'''Will you?''' You'll only make me '''mad''', and you don't want '''that''' do you?"
:—'''Terrorist''' intimidated by '''Ironhide'''

"How'd I look '''Jazz?''' I know '''great''', but '''how great?'''"
:—'''Sunstreaker''' in a nutshell.

"'''No!''' Look at me! This worse than '''slow torture!''' But what can I '''do?''' If I '''don't''' run, I'll have to stand and fight. They'll pick me off - '''fender''' by '''fender''', '''hubcap''' by '''hubcap!''' I've abandoned '''Jazz''', lost my communicator - there's '''no hope!'''"
:—'''Sunstreaker''' is no ray of sunshine, ironically.

"'''Looking''' for something, '''Autobot?'''" 
"'''WAAAH!'''"
:—'''Ravage''' spooks '''Wheeljack'''

"Okay, I'm not averse to a little '''lube job''' now and then. I'm all yours, doc!"
:—'''Jetfire''' says questionable things.

"They'll '''kill''' us all!"
:—'''Bystander'''

"So! My little '''toy''' did '''more''' than '''read''' and '''relay''' your dreams! '''It woke you up!'''"
:—'''Galvatron''''s plan has gone more than a little pear-shaped.

"Soon you will call me '''Master!'''" 
"Oh yeah?" 
"'''Yeah!'''" 
"'''SHEEAGH!'''"
:—'''Galvatron''' clobbers poor '''Wheeljack''', who just can't catch a break in this issue.

"Nice idea, '''Galvatron''', but it's like '''Ironhide''' said - we're '''Autobots!''' We're '''dedicated''' to ignoring our '''baser instincts!''' It's what sets us '''apart''' from '''scum''' like '''you!''' It takes '''more''' than a '''bit of machinery''' to change that!" 
"UK-[''Prowl slams Wheeljack's device onto his head'']" 
"But don't fret. '''Here's''' a device '''Wheeljack''' rigged up. Call it '''poetic justice!'''"
:—'''Prowl''' is badass and '''Galvatron''' is screwed.

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
*TBD
===Continuity errors===
*TBD

===Continuity notes===
[[File:PerchanceToDream6-Galvatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7|Surprise, I'm [[Galvatron II]]!]]
*The flashbacks all take place before "[[Afterdeath!]]". With the exception of Ironhide's, they make specific reference to past stories, either directly placing themselves at a certain time (Prowl, Sunstreaker and Wheeljack) or being more vague (Silverbolt). They can all slot into past continuity with no problem.
*The ''framing story'', by contrast, doesn't fit with contemporary continuity. As the Ark is flying, it has to be before "[[On the Edge of Extinction!]]", but there is no point when these characters could be revived and then killed again in time for their [[Nucleon (substance)|Nucleon]] revival. Furthermore, the story starts off the [[Earthforce]] run, which sidesteps the US continuity entirely and in 2015 was officially listed as [[Primax 290.03 Gamma|an alternate timeline]].
*The Galvatron in this story doesn't fit into continuity any better. The ''[[Dinobot Hunt!]]'' trade paperback from [[Titan Books|Titan]] pegs him as "the alternate-reality Galvatron from US #67," aka [[Galvatron II]]. That's frankly impossible to reconcile without that handy alternate timeline ruling. Now we can say that instead of/after/before going to Cybertron like he was told to, in Earthforce's timeline he flies off to the Ark. That still leaves us with the question of what happened to [[Hook, Line, and Sinker]] (who should be following him) and why [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] just leaves him there.
*Sunstreaker was shot point blank by [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] way back in "[[The New Order]]", leaving him offline until "[[Totaled!]]" many issues later -- after which he vanished from the story ''again'', presumably deactivated during "Totaled!" or the Underbase slaughter in "[[Dark Star]]". He doesn't know who Galvatron is, suggesting he was only brought online shortly before "Totaled!" and not briefed on anything. This is the first story to have him back for any length of time.
*"Perchance to Dream" follows the same format—flashback-based character vignettes with a framing story—as the earlier "[[Aspects of Evil!]]". That story had another Galvatron too, leaving us with the possibility that ''this'' Galvatron was originally meant to be ''that'' Galvatron.
*At one point, Galvatron's mind bug examines [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] as a possibility, before Galvatron rejects him as unsuitable, regretfully noting that Brawn's brute strength would have been an asset. From Galvatron, that's quite a compliment!

===Real-life references===
*Galvatron has read [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]], or at least the start of ''{{w|Hamlet}}'', Act III.

===Other trivia===
*Prowl's reactivation by Galvatron's mind bug is referenced in his ''[[Transformers AtoZ]]'' profile update in the [[Transformers Annual 1991]].
*Reprinted as a self-titled, digest-sized trade paperback by [[Titan Books]] in August 2006. It was collected with the UK [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] stories and the 3-part [[Irwin Spoon]] story that ended the [[Earthforce]] run.
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] is part of Galvatron's chess set on the cover despite only appearing in flashback. He was part of the [[Classics (Europe)|''Classics'']] toyline that these stories were pimping and turns up [[Break-Away!|quite abruptly in three issues' time]]; perhaps he was originally planned to have a spotlight story of his own?

===Back-up material===
'''Issue #255:'''
*'''Reprint ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Worlds Apart!]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|G.I. Joe the Action Force]]'' - "Transit" and ''[[Combat Colin]] in Space!''
'''Issue #256:'''
*'''Reprint ''Transformers'' story:''' "Worlds Apart!"
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Transit" and ''Combat Colin in Space!''
'''Issue #257:'''
*'''Reprint ''Transformers'' story:''' "Worlds Apart!"
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Transit" and ''Combat Colin Meets Combat Kate!''
'''Issue #258:'''
*'''Reprint ''Transformers'' story:''' "Worlds Apart!"
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Going Under" and ''Combat Colin Meets Combat Kate!''
'''Issue #259:'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[The Primal Scream]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Going Under" and ''Combat Colin Meets Combat Kate!''
*'''Free gift:''' Transformers sticker
'''Issue #260:'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "The Primal Scream"
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Going Under" and ''Combat Colin''
*'''Free gift:''' Autobot Classic Heroes poster
*This issue featured the first part of a competition to win a set of the [[Classics (Europe)|Classic Heroes]] toys Prowl, Sunstreaker, Ironhide, Wheeljack, Jazz and [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]].

===Covers (6)===
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-255.jpg|'''Issue #255'''
File:MarvelUK-256.jpg|'''Issue #256'''
File:MarvelUK-257.jpg|'''Issue #257'''
File:MarvelUK-258.jpg|'''Issue #258'''
</gallery>
*'''Issue #255 cover:''' Prowl dreams about the Battlechargers, by [[Stephen Baskerville]].
*'''Issue #256 cover:''' Ironhide threatens some terrorists, by Stephen Baskerville.
*'''Issue #257 cover:''' Sunstreaker admires himself, by [[Art Wetherell]].
*'''Issue #258 cover:''' Wheeljack is surprised by the sudden appearance of Ravage's [[Character model#Model sheet poses used in fiction|character model]], by [[Jeff Anderson]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-259.jpg|'''Issue #259'''
File:MarvelUK-260.jpg|'''Issue #260'''
</gallery>
*'''Issue #259 cover:''' Menasor puts the smackdown on Superion, by Andrew Wildman.
*'''Issue #260 cover:''' Galvatron plays [[chess]] with the Autobots, by [[Geoff Senior]].

===Advertisements===
'''Issue #255:'''
*''[[Punisher|The Punisher]]'' comic
*''The Real [[Ghostbusters]]'' comic
*[[Micromaster]]s [[Sports Car Patrol]], [[Rescue Patrol (G1)|Rescue Patrol]] and [[Battle Patrol]] sets (back cover)

'''Issue #256:'''
*''The Punisher'' comic
*''The Real Ghostbusters'' comic
*[[Classic Pretender|Pretender Classics]] [[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream]], [[Grimlock (G1)/toys|Grimlock]], [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|Bumblebee]] and [[Jazz (G1)/toys|Jazz]] (back cover)

'''Issue #257:'''
*''The Punisher'' comic
*''The Real Ghostbusters'' comic
*[[Action Force (team)|Action Force]] Weapon Transport and [[Cobra]] Night Landing (back cover)

'''Issue #258:'''
*''The Real Ghostbusters'' comic
*''The Punisher'' comic
*[[Classics (Europe)|Classic Heroes]] [[Prowl (G1)/toys|Prowl]], [[Sunstreaker (G1)/toys|Sunstreaker]], [[Ironhide (G1)/toys|Ironhide]], [[Wheeljack (G1)/toys|Wheeljack]], Jazz and [[Inferno (G1)/toys|Inferno]] (back cover)

'''Issue #259:'''
*''[[Doctor Who]]'' Magazine
*''The Real Ghostbusters'' comic
*Findus Crispy Pancakes announce [[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|the Return of Optimus Prime]] (back cover)

'''Issue #260:'''
*''The Punisher'' comic

===Reprints===
*'''''[[Transformers: Perchance to Dream]]:''''' [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] smacks down [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], detail from the cover of issue #259, by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Vol 19: Perchance to Dream:''''' [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (from early IDW promo art), by [[Guido Guidi]] above a retro scene of the [[Battlecharger]]s (from [[Worlds Apart!|Marvel UK #255]] cover) by [[Stephen Baskerville]].
*'''''[[Transformers: Best of the Rarities]]:''''' [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] "cassette" by [[James Biggie]].
<gallery>
File:Titan B&W Compilation-Perchance to Dream.jpg|'''''Perchance to Dream''''' (Titan Books, 2006)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v19.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection'' Vol. 19''' (Hachette Partworks, 2017)
File:TF RaritiesCover.jpg|'''''Transformers: Best of the Rarities''''' (IDW Publishing, 2022)
</gallery>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Perchance to Dream}}
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

To sell toys

2023-10-30T09:45:13Z

Timrollpickering: /* Killing off characters with new toys */ Tigerhawk

[[File:MarvelUS-19.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Hasbro wasn't quite sure whether to advertise this expensive toy until the fans forced their hand.]]
To understand ''Transformers'' fiction, it is important to understand that it exists '''to sell toys.''' [[Hasbro]] and [[TakaraTomy]] are toy companies, and they are primarily interested in continuing to sell [[toy]]s to children and adults. The cartoons, comic books, etc., mostly exist to make this happen. To be sure, they normally [[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)#Reception|make a profit in their own right]], but this is regarded as mere gravy.

The "to sell toys" effect often distorts the fiction in interesting ways. Primarily, since you can't ([[Army-building|usually]]) sell someone the same toy twice,<ref>Although the toy lines from the [[live-action film series]] have given us multiple ''different'' toys of the ''same characters''.</ref> Hasbro and Takara constantly introduce new toys, and often require the creators of the fiction to introduce the new characters into ongoing storylines. Older characters (whose toys are no longer being sold) are shoved aside to make room.

Another effect of "to sell toys" is when the toys have gimmicks which must be explained in the fiction. Sometimes ([[Mini-Con]]s) this is relatively easy, while other times it requires a lot of imagination on the part of the writers (the in-comic explanations for the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] and [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]] are kinda wonky).

[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Japanese]] [[Triple Combination: Transformers Go! (cartoon)|shows]] are normally the worst offenders, because ''Transformers'' doesn't take itself very seriously over there.

The UK [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|movie-based ''Transformers'' comic]] took this to more blatant heights. For its first year, it had a specific four-page feature every week called ''Top Gear'', which existed solely to promote the newest ''Transformers'' merchandise. ''Any'' merchandise. This led to readers being told how great [[Optimash Prime]] was. For the [[2010]] ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (franchise)|Transformers: War for Cybertron]]'' game franchise, [[Ironhide (Movie)|''Ironhide himself'']] opened letters pages by telling readers how ''awesome'' the game was and how [[you]] should buy it.

{{bigquote|Truly, I'm speechless. Your species characterizes the infinite wonders of the churning, whorling, chaotic cosmos through the lens of... merchandising?

I can see why Swindle loves you idiots.|[[Sideways (disambiguation)|Sideways]] on the concept, [[Ask Vector Prime]].}}

==Casting==
===Huge casts===
[[File:CosmicRust-BigGroup.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|[[Pokeformers|Gotta catch 'em all!]]]]
Hasbro makes a lot of toys at once, and they generally want all of them to appear in their fiction. This can force writers to bring in vast numbers of characters all at once, sometimes with awkward results. Examples include:

*The first issue of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Generation 1 comic]], "[[The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers]]", in which ''twenty-eight'' different robots appeared and introduced themselves, even though only a handful are important to the plot.
*"[[The Special Teams Have Arrived]]", a free mini-comic given away with issue [[Rock and Roll-Out!|#54]] of the [[Marvel Comics|Marvel UK]] [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|comic]], notoriously introduces the reader to ''twenty-four'' new Transformers in just three pages. Granted, four of those are the [[Combiner|combined forms]] of the other twenty, but that's still a lot of new names to remember.
*The 1987 ''[[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]]'' Limited Series, which introduced over ''sixty'' characters in the course of four issues, including all the first waves of [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] and [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]], all their [[Nebulan]] partners, the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]], [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]], and [[Monsterbot (G1)|Monsterbot]]s.
*The cartoon episode trilogy "[[The Rebirth]]" likewise abruptly introduced well over ''forty'' of the 1987 toyline characters, mostly the same ones seen in ''Headmasters''. In both cases, this wasn't helped by the fact that the nature of Headmasters and Targetmasters meant every new toy had to effectively get two introductions.
*In the first four episodes of [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 cartoon)|the 2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon]], eighteen characters are introduced in quick succession.
*From #9 onwards, [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Titan's movie-based ''Transformers'']] heavily bumped up the cast with new toys. In one example, #17 brought in nine new toys in eleven pages; only one of the five Decepticons got any real focus or dialogue.

===Random casting===
The Hasbro-induced need to show all the toys can also cause stories to suddenly focus on a new character, sometimes dropping ongoing plot threads about older ones. Examples include:

*Season 2 of the cartoon introduced many new characters/buyable toys with no explanation; despite never having been seen before, the story treats them as though they have [[Beachcomber (G1)|been there]] [[Perceptor (G1)|the whole]] [[Tracks (G1)|time]]. [[Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1|One episode]] even hinges on this idea.
[[File:Decepticonpretenders-behold.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|After seven issues, it's finally time for these six dudes to do something!]]
[[File:FlamesofBoltax-Triggerbots.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Apparently, the Triggerbots didn't make much of an impression on Prime.]]
*The comic issue "[[Pretender to the Throne!]]" suddenly introduces a dozen Autobots and Decepticons that we've never met before, and follows their adventures. The story adds nothing to the long-range plot that couldn't have been accomplished by using existing characters; these teams were added to the mix to promote their new toys.
*Many issues of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel comic]] had cover blurbs in the form "Introducing the _______!", where the blank was whatever the latest line of toys was. The following issues specifically introduce new toys on the cover: [[Repeat Performance!|#8]], [[The Next Best Thing to Being There!|#10]], [[Brainstorm!|#11]], [[Command Performances!|#19]], [[Aerialbots over America!|#21]], [[Crater Critters|#29]], [[The Cure!|#30]], [[Pretender to the Throne!|#40]], [[People Power!|#42]], [[Ca$h and Car-nage!|#46]], [[Club Con!|#47]], and [[Yesterday's Heroes!|#60]]. Throw in a few covers where new characters were pictured but not named, and that's 1/5th of the series.
*In [[Spacehikers!|issue #36]] of the Marvel comics, when [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] decides that he needs help in dealing with [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]]'s inept leadership, he doesn't turn to any of the ''dozens'' of Autobots aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], which include two combiner teams and Omega Supreme. No, he has to call in his "old buddy"/new toy, [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]].
*In the prelude to the [[Underbase Saga]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] were the lead characters in a story set before the Transformers came to [[Earth]]. But rather than palling around with the likes of Jazz or Soundwave, they are instead shown alongside the newest "gimmick" characters, the [[Triggercon]]s and the [[Triggerbot]]s.
*[[Mainframe Entertainment]] planned to use [[Wolfang (Maximal)|Wolfang]] in ''Beast Wars'', but [[Tigatron]] appeared instead because he had an upcoming toy, and to save money as his CGI model was only a slight tweak of [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]'s.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_frm/thread/9c79c4226fc6dd28/30c3cdf158ea6e52?lnk=st&q=bob+forward+beast+wars+tigatron+wolfang&rnum=1#30c3cdf158ea6e52 Ben Yee relays some info from Bob Forward in regards to Wolfang being replaced by Tigatron in the Beast Wars cartoon]</ref>
*Rather than revealing stuff about the [[Vok]] and [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]], a long-running subplot, "[[Other Victories]]" spends much of its time telling us how great [[Tigerhawk]] is and how we should buy his toy.
*Material released by both [[3H Productions|3H]] and [[Fun Publications]] tends to release characters from various series and continuities and then write stories featuring every character (usually with a particular focus on that year's box set), which often leads to some bizarre casting choices. [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]], [[Strika (BM)|Strika]], and [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] were all retroactively added to [[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]] and [[Machine Wars: Transformers|Machine Wars]] because they wanted to do toys of them that year. The [[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]] version of [[Tracks (SG)|Tracks]] is introduced from nowhere, has minimal characterization, and doesn't do anything, because they wanted to do [[Tracks (G1)#Transformers (2010)|Tracks's 2010 toy]] in [[Diaclone]]/[[Road Rage (G1)|Road Rage]] colors. And pretty much every story taking place in the [[Primax 207.0 Epsilon|Classicsverse]], ostensibly a [[Marvel Comics continuity|Marvel G1]]-based series, will introduce or reintroduce characters who were dead (the various [[Underbase Saga]] casualties), not even implied in the original stories ([[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]], [[Metalhawk (G1)|Metalhawk]]), or [[Female Transformer#Marvel Comics continuity|don't make sense in that universe to begin with]] ([[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]]). Sometimes this gets a token justification, other times not.
*The [[First (and Second) in Flight|sixth issue]] of ''[[Transformers Animated: The Arrival|The Arrival]]'' stops following the regular cast so it can flag the awesome cool out-now-in-shops [[Safeguard (Animated)|Safeguard]] toy.
*Prominent generals in [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Titan's movieverse]] Decepticon army change frequently and without any acknowledgment as new toys jostle for (and gain) space.
*[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]] and its lead-ins were packed with ''[[Thrilling 30]]'' toys, so suddenly ''Beast Wars'' characters [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] and [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] are in G1. Things got worse in later issues when [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] and [[Crosscut (G1)|Crosscut]] needed a comic; Tankor berates Starscream for a few panels in [[No Exit: Dark Cybertron Chapter 6|''Dark Cybertron'' #6]], while Crosscut and [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] briefly halt the plot in [[The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|''Dark Cybertron'' #7]] to tell you who Crosscut ''is''. Then he vanishes. They've started getting an increased role in IDW fiction ever since, though.
*For "[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]", several Autobots had to abruptly depart the ''[[Lost Light]]'' for Cybertron so they could appear in their combiner teams. In the case of [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]], this was despite him having just become the Chief Medical Officer: a long-running plot!
*[[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] and [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] appeared in the IDWverse after a seven-year absence in ''[[Starscream: The Movie (comic)|Starscream: The Movie]]'' and ''[[The Falling, Chapter 2: Another Mine|Another Mine]]''. The fact that those two oft-ignored characters had new ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' and ''[[Power of the Primes (toyline)|Power of the Primes]]'' Legends Class toys released recently probably had something to do with the matter.

===Limited casting===
On the opposite side of things, Hasbro doesn't want to pay to depict characters that aren't selling toys. This can force a story, particularly an animated cartoon, to have a smaller cast than it otherwise might.

[[File:Metamorphdeceps2.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|The full might of the Decepticon army.]]
*The [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original cartoon]] and [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|early Marvel comics]] both featured an oddly lopsided cast, particularly at the beginning, with the Autobot forces on Earth outnumbering the Decepticons two to one. This difference was never really acknowledged, though the cartoon also used [[generic]]s to make it look like Megatron had more than four guys, three pets, and [[Reflector (G1)|a camera]] under his command.
*The early episodes of ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' featured only the toys available on the shelves. This resulted in two ridiculously small teams going to [[Earth]] for the all-important mission of gathering Mini-Cons, rather inexplicable in story terms.
*[[Transformers: Armada (Dreamwave)|Both the Dreamwave]] and [[Transformers: Armada (Panini)|Panini comics]] suffered exactly the same problem, but it gets worse: [[First Encounter|The first ''Armada'' episode]] reused models of older Transformers as [[generic]] background guys to bump numbers up. The comics ''didn't''. So Megatron apparently conquers all of planet Cybertron with an army of three guys, whereas the city/planet defending Autobots are just five blokes.
*Dreamwave would also [[Dreamwave Armada issue 10|feature a scene on Cybertron]], where the ''only'' Autobot who seemed to exist was [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]].
*For [[Transformers: Movie Prequel|the movie prequels]], IDW got around this by deciding that [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]] was going to be a [[Class Alpha drone unit|series of drones]] instead of one guy, allowing for really big battle scenes despite a then-limited number of toys. (It would later turn out there was ''also'' a Dreadwing who was one guy.) Titan Magazines would borrow this, and turn other Decepticons into drone series too.
*It seems unlikely that four bots and their human partners would be sufficient to handle every emergency on [[Griffin Rock]], but those four bots [[Transformers: Rescue Bots (toyline)|were the only ones on shelves at the time]] (other than [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus]] and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]], who were needed [[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|elsewhere]]), so they were the ones who went into [[Transformers: Rescue Bots (cartoon)|the show]]. As the toyline expanded, toy characters Blurr, Salvage, High Tide and Quickshadow were introduced into the cast.
*''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy (cartoon)|Kingdom]]'' acts as a celebration of the 25th anniversary of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', but only includes characters who were slated for the first three waves of the accompanying toyline (with the exception of [[Tigatron]], likely due to the ease of retooling [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]'s animation model into a spare character). This means that notable cartoon characters like [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] or [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] who didn't have toys in the first three waves never put in an appearance in the season. To compensate for the Predacons having depleted ranks as a result, [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] stays with the Predacons for most of his screentime while [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] was turned into a group of generics; Predacon [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] also says many Predacons have been lost in his war with the Maximals.
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==Plot==
===Forced explication===
{{main|Introdump}}

Rather than simply showing up in the background, new toy/characters often overtly introduce themselves, often with a ridiculous description of their special abilities. The Marvel comic is rife with examples, but it shows up across numerous fictions.

[[File:Introdump decepticons marvelus01.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Reflector is actually here, he's just buried underneath a pile of speech bubbles.]]
*Again, [[The Transformers (issue)|''Transformers'' #1]] has two huge splash pages in which 28 characters do nothing but stand around and tell each other who they are and what they can do.
*Towards the end of "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]", Jazz puts together a strike team. Naturally, he does this by calling out their names one by one, so that the camera can cut to each Autobot in turn and show them transform in noticeable detail.
*The two-part original ''Transformers'' cartoon episode "[[Dinobot Island, Part 1|Dinobot Island]]" features many new 1985 characters getting their own short little introductory scene, often with a characteristic bit of self-description ([[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]]: "I'd rather stay in my stunning auto mode!" [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]: "I'm ''always'' ready for action!" [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]]: "Wow, like, I hope we don't destroy this place before we can study it!")
*"[[The Rebirth]]" has ''three different sequences'' in which large new groups of characters form a lineup and introduce themselves to viewers one after another. Strangely enough, much of this screen- and dialogue-time is given over to Nebulan partners; the "main" Transformer characters get no such introductions, even though they are the items kids would have to purchase to acquire the Nebulan accessories. For instance, [[Spasma]], [[Monzo]], and [[Peacemaker]] (all speaking characters) are introduced by name as part of various lineups, but their in-store hosts [[Apeface]], [[Weirdwolf (G1)|Weirdwolf]], and [[Pointblank]] are never named (and Weirdwolf never even speaks).
*"[[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]" has the Maximals walk on one-by-one admiring their [[beast mode]]s, loudly explaining their names and showing character traits. This also gives the impression they deliberately changed their names to fit these new beast modes for no apparent reason.
*Crosscut and Swerve fill in Crosscut's backstory and job during a fight. That's all Crosscut does in [[The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|''Dark Cybertron'' #7]].

===Gimmicks===
{{main|Gimmick}}
When the toys can do something special, fiction writers must often go out of their way to show the gimmick in action.

* The ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)#1986 .28Scramble City and 2010.29|Scramble City]]'' category of G1 combiner teams have the ability to freely swap around their limbs. Because of this, an unusual amount of Japanese fiction focuses on the idea of characters swapping limbs, best shown by ''[[Scramble City: Mobilization]]'', with rather variable consequences, and sometimes resulting in the creation of [[Scramble 7|whole new combiner characters]]. Sometimes, this purportedly results in some kind of increase in power or the combiner gaining different traits, but these changes are almost invariably told more than shown. In some cases, simply [[Free-Combination|changing the arrangement of an existing set of limbs]] is cited as something that can vastly alter a character's capabilities, with little real explanation.
*The Headmaster gimmick got [[The Transformers: Headmasters|an entire Limited Series comic book]] devoted to it.
*The comic issue "[[Pretender to the Throne!]]" features [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] proudly creating the [[Pretender]]s, gloating that they will hide the Decepticons' identities from the Autobots "until it is too late". Not only does the plan not actually work, it's also a plot point with absolutely zero lead-in or build-up—at no point has Scorponok ever expressed concern about his troops being detected by the Autobots (if anything, considering the altmodes of his troops, he seems to be the ''least'' concerned with stealth), nor has he demonstrated the science skills to pull this off, and we've never even met the Pretender characters before. It was brought about solely because the new toys had to be jammed into the story. (The, uh, story of returning Optimus Prime's character to the comic book because he had [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#PMOP|a new toy]].)
*[[Rotor Force]] made their debut in "[[New Dawn]]", and both here and in subsequent ''Generation 2'' issues would primarily fight enemies not with guns like everyone else, but by firing their giant rotors at them. Page 3 of ''New Dawn'' actually shows them having to ''stop and reattach their rotors'' before they can carry on fighting.
[[File:Mistaken Identity Galvatronscourge.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|[[Johnny Yong Bosch|It's Morphin Time! MASTODON!]]]]
*The [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 franchise)|2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' franchise]] [[Megatron (RID)|Megatron]] had six alternate modes and [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 cartoon)|the cartoon]] really wanted you to see them, which is why [[Battle Protocol!|his first appearance]] is as ''a giant hand for no reason''. It gets sillier when he turns into Galvatron and gains four more modes. In "[[Mistaken Identity]]", he turns into his "Iron Mammoth" form when facing off against [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|a hostile Fortress Maximus]] even though he doesn't ''do'' anything in his form except stand there ''as he was already doing''.
*[[Jetstorm (Animated)|Jetstorm]] and [[Jetfire (Animated)|Jetfire]] are the only Autobot jets in the ''Animated'' line. (Not counting the toyless [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]].) To fully big this up, their origin story has it that there have ''never been'' any flying Autobots before, despite them having been in (and won) a long and bitter war with enemies who ''often fly''. This one was silly enough that [[Endgame, Part I|a later episode]] explicitly joked on this, pointing out that there were multiple Autobots before and after Jetfire and Jetstorm with some kind of flight capability.
* The second season of the 2015 ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'' cartoon coincided with the release of the [[Deployer (WFC)|Deployer]] toys, which fire smaller [[Mini-Con]] figures. Suddenly, every Decepticon in the cartoon was partnered with a Mini-Con or two, even Decepticons who'd appeared in the past as solo operatives.

The [[Unicron Trilogy continuity family|Unicron Trilogy]], noted for its gimmicks in all three toylines, was particularly notorious in this regard:

*The quest for power-enhancing [[Mini-Con]]s practically defined the plot of the ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' cartoon, with both factions out to recruit or capture all the Mini-Cons.
*[[Powerlinx]]ing is shown again and again and again in ''[[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|Energon]]'', despite having comparatively little relevance to most episode plotlines. In fact, due to the fact much of Energon's action was firefights, Powerlinxing seemed to be a disadvantage, since it resulted in a single larger Autobot shooting instead of two smaller ones.
*[[Cyber Key]] powerups are likewise shown repeatedly in ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]].'' In this case, while most characters had basic weapons, the Cyber Keys were necessary to unlock hidden weaponry or special techniques. So, for example, Optimus might be able to shoot at the Decepticons with a smaller firearm, but to fire his larger cannons he would need to summon his Cyber Key. Some characters, however, needed their Cyber Keys to activate what one would expect to be their main weapons (e.g. Starscream activating his Null Ray Cannon).
*All three series were also marked by lengthy transformation sequences which highlighted the gimmicks in very toy-accurate animation (and also made production cheaper, thanks to [[Stock footage|recycled footage]]).

===Strange developments===
Shoehorning loads of new characters with new powers can compel the writers to do things with the plot that, in all probability, they otherwise wouldn't.

*Marvel UK had to promote the [[Special Teams]] toys ''before'' they knew how they'd be appearing in the US reprints. To get around this, [[Simon Furman]] wrote a story arc titled "[[Second Generation!]]", where [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]], Optimus and [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] <s>watched an advert</s> saw a Matrix-induced vision of the Special Teams in action. These events were previewed in "The Special Teams Have Arrived", nine issues earlier, with no indication that they were part of a vision, making their place in continuity uncertain.
*In the US Marvel comics, the simultaneous introduction of the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] and [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] and the introduction of the Pretenders both saw a lot of rigamarole involved in explaining why both the Autobots and the Decepticons had new members with identical numbers/gimmicks at the same time.
*Season 3 of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original ''The Transformers'' cartoon]] almost completely ignored the characters of the previous two seasons that were no longer on toy shelves. The 1985 Autobot cars, for example, are not seen at all. [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] and the 1985 Mini-Vehicles, by contrast, show up now and again, as their toys were still shipping. Even Starscream, who was ''dead'', managed to get a couple of Season 3 episodes all to himself; again, his toy sold through 1986.
*One season later, "[[The Rebirth]]" - the last episodes of the entire series - was almost entirely spent on introducing new characters and giving old ones upgrades, leaving just barely enough time to provide any kind of conclusion.
*''[[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|The Headmasters]]'' was absolutely crazy about this. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus]] (whose toy was long gone) kicks the bucket only three episodes in for the sake of a sacrifice that would be nullified only a few episodes later, putting new(er) toy [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] back in the command chair for a short while. In the tenth episode, Rodimus departs the series and hands the title of Supreme Commander to brand-spanking-new toy [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]], who's had a few months, tops, of combat experience. Much like Season 3, ''Headmasters'' also ignored most of the Season 3 regulars ([[Springer (G1)|Springer]], [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s, the [[Quintesson]]s) or removed them altogether, sometimes fairly dubiously ([[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] and [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] leave with Rodimus, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] gets shot a bit and dies, [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] is buried in ice and nobody digs him up until ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: The Battlestars (story page)|Battlestars]]''). By the end of the series, the only remaining Autobots from the first three seasons were the [[Special Teams]], [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Twincast]] and his cassettes, [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]], [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]].
*[[Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 2|''Transformers Comic-Magazin'' #2]] wrote an entire story devoted to Optimus sternly explaining which Autobots and Decepticons were on sale in [[Germany]] in 1989. The reason he had to? [[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]] had ''shot an Autobot''!
*The first thirteen issues of the ''[[Transformers: Armada (Dreamwave)|Armada]]'' comic were focused around the Mini-Cons, with plots often revolving around their desire to be seen as equals and not be enslaved. Then without ''any'' prior set-up, the last five issues turn into a dimension-spanning battle against [[Unicron]]—who had just had a new and expensive toy.
*[[Tigerhawk]] debuts in "[[Other Victories]]", where he's the reason the Predacons lose their base and [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] is killed. This disrupts any ending for the Tarantulas/[[Vok]] storyline, as the episode is left with little time to properly explain the mysteries of either character and the plot of last episode, Tarantulas trying to destroy the whole ''Ark'', is reduced to two lines about the [[Tripredacus Council]].
[[File:Samprowl.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|<s>Upgrades are bad.</s> Upgrades are GOOD. We have always been at war with <s>Eurasia</s> Eastasia.]]
*"[[A Fistful of Energon]]" has [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] learn not to use upgrades, and he gives up using powerful samurai armour. But whoops, Hasbro thought "hey, we could make a toy out of that armour"! And so in [[Five Servos of Doom|a later episode]], Prowl ''regains'' it and the show hurriedly claims that the upgrade is fine ''now'' because Prowl realizes now that it's the Autobot, not the upgrade.
*The [[France|French]] decided to be good sports and start using propeller-driven nuclear bombers again in [[All Hail Megatron issue 11|''All Hail Megatron'' #11]], just so [[Octane|Tankor]] could be used.
*[[Ransack (ROTF)|Ransack]] has been on Earth for a while, in hiding from other Decepticons while he waits for orders from [[the Fallen]] in "[[Transformers Comic issue 2.7|Turnabout]]". Ransack is a member of a race that can scan any object and take its form as a disguise. Ransack moves around in the cunning disguise of ''a 100-year-old plane''. (At least, unlike the previous example, the oldness of the alt mode was pointed out.)
*In Titan's ''Revenge of the Fallen'' comic, [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]] go from being [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee's]] responsibility to bugging [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] to being [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe's]] responsibility in the space of three issues, all to allow each issue to focus on a specific toy-bearing movie star. Similarly, only one or two Decepticons per issue are sent on a mission, when presumably the Fallen might want to send loads of guys to silence the twins.
*In ''Dark of the Moon'', nearly all of the Transformers switch from built-in weaponry to handheld weaponry. It just so happens that the gimmick of the ''Dark of the Moon'' toys was that they had "MechTech" weapons that could be held by any other figure.
*Also in ''Dark of the Moon'', most Autobots transform into [[Stealth Force]] mode, a weaponized vehicle mode that allows them to access various weapons in their otherwise defenseless disguises, an incredibly useful combat mode that's never used in any prior or later films. Uniquely, this was something Hasbro came up with for the toyline on their own; director [[Michael Bay]] decided to incorporate it into the film only after seeing what they were working on for the then-upcoming toyline and taking a personal liking to it.
*The [[subline imprint]] of the ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Prime]]'' [[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|toyline]] was the ''[[Transformers: Prime (toyline)#BH|Beast Hunters]]'' line, which took hold at about the time of the [[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|show]]'s third season, which was given the subtitle of the imprint. In the episode "[[Project Predacon]]", [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] awkwardly redubs [[Team Prime]] as the "Beast Hunters", when they begin looking for Predacon fossils. The Autobots must've felt the same way as we did about the sudden name change, since really only the protocol-obsessed [[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]] begins using the term. Thanks to behind the scene troubles and the whole concept being a late addition to the series, the team never actually ''hunts any beasts'', as only three Predacons ever take a central role in the story.
[[File:YouMeAndTheUniverse-Scoopcolors.jpg||thumb|upright=1.4|Talk about "shoehorned in".]]
*The [[subline imprint]] for the ''Generations'' line from 2015 to 2016 was ''[[Combiner Wars (franchise)|Combiner Wars]]'', hence IDW's tie-in comic had to introduce a heapload of combiners in a universe that regarded combination as a lost art with unpredictable side-effects. (Devastator, Menasor, Superion, and Monstructor were around, but they had each been introduced separately, and each with their own unique explanations, over the course of ''ten years''.) Enter the [[Enigma of Combination]], an artifact of Nexus Prime with the power to merge any Transformers into a combiner. Not only is this artifact used on Superion, Menasor, and Defensor, it is also used on Optimus Prime and other selected Autobots to create [[Optimus Maximus (G1)|Optimus Maximus]]. The fact that Optimus had two Combiner Wars toys (one released, one upcoming at the time of the story's publication) might have influenced this decision.
*Also, the big toy of 2015 was a Titan Class Devastator... in his classic configuration instead of IDW's newly introduced 'Prowlastator' form. Unfortunately, Scrapper had been long dead and hence was unable to take his spot as the combiner's leg. However, IDW had another bulldozer-bot conveniently lying around - [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]]. Naturally, he was merged with the other Constructicons by the aforementioned Enigma, restoring Devastator's classic silhouette.
*A long-running plot thread of ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'', starting all the way back in [[How Ratchet Got His Hands Back|issue 5]], was [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] preparing [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] to succeed him as the ''[[Lost Light]]''{{'}}s Chief Medical Officer. [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|Issue 40]] ''finally'' sees Ratchet stepping down and leaving the ship (so he could participate in the events of ''[[The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone|Drift - Empire of Stone]]''), officially declaring First Aid "the new Chief Medical Officer"... but after only two issues in his new position, [[The One Where They Go to Earth|issue 43]] sees First Aid himself leave the ''Lost Light'' under a flimsy in-story pretense so he could participate in the events of ''Combiner Wars'', appointing [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] as his own successor (although he would later return to the ''Lost Light'' following the conclusion of ''Combiner Wars'').
*In a follow-up story, Galvatron creates two combiners out of random soldiers and foes. To plug the new merch, these are called [[Galvatronus (CW)|Galvatronus]] and [[Sky Reign]] but most of the characters that made them up in toy form were either on Cybertron, the ''[[Lost Light]]'', or dead at the time. Unusually for this page, Hasbro allowed IDW to use random limbs as long as the names were right but this leads to the comic pimping a toy you can't buy (though you could make it with others), and in Galvatronus' case a toy that doesn't even have the same face as in the comic.
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===Awkward continuity===
[[File:Earthforce.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|This happened... er.... look just buy the toys, ok?!]]
Sometimes the requirement to feature new toys can be so strong that continuity takes a major backseat and stories are produced that feature combinations of characters that make the story very difficult to slot into the main continuity. The Marvel UK comic was especially prone to this as it could not always foresee where, when and how characters would be introduced:

*The ''[[Transformers Annual 1985]]'' contains many stories featuring toys from the 1985 release long before they were formally introduced in the regular comic, often interacting with other characters who would be out of action by then. As a result, few of the stories easily fit the continuity of the weekly comic.
*The demands of Hasbro UK for the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] and [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]] to be featured heavily even before the US ''[[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]]'' mini-series was available meant that both the ''[[Transformers Annual 1987]]'' and the regular strip "[[Worlds Apart!]]" contain a slightly different set of events that are at odds with the mini-series.
*The requirement to give prominence to the rereleased toys in the [[Classics (Europe)|Classics]] range resulted in one of the biggest continuity trainwrecks of all, [[Earthforce]]. Over three decades later fans are still uncertain where it fits in continuity, and even [[Simon Furman]] admits to being unsure.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Looking back, as I try my hardest not to do, it's very hard to tie the Earthforce stories into a specific time frame (in terms of the US continuity), because (if I'm brutally honest) I didn't try too hard to make it work in the first place. By that point, I was just trying to tell a bunch of fun UK stories that didn't necessarily impact on the larger (US) storyline. How was I to know 15 or so years later people would be trying to reconcile it all?|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914233035/http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_furman.php|name=Simon Furman|site=TransFans.co.uk - Interviews: Simon Furman - Part 1 'The Past'|year=2004}}</ref>
*Germany's ''[[Transformers Comic-Magazin]]'' started in 1989 and reprinted older Marvel US and UK strips. Since, of course, these would rarely show the current toys, Comic-Magazin ran text stories from #2 that showcased ''completely different'' Transformers that were on Earth at the same time, and just happened not to be seen in the strips.
*Trapped between the need to pimp toys and the problem of not knowing what the plot of ''Revenge of the Fallen'' would be, Titan just threw up their hands and unambiguously set their lead strip in [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)#Alternate universe|an alternate universe]]. Similarly, the [[Dark of the Moon (video games)|video games]] for ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (franchise)|Dark of the Moon]]'' were all prequels so that the games would not directly contradict the then-upcoming movie's plot while still using some of the characters and settings who would be featured (some minor plot contradicitons ''did'' occur, but few fans have ever accepted the video games to be in perfect continuity with the films anyway).
*Based on evidence from various sources, it's been speculated that the episode "[[Starscream's Ghost]]" was originally meant to star [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], who at the time had been exiled from the Decepticons and was on somewhat friendly terms with the Autobots. Instead, his role was taken over by new toy [[Octane]]. The only other episode to prominently feature Octane, "[[Thief in the Night]]", which was aired ''after'' "Starscream's Ghost", kinda sorta explains his falling out with the Decepticons—except it doesn't: While said episode ''does'' have him go rogue, not only is he ''still'' a bad guy—by the end of that episode, ''Galvatron is no longer on bad terms with Octane''! Likewise, the episode "[[The God Gambit]]" starred [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], Starscream and Thrust, with Astrotrain (a new toy at the time) taking on a leadership role more akin to Megatron rather than the bus he's reduced to in almost every other episode.
*The Japanese broadcast of ''Animated'' outright skipped "[[Rise of the Constructicons]]" and "[[Sari, No One's Home]]", as they largely revolve around the toy-less [[Mixmaster (Animated)|Mixmaster]] and [[Scrapper (Animated)|Scrapper]]. Meanwhile, "[[Sound and Fury]]" was moved up to be the first episode to air after the pilot to promote Soundwave's toys, which is at odds with continuity since Megatron only came back online during "[[Home Is Where the Spark Is]]", which was pushed to air ''after'' "Sound and Fury".
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===Power levels===
In order to make new characters seem more ''totally awesome'', they're often depicted as ultra-powerful in their initial appearances. Once they become old news, they frequently seem to lose their super-charged abilities.

*The original ''Transformers'' cartoon introduced [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] as the ultimate threat. Once newer combiner teams came along, however, he was less of a threat, easily defeated at various times by [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] and even [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]].
[[File:Buzzsawyikes4.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Buzzsaw reminds Omega Supreme he's not a new toy any more.]]
*The Marvel comics feature [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] as nigh-invulnerable and ultimately powerful in [[Command Performances!|his debut issue]], slaughtering all but two of the Decepticon forces sent to attack him. Just [[Dark Star|two years later]], he's getting his butt handed to him by the likes of [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]], one of his original victims. He was also drawn as [[Scale|truly colossal]] in his first appearance, before becoming just a head taller than [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] by the time of his death.
*[[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], in a weird case of this, actually seemingly ''[[Scale|shrank]]'' between the third season of the G1 toon and [[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|''The Headmasters'']], going from being drawn as a genuine giant to barely bigger than the average combiner. Even in official [[scale charts]], he dropped from being shown as 800 meters tall to about 45. This was likely to avoid upstaging new-kid-on-the-block [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus.]]
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] was, amazingly, something of a threat in early episodes; he holds his own against [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] in his debut. He only became significantly weaker than the other Predacons during the second season.
*In her first appearance on the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon, [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] effortlessly blasts [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] to pieces. She never displays such a level of power again.
*Similarly, [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] was presented as a huge threat when he first appeared, but just a few episodes later, he seems just slightly tougher than the average Predacon (save for a few notable occasions).
*[[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] was actually a credible threat for his first couple of episodes.
*The [[Commando (RID)|Commandos]] were far more powerful and competent than the Predacons, who were made even ''less'' powerful and competent as episodes went on. Remarkably, this was actually used in the plot, with Megatron focusing on the new toys while the Predacons became underdogs trying to get their old status back and one-up the new guys.
[[File:ArmTVTidalWave.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Before he shrank in the wash.]]
*''Any'' new toy character in the Unicron Trilogy cartoons is almost guaranteed to win the day's battle.
*[[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] was a staggering behemoth as big as the sky in his introduction, and his ability to combine with Megatron gave the battle advantage to the Decepticons until his equally powerful counterpart [[Overload (Armada)|Overload]] was introduced. By the time of the ''Energon'' cartoon, Tidal Wave is just this tall guy (but not as tall as he used to be) and is treated as just another Decepticon, even after he gets a body upgrade in the form of "Mirage".
*When the newly redecoed Jetfire and [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus]] combine in Dreamwave's Armada comic, they are so powerful ''they can hurt Unicron himself''.
*[[Jungle Planet (colony)|Jungle Planet]] ruler [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]] was incredibly powerful when he was first introduced, but later on, he's getting slaps on the wrist by [[Lori Jiménez|Lori]] and [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]], and schooled by [[Bud Hansen|Bud]], ultimately becoming more of a sympathetic comedic bumbler than a credible threat.
*The Decepticons in ''Animated'' started off as being so horrifically powerful that the entire Autobot team had to take on a ''single'' one. By Season 3, this no longer happens. Uniquely, this was ''deliberate'' by the writers: they wanted to show the Decepticons as supreme threats, and have the Autobots gradually being better at dealing with them.
*The [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] in ''Prime'' started off pretty tough; easily wearing down [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]] in a group, then just two giving [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] a tough time. In the next episode, they've got Stormtrooper aim, and basically exist to give the Autobots someone to kill while saving the named Decepticons from the scrapheap. It gets to the point where in the third season, [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] actually ''counts'' on the Vehicons failing to execute [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]], and Wheeljack makes several amusing comments about the Vehicons' incompetence.
*Additionally, the [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticons]] started off as nightmarishly strong monsters. One wears ''[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]]'' to the point of exhaustion before dying (admittedly, Megs was deprived of his main asset when Airachnid webbed his fusion cannon). However, for the remainder of the series, the Insecticons are just as weak as the Vehicons, being blasted down in one shot, despite a return to form in "[[Tunnel Vision]]" and "[[Toxicity]]" (the latter of which saw the debut of notorious Autobot killer [[Hardshell]]).
{{-}}

===New bodies===
There's rarely a compelling reason for a Transformer to get a brand-new body in fiction; it's simply to promote a new toy. It has become a default way to keep a popular character on shelves, rather than having to kill them off and introduce a new character to keep moving toys. Sometimes fiction writers are able to work these alterations in elegantly... sometimes not.

[[File:Bumblebeeskindeep.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Ratchet pulls a Kitty Pryde on Bumblebee.]]
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] was rebuilt into Goldbug following his near-destruction... and was later re-rebuilt back into Bumblebee to sell the [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Pretender|new Classic Pretender toy]]. The reason given in [[Skin Deep|the comic storyline]] was that [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] reverted him without his consent because Ratchet liked his old form better, something Bumblebee is strangely fine with.
*Season 2 of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' introduced the new [[Transmetal]] toys in short order, requiring some strange sci-fi waffling to explain why members of both teams suddenly got special new bodies. The writers had originally planned to introduce these changes gradually, across the length of Season 2, but Hasbro ordered them to be brought in immediately. (The slow-and-gradual notion would eventually appear during Season 3.)
[[File:Retailbuyer decisiontree.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
*The [[Unicron Trilogy]] cartoons feature [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]] getting recolored and renamed "Galvatron" ''three times''; at the start of each subsequent series, he's given a different body but called Megatron ''again'', because the name "Megatron" just sells more toys. (This also means Hasbro gets to keep the [[trademark]] "Galvatron".) The Japanese versions handled this differently (with Megatron known as Megatron throughout Armada even after his upgrade, and being known as Galvatron throughout all of Energon) due to different trademark laws. Galaxy Force (the Japanese version of Cybertron) played it straight with Master Megatron being upgraded into Master Galvatron.
*Several times during the Unicron Trilogy, characters get new paint jobs as part of some magical power-up enhancement. These new color schemes exist solely to promote redecorated toys like "[[Ironhide (Energon)|Energon Ironhide]]" or "[[Hot Shot (Armada)/toys|Powerlinx Hot Shot]]". Even the comics got in on the action, introducing the redecorated versions of Jetfire and Optimus during the Unicron arc.
*The three future members of the [[Cybertron Defense Team (Cybertron)|Cybertron Defense Team]] get shot up by Megatron, then transmogrify through the power of [[fighting spirit]] into new forms. These new forms, of course, were just hitting shelves at a toy store near you.
*In the course of the [[Transformers (film)|live-action movie]], [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] gets irritated at a slight against his alternate mode, and scans a new form. Voilà, suddenly he's got ''two'' toys on the shelf! He later pulls the ''exact same thing'' in ''[[Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction]]'', but by now, he's been established as having a fragile ego, explaining the constant desire to switch alternate modes.
*When [[IDW Publishing|IDW]]'s ''Transformers'' comic originally came out, there were no Generation 1-themed toys to flog, and many characters were given altered designs for the series. Then along came ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'', featuring new toys of Generation 1 characters, and suddenly multiple characters get new, toy-accurate bodies in ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'', for no apparent in-story reason. Later, [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] even gets a namechange to ''Silver''streak to fit his toy.
*Sometimes, IDW's comics don't even bother with a reason: you just get the latest issue and a character suddenly resembles the latest toy. This can sometimes be explained as artist interpretation, but at other times...
*[[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] was originally grey, but when he was reunited with the ''Animated'' Decepticons, he changed his colours to purple while referring to it as his proper look. Why he changed colouration to go undercover was not explained, but it may have something to do with a purple-coloured Shockwave toy being out when that episode aired.
*In ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]] start out as an old ice cream truck combiner but after a disastrous mission [[NEST]] decides to upgrade them to new individual [[General Motors]] vehicles. New toys ''and'' product placement!
*[[Starscream (Armada)#Generations|''Armada'' Starscream]] got a new toy in 2014. There wasn't an ''Armada'' comic but there ''was'' a Generation 1 comic with a Starscream, which was then [[pack-in material|packed in]] with the toy series including Armada Starscream. And lo and behold, for ''[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]]'' Starscream got a new body! A year later, he swapped to ''another'' body for "[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]", which was his then-new Leader Class toy, and several issues were devoted to him choosing it and then flaunting it. Then again, this ''is'' Starscream we're talking about...
*[[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] finally got a new toy as well. Problem is, his comic body didn't look much like the toy. Then, in ''[[Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Dark Cybertron Chapter 11]]'', he revealed his new invention: reactive armor that changed his body to look like his opponent's. Who did he use this armor to battle? Why, it's Starscream, the guy his toy was retooled from!
*2015's "[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]" comic series brought back almost all of the combiner characters that have appeared in the IDW continuity thus far. However, [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] was apparently killed by [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] quit the Stunticons... so that [[Alpha Bravo]] and [[Offroad (CW)|Offroad]] can replace them! Meanwhile, Starscream rebuilds Devastator; not only does Devastator suddenly resemble his toy counterpart, but [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] is no longer a required member of the combiner team, leaving him free to combine with Optimus Prime and company to become the brand-new combiner [[Optimus Maximus (G1)|Optimus Maximus]]. Superion and Menasor, who had made previous appearances in IDW fiction, are both rebuilt by the [[Enigma of Combination]], causing their bodies to more closely resemble their toy counterparts.

===Character pimping===
Characters with toys may get more attention than those without:

*"[[Matrix Quest]]" has four separate teams on a mission. You could use any three Transformers in one of these teams, right? Nope, Furman has toys to promote: out go nine new Autobot characters and three existing ones with new toys.
*[[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge's]] presence in all three of his first three ''Beast Wars'' episodes: one for his origin, another for him joining the Maximals after all, and then an abrupt appearance at the very end of "[[Cutting Edge]]" where he turns up and single-handedly drives off a Predacon force.
*When ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)#Japanese release|Animated]]'' was released in Japan, episodes focusing on the [[Constructicon (Animated)|Constructicon]]s were never broadcast on television (instead being reduced to bonus content on the DVDs), as the Constructicons did not have toys. The episode order was also rearranged (and thus the internal narrative of the series, as well) so that episodes introducing new toys could air earlier than those that didn't.
*IDW's ''[[The Transformers: Spotlight|Spotlight]]'' came back in 2013 in order to promote six of the upcoming ''Generations'' toys. Even [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], a little-used character who would never have been given a ''Spotlight'' otherwise! (Initially published through Diamond and Comixology as per IDW's usual practice, these comics were subsequently packed-in with the toys they were based on, aiming to use the higher sales of the toys to boost comic sales in a "I'll scratch your back, you scratch mine" scenario.) Likewise, Waspinator, having a new toy out in late 2013, began making appearances and took on increased importance in the IDW universe. An upcoming [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] toy brought forth a Tankor appearance in Dark Cybertron. The opening arcs of the second seasons of ''More Than Meets The Eye'' and ''Robots in Disguise'' (as well as ''Windblade'' vol. 1) in 2014 also heavily feature casts of characters with new toys, such as Nightbeat, Rattrap, Arcee, and Jetfire.
* When [[Steeljaw (RID)|Steeljaw]] frees some Decepticons in the second season of ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'', the freed 'Cons include his former minions [[Clampdown (RID)|Clampdown]] and [[Thunderhoof (RID)|Thunderhoof]], yet not the other two members of the Pack, [[Fracture (RID)|Fracture]] and [[Underbite]]. He instead frees [[Bisk (RID)|Bisk]], [[Groundpounder (RID)|Groundpounder]], [[Overload (RID)|Overload]], [[Quillfire (RID)|Quillfire]] and [[Springload (RID)|Springload]]. There's no reason to neglect those who have already proven to be able to work together in the Pack (and thus Steeljaw should know would help in his eventual coup), except for the fact that the toys of both Fracture and Underbite had already sold, and the newly freed Decepticons have new figures on the shelves.

===Abrupt conclusions===
[[File:MarvelUSG2-12.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|It's the end of the road for Transformers Generation 2! That can't bode well for the toyline.]]
Just as ''Transformers'' fiction lives at Hasbro's pleasure, so too does it die. Falling sales, a change of plans, and standard [[rebranding]] can all cause a storyline to come to a sudden end when Hasbro decides to pull the plug.

*The American Generation 1 cartoon got a somewhat rushed conclusion in the form of "[[The Rebirth]]", rather than a full fourth season.
*The Generation 1 comics were nearly canceled at [[On the Edge of Extinction!|issue #75]], but granted a reprieve. The stay of execution was only temporary, however; with the Generation 1 toyline ending, the comic was terminated a mere five issues later, resulting in a rather hasty concluding plotline.
*Hasbro was only willing to support the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|''Generation 2'' comic]] for twelve issues, unless it proved an unqualified (perhaps phenomenal) success. Aware of this from the start, writer Simon Furman was able to plot a story arc that reached its finale as the series ended (and poked fun at it with a character whose name is a pun on "[[Jhiaxus (G2)|Gee, axe us]]".)
*The writers of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon reportedly never had any idea if they'd be back for another season. When the axe fell with Season 3, they had only three episodes left to wrap up the whole series.
*Hasbro nearly killed off the just-begun comic series ''[[Transformers: The Wreckers|The Wreckers]]'' in 2003, wishing instead for [[3H Productions|3H]] to focus on a ''[[Transformers: Universe (comic)|Universe]]'' comic advertising its current toyline.
*Even though ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' wasn't abruptly canceled, Kids WB ended the series on the [[cliffhanger]] of the episode "[[Revelation (episode)|Revelation]]", leaving millions of kids tuning in next time only to get a re-run of ''Xiaolin Showdown''. The reason? The Cybertron Defense Team toys hadn't hit stores yet.
*With ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' coming out in June, Titan had to end their alternate universe storyline in May so they could tie in early—an issue earlier than planned. The main strip handled this, with the notable exception of [[Jazz (Movie)#Titan Magazines Transformers movie comics|the Jazz plot arc]] going completely unresolved, but it played havoc with working out the IDW reprints!
*According to [[Rik Alvarez]], IDW was asked to drop their G1 continuity and move to the brand-spanking new [[Aligned continuity family|Aligned]] one. (They said "nah".)
{{-}}

==Death==
===Killing off old product===
[[File:Tftm1986a.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Guess who's no longer in the Mini Vehicles case assortment?]]
[[File:Newyorkunderbase.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Publisher's clearing house.]]
[[File:BW Scorponok Terrorsaur deaths.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Scorponok, Terrorsaur, we're condemning you to a fiery death 'cause Waspinator has a bigger fan club.]]
The most obvious To Sell Toys effect comes from the temporary nature of retail sales. Even in the 1980s, toys rarely stayed on the shelves past two years; today that timespan is much smaller. Once a toy is no longer selling, Hasbro has no interest in supporting fiction about that character—especially when there are newer toys to promote. Therefore, writers are often compelled to remove characters from the story by killing them off. Sometimes this happens through carefully developed story arcs, but it's easier to do it with huge, apocalyptic battles with massive numbers of casualties.

*Right before the introduction of most of the 1985 cast, the Marvel comic saw eleven of the original Autobots taken offline within a single issue in "[[Prime Time!]]". A few issues later, six of the original Decepticons met [[Command Performances!|a similar fate]] at the hands of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (which doubled as character pimping for the big guy). Though it was suggested they could be repaired, the vast majority of casualties wouldn't reappear in the US until they popped up in crowd shots [[Totaled!|thirty issues later]], and a number had their next appearance being a ''second'' death in the Underbase Saga.
*In ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', numerous main characters are killed or changed in the movie's first 30 minutes, including [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], and [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]]. They are replaced by a slew of new characters; in fact, the poster for the movie shows ''only'' new characters.
*Numerous characters are killed in the Marvel UK comics saga "[[Time Wars]]". The Grim Reaper seemed to spare either popular characters (Megatron and [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]) or newer characters ([[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]], [[Catilla (G1)|Catilla]] and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], for example.)
*The [[Underbase Saga]] features a super-powerful [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] killing literally ''dozens'' of characters; some place the count over fifty. The survivors were mostly from the [[Pretender]], [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]], and [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] ranks, those being the then-current toy lines. However, the explanation ([[Underbase]] power didn't affect those TFs with organic components) meant that even the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]], new toys at the time and introduced three issues before, met their end.
*The climactic [[On the Edge of Extinction!|battle with Unicron]] 25 issues later killed off many of the Underbase survivors, whose shelf run had ended.
*With its enormously expensive CGI animation, ''Beast Wars'' was particularly vulnerable to toy-based interference. The expense of creating and animating a CGI body model meant that the character roster had to remain fairly constant; the introduction of all-new characters usually required the removal of an equal number of existing characters. And so, [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] and [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] die just in time for the arrival of [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] and [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)|Silverbolt]]. (Frustrated with the situation, the writers carefully planned out<ref>http://www.builtstlouis.net/tf/manic/m-botcon.html</ref> the demise of [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]], anticipating that someone would have to be removed to make way for [[Rampage (BW)|newer characters]].)
*''[[Transformers: The Reign of Starscream|The Reign of Starscream]]'' would end up killing a large number of Autobots in [[The Reign of Starscream issue 5|issue #5]], after their toys had been around for a while; as they'd not made an appearance in the comics until this mini, this is both an example of Huge Cast ''and'' Product Clearing. It would then go on to bump off some Decepticons, while its sequel ''[[Transformers: Alliance|Alliance]]'' slaughtered ''hordes'' of Decepticons with old toys. Mowry is the new Furman...
*The ''Dark of the Moon'' [[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (Xbox 360/PS3)|console video game]] is a prequel to the film and can't afford to kill off most of its characters due for an appearance in the then-upcoming film. Luckily, there's several characters who've been around since the ''Revenge of the Fallen'' franchise who can be used to give the game some bosses to kill off like [[Mixmaster (ROTF)|Mixmaster]], [[Breakaway (ROTF)|Breakaway]], and [[Stratosphere]]!
*An odd case of this is in the [[live-action film series]], which, as well as advertising toys, also serves as advertising for [[General Motors]] vehicles. Hence, Autobots whose cars are no longer in demand have an uncanny tendency to either lose prominence or perish. The most prominent example would be [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] - the GMC Topkick had been discontinued for two years by ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (franchise)|Dark of the Moon]]'', and so, despite a fifty-dollar toy on the shelves, Ironhide dies halfway in. Similarly, [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] is the major Autobot casualty of ''[[Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction]]'' due to his Hummer H2 vehicle mode being a thing of the past by the time the film hit theaters (though unlike Ironhide, Ratchet had next to no representation in the toyline).
*IDW's [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|''Robots in Disguise'']] ongoing has to promote a [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]... with [[Alpha Bravo|a new helicopter]] instead of [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]]. Hence, Slingshot is the one to suffer most and die from the injuries caused when [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] tore him in half. This is especially weird considering that Devastator tore through Superion from the ''right'', and Slingshot was Superion's ''left'' arm at the time. Not to mention that Silverbolt, the torso, was explicitly ripped in half... The series would go on to have [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] leave the Stunticons over a humiliating defeat... one he suffered years ago, in [[The Question|Spotlight: Bumblebee]]. Naturally, the empty position was filled by new toy [[Offroad (CW)|Offroad]]. Then Hasbro decided to release Quickslinger and Brake-Neck (Slingshot and Wildrider renamed for trademark issues) ''much'' later after the others' release, part of a strategy that effectively forced fans to buy toys ''both'' of the "replacement" characters ''and'' the original characters.

This has become less common in recent years, as Hasbro has come to realize that their target audiences can actually get attached to certain [[character]]s, and might not enjoy seeing them die random, brutal, meaningless [[death]]s.
{{-}}

===Hi-and-die===
[[File:Chuffer cof.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Likely dialog: "SHEEEAAGH!!"]]
Kids don't want to buy a toy of a character who's dead. So if the plot calls for someone to die, smart money bets on the character who has a toy as the survivor. The guy without a toy, who you've never heard of before? Toast. This is the ''Transformers'' version of ''[[Star Trek]]''{{'}}s infamous {{w|redshirt syndrome}}. The stereotypical hi-and-die character is killed off in the same episode/issue that introduces him, if not the very same scene.

*This approach was particularly common in the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#UK comics|UK comics]]. Characters created specifically so they could be killed off include Wrecker leader [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]], Autobot/zombie food [[Chuffer]], Tailgate's Autobot trainee buddies/mutant fodder [[Subsea]] and [[Flattop (Autobot)|Flattop]], and the sixth member of the "Magnificent Six", [[Stampede]].
*The U.S. comics also used this approach on occasion, as with [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]'s poignantly adorable buddy [[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]].
*[[Transmutate (BW)|Transmutate]] showed up and died in [[Transmutate (episode)|that episode]], of course Hasbro doesn't make [[Transmutate (BW)#Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|a toy]] [[Action Master|that don't transform]], right?
*The ''Energon'' cartoon introduced [[Padlock (Energon)|Padlock]], whose purpose was to die at [[Shockblast]]'s hands, providing motivation for toy-character [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]].
*''Animated'' chucked in [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]] so Ratchet could have a tragic past where he failed to save someone. (And ''then'' she got a toy!)
*The [[Transformers Animated (Titan)|''Animated'' comic]] wants to do a story arc about an Autobot who's really a spy and then have him killed. Quick, [[Afterburn|make someone up]]!
*''[[Transformers: Exodus|Exodus]]'' invents hordes of characters solely to populate the story with casualties while preserving the classic characters: [[Chromatron]], [[Gauntlet (WFC)|Gauntlet]], [[Halogen (WFC)|Halogen]], [[Drixco]], [[Revo]], [[Catalycon]], and dozens of other unnamed Autobots, Decepticons and [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]].
*[[James Roberts]] elevated hi-and-die to an artform; though his run on ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' is crammed with minor non-toy characters who wind up dead, many still received some backstory, history, or distinctive characterization before - or even after - being killed off. Examples from ''More than Meets the Eye''{{'}}s first "season" include [[Polaris]], [[Hyperion (G1)|Hyperion]], [[Shock (G1)|Shock]], [[Ore]], [[Animus]], [[Dent]], [[Sonic (IDW)|Sonic]], [[Boom]], [[Piston (Wrecker)|Piston]], [[Crest]], [[Torque (G1)|Torque]], [[Sherma]], [[Momus]], "[[Fallout (G1)|Fallout]]", "[[Streaker]]", [[Heavies|Hammer and Anvil]], [[Trepan]], [[Frak]], [[Rushcut]], [[Rossum]], [[Tripodeca]], [[Pivot]], [[Scattergun]], [[Blockus]], [[Datum]], [[Ramp]], and [[Suture (G1)|Suture]]. Similarly, ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' introduced us to [[Squadron X]], comprising just about every Decepticon hi-and-die character from the Marvel continuity, who were then all slaughtered by Impactor.
{{-}}

===Resurrection===
Killing off a character isn't always toy-motivated; sometimes it's a dramatic plot development. But it can also be a problem if Hasbro decides to make a new toy of that character.

[[File:Inferno dies agenda2.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Only a flesh wound!]]
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] has been resurrected [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|so many times]] that it's practically a defining character trait. His original revival in the cartoon didn't correspond to any actual toy release, but the Marvel comic brought him back specifically to advertise his [[Powermaster]] form. A second death-and-revival introduced his [[Action Master]] body. And a ''third'' death-and-revival in ''Generation 2'' brought him into his [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#G2Hero|Hero]] toy form.
*The Japanese killed off Optimus (or "Convoy" as they called him) in [[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|''The Headmasters'']]. A few years later, they not only brought him back with a new toy, the ''entire franchise'' for that year was called ''[[Transformers: Return of Convoy (franchise)|Return of Convoy]]''.
*Numerous "dead" characters were brought back into the Marvel comic series when their Classics and/or Action Master versions were released. Many were "deactivated" rather than outright dead; however, very few ''non'' Action Master characters showed up alongside them.
*The series writers for ''Beast Wars'' considered [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] dead and gone at the end of Season 1. Hasbro, however, had a [[Transmetal]] Optimus Primal toy to promote, and so he was returned to life in Season 2. Hasbro wanted him brought back in the first minutes of the season premiere, but the writers managed to convince them that it would be better to do so at the ''end'' of the two-episode story following the premiere.
*At the end of Season 2 of ''Beast Wars'', [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] was pretty clearly shown being killed—being ''disintegrated''—but in the next season appeared to have just been bruised and cracked, because Hasbro was not ready to have a Mega-scaled toy removed from the series.
*Pretty much ''nobody'' could successfully die in the [[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|''Energon'' cartoon]]. [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]], [[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Starscream]], [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]], [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]], [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Dagger]], and [[Inferno (Energon)|Inferno]] all die and/or are resurrected from the dead during the course of the show.
*[[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] still had toys out in 2008. The [[bio]] for AllSpark-Enhanced Autobot Jazz states he was brought back from near-death by the AllSpark and is "more powerful than ever". Voilà, Jazz comes back from the dead thanks to the AllSpark in [[Transformers Comic issue 16|Titan's tie-in comic]]! Optimus even uses the ''term'' "Autobot Jazz" in [[Transformers Comic issue 21|a later issue]]...
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] was shot in the head and abandoned on [[Gorlam Prime]] back in "[[Spotlight: Hardhead]]". Six years later, Hasbro were releasing a new Nightbeat toy and back he comes into ''Dark Cybertron'', a chatty undead from the [[Dead Universe]]. He proceeds to survive the destruction of the Dead Universe and wound up on the ''Lost Light'' before seemingly dying again.
*[[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]'s IDW incarnation first appeared in the ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]'' limited series, set millions of years in the past. The final issue originally left his exact fate following his final confrontation with Megatron ambiguous; according to artist [[Alex Milne]], Sentinel was ''not'' dead ''yet'' as far as he was concerned, and the script had called for him to look like he could go either way.<ref name="milne">[https://web.archive.org/web/20110822003501/http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=37411 Post by Alex Milne on the IDW Publishing Forums]</ref> However, ''[[Spotlight: Optimus Prime]]'', published around the same time, at least ''implied'' that he was dead in the present day just like in other continuities, given how Optimus Prime had succeeded him. Subsequently, ''[[Spotlight: Blurr]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy]]'', among others, presented [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]] as the Prime who chronologically succeeded Sentinel, before being himself killed by Megatron and succeeded by Optimus. Fast forward to several years later, when Hasbro's [[Titans Return (toyline)|''Titans Return'' toy line]] introduced a new Sentinel Prime toy that was also a [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] with a [[Titan Master]] named [[Infinitus]], and lo and behold, the IDW version of Sentinel, having been presumed dead for four million years, suddenly makes an unexpected return in a ''[[The Last Autobot|Titans Return]]'' one-shot, with absolutely no buildup beforehand, and is revealed to actually ''be'' a smaller robot named Infinitus who survived the destruction of his larger body. After menacing everyone a little for a few issues, he gets dropped down a very big hole, never to be spoken of again.
{{-}}

===Untouchables===
[[File:Armorhide drawhisfire.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Really, they could just stand there making rude noises at Starscream.]]
Obviously, if a character ''does'' have a current toy (or soon will), they're ([[Cliffjumper (WFC)|usually]]) not going to die, even if the plot or common sense indicates they should. This is sometimes because Hasbro itself declares a character unkillable, and so comics and TV writers must follow suit.
*In "[[Optimal Situation]]", [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] had betrayed [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] to the Maximals, ruining his greatest shot at victory. As he declared, "There will be no more betrayals!", she would pay the price: being knocked into stasis lock so the Maximals could fix her and she could stay on their team.
*Megatron himself was in a prime position to be terminated, as were the Maximals later on, in "[[The Weak Component]]". Since this was only episode 6 and everyone had toys out, the cast politely agreed not to take this opportunity to end a brutal war for the planet.
*Titan's Movie strip was moved to an alternate universe, where you'd [[Rhythms of Darkness!|expect nobody to be safe from death]]. However, most of the cast had toys out, so whether it was a desperate guerrilla fight against Decepticon occupation, the rise of [[Unicron]], a [[Decepticon Civil War]], or the final battle, very few characters bought it. The big exception was [[Divebomb (Movie)|Divebomb]], dying in his first battle.
*In ''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' (mentioned earlier), James Roberts observed that Impactor was the only character who was guaranteed not to be killed. However, Hasbro shot down the idea of Perceptor or Springer dying, and so most of the fatalities were less well-known characters like Pyro, Ironfist, and eternally unlucky Wreckers Twin Twist and Topspin.
*Similar to his Beast Era counterpart, ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Prime]]'' [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] was worn down to the point of exhaustion, and was at [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]]'s mercy. Optimus, now [[One Shall Fall|sworn to outright kill Megatron when he gets the chance]], is about to pull the trigger, but ends up backing down when he's threatened by Decepticon reinforcements... in this case, the laughing stock redshirt Vehicons. It doesn't help that the ''[[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|Prime]]'' toyline had ''just'' gotten on shelves, but seriously? Optimus felt threatened by ''Vehicons''?
*If a Decepticon with a current toy is about to be captured in ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'', they can pull off the most miraculous of escapes, sometimes [[Bee Cool|disappearing under our heroes' noses]].
*Starscream, the end.

==Notable exceptions==
There are, however, a few notable exceptions to the To Sell Toys effect, such as fictional characters without a toy counterpart, and other anomalies:

===Toys not released in the relevant market===
[[File:Swoopg1marvelukfirst.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|YOU CAN'T HAVE ME.]]
Occasionally the ''Transformers'' fiction released in a particular country features characters whose toys were not released in that country. The Marvel UK comic featured two variations of this phenomenon:

*Characters inherited from the U.S. strips. Some, such as [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]], [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] and the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]], were given fairly prominent roles in the U.S. stories reprinted in the UK comic and so it was hard to ignore them completely in the UK originated material despite their toys not being around to need advertising. However the decision to develop the Predacons (even before their US appearances were reprinted), to have entire storylines focusing on Swoop, and also to keep Shockwave in continuity even after he'd been (supposedly) killed off in the US comic goes beyond this.
*Characters not featured in the U.S. strips. Bizarrely the UK comic also made use of some characters such as [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]], [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], [[Chop Shop (G1)|Chop Shop]], and [[Venom (G1)|Venom]], despite their toys not being available on UK toy shelves. None of these characters were inherited from the US material.

Writer [[Simon Furman]] has since stated that when writing the stories he was generally unaware of which toys were unavailable in the UK.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=We largely took our cue from what characters were being introduced into the US storyline. If there was a release schedule for the toys in the UK, we rarely saw it... But in the case of Swoop and the Predacons, I don't think I was consciously aware (at the time) that we were dealing with toys not generally available in the UK. They were just extant characters, and therefore fair game.|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914233035/http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_furman.php|name=Simon Furman|site=TransFans.co.uk - Interviews: Simon Furman - Part 1 'The Past'|year-2004}}</ref>

This would happen again with Titan, as foreign exclusives such as [[Bludgeon (ROTF)|Bludgeon]] and [[Slap Dash (ROTF)|Slap Dash]] palled around with UK-available toys.

Another example would be the original text stores published by [[Condor Verlag]] in their ''[[Transformers Comic-Magazin]]'': The text story from [[Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 11|issue 11]] features the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]], even though catalogs from the era, backed up by German fans' recollections, suggest that the German release of the ''[[Classics (Europe)|Classics]]'' line-up omitted the Classic Combaticons, possibly due to their "war" theme.
{{-}}

===Post-Marvel, pre-2013 G1 comics===
[[File:Infiltration 1b.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"Hey, Runamuck, it's our first appearance on a comic book cover in twenty years!" "Heh heh, now if only we could appear on toy store shelves..."]]
Both [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] and [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] comics, the two recent holders of the license to publish ''Transformers'' comic books, sometimes produce comics using whichever toy line is current (e.g., Dreamwave's ''[[Transformers: Armada (Dreamwave)|Armada]]'' comic or IDW's [[Transformers (film)|2007 movie]] tie-ins), and sometimes publish comics using whatever characters they please (e.g., ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]''). The characters in their "discretionary" comics are often not currently available in toy form ([[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]], a character appearing in numerous stories from IDW's G1 continuity during their early years, only had [[Hardhead (G1)#Universe (2008)|another toy]] on shelves at around 2009, a good twenty-two years since [[Hardhead (G1)#Generation 1|his last toy]]), sometimes are drawn with bodies that have ''never'' been toys (most of the ''War Within'' characters), and sometimes are toys that were never available outside of specific countries ([[Lio Convoy]] in IDW's ''Beast Wars'').

[[Chris Ryall]], IDW Editor-in-Chief and writer of the miniseries adapting the 2007 movie to comics, had stated on IDW's forums that Hasbro does not dictate what comics IDW must make ("Nope, no dictates at all from Hasbro. We put the plan together, send to them for approval.").<ref>http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=69377</ref> By the time of ''All Hail Megatron'', however, the ''Universe'' line came out and Hasbro asked IDW to start using some of those designs.<ref>[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=102461#102461 Guido reveals the Hasbro request]</ref> Though this practice did not influence the subsequent [[The Transformers (IDW)|ongoing series]], it did raise its head again in 2013, as Hasbro and IDW began working together to create new toys based on character designs from the comics, to promote upcoming toys with New Bodies and to include the [[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]] event (including various preludes) with the toys.

===New toys, same basic design===
In more recent times (mostly in the case of the [[live-action film series]]), Hasbro has used a combination of minor [[redeco]]s, [[retool]]s and sculpts based on the same basic designs to create new toys, instead of giving recurring characters a major design overhaul for the next installment. The fiction then rarely, if ever, acknowledges any of those minor design changes. According to screenwriter [[Roberto Orci]], some people at Hasbro even argued against changing the designs of some returning characters in ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen]]'', so that parents would '''not''' have to buy the same toy twice for their children just because of a minor change or modification to the characters' designs.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showpost.php?p=2186879&postcount=171 Roberto Orci posting at TFW2005.com]</ref> (Hasbro still released new, or modified, toys of those characters, prompting [[completist]]s to buy them as well, and the film gave some of the characters slight tweaks in their [[alternate mode]]s, based on changes in the real-life vehicle designs, which the toys had to incorporate.)

===Killing off characters with new toys===
Even characters with new or expensive toys can get the axe early on if the plot calls for it... or when poor timing caused by unplanned executive decisions resulted in bad coordination between in-fiction developments and toy release schedules.
* In ''Beast Wars'' [[Tigerhawk]] was introduced and then killed off within three episodes, due to corporate uncertainty about whether the [[Size class#Beast Wars|Ultra sized toy]] would actually be produced.
*Despite being killed off in the middle of ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]'', [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] got a lot of new toys, including a Leader Class figure, a Voyager Class figure, and a Halloween costume for children!
*''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Prime]]'' [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]] was hyped up as a major character in the lead-up to the show's premiere, and got several toys like the other members of the main cast. He dies within the first five minutes of the [[Darkness Rising, Part 1|premiere episode]]. However, later he gets his fair share of screentime by [[Out of the Past|flashbacks]] and the like.
*Due to behind the scenes budget issues and the ''Prime'' [[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|toyline]] getting pushed back thanks to the ''Dark of the Moon'' [[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (toyline)|toyline]], [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] is quickly shut away inside a stasis pod in "[[Armada (episode)|Armada]]" for much of the remainder of the series at the ''same time'' as the mass release of her toy; [[Breakdown (WFC)|Breakdown]] also suffered a grimmer fate as he was killed off just a few episodes earlier (by Airachnid herself, no less). On a similar beat, poor [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] died in "[[Masters & Students]]", but his toys weren't released until well over a year later, making them posthumous toy releases.
*IDW [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]] gets a new ''Titans Return'' toy in mid late 2016, but was killed off at about the same time his toy was hitting shelves in the [[All Hail Optimus Part 6: No Fair Fights|final issue]] of the second season of ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]''.

===New toys with minimal fictional appearances===
Sometimes, characters that have a new or expensive toy barely see use in fiction.
*Generation 1 Whirl and Roadbuster were larger and more expensive than many of the other Autobots, but never appeared in the original cartoon. They were featured in the UK comics as members of the Wreckers.
*Sixshot's only appearance in the original cartoon is a quick sequence where he transforms into each of his alt modes to defeat the Aerialbots. He is never seen again.
*In ''Transformers: Armada'', Optimus Prime is the only character to not receive an upgrade after being defeated by Nemesis Prime, despite having an expensive $40 redeco on store shelves. Optimus does receive the redeco colors in the final episode of the series, but he returns to his old colors by the episode's conclusion.
*[[Optimus Prime (Movie)|"Silver Knight" Optimus Prime]] had an entire thematic segment of the [[Transformers: Age of Extinction (toyline)|''Age of Extinction'' toyline]] dedicated to him that was exclusive to [[Target]] stores. However, the planned upgrade of Optimus Prime was cut from the theatrical release of ''Age of Extinction''.
*''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]'' Quickslinger and Brake-Neck, meant to be [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] and [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]], did not get any focus in the accompanying IDW fiction: Slingshot is dead and Wildrider's whereabouts are unknown after his leaving the Stunticons. Instead, their selling point is giving fans the chance to complete G1-accurate [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] toys. Meanwhile, the Autobot [[Rook (CW)|Rook]] made only a background appearance in the event, and was so overlooked he had to be digitally added ''to'' those backgrounds; [[Alpha Bravo]], his [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] counterpart, gets a bit more but nothing you'd miss. (When Rook ''did'' get some work later, he was promptly killed off!)
*''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' introduced a massive amount of new toys and a ''massive'' amount of Headmasters, including many familiar G1 characters redone as Headmasters. However, very few of these new toys were given focus in IDW's [[Titans Return (comic)|tie-in comic arc]], including prominent characters such as [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]. ([[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] is a notable exception, returning after a long absence.) Also, despite the heavy emphasis on [[Titan Master]]s in the toyline, only one character, [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]], displayed actual Headmaster ability. [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] is briefly decapitated and turned into a lifeless body for [[Infinitus]] to take control of, for no real reason other than to show off the head-swapping gimmick inherent in all ''Titans Return'' figures. And, with a colossal new [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/toys#Generations|Titan-class]] toy for [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Fortress Maximus]] as the centerpiece of the line, you'd expect some significant toy-shilling action. Instead, Fortress Maximus's brand-new Titan body gets smacked around a bit before utterly failing in its one job of defending [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]]'s [[space bridge]] from the [[zombie]] Titans.
*Most likely caused by the complaints from fans about the small amount of Decepticons in the 2015 [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 toyline)|''Robots in Disguise'' toyline]], [[Steeljaw (RID)|Steeljaw]] breaks out many monsters of the week from the first season. Each one gets a figure, yet they all get one or two episodes to shine. [[Bisk (RID)|Bisk]] is the greatest example, appearing very briefly in Episode 4 of Season 1, getting captured, going free, and getting captured again in the next Episode.
**Every major 'Con from or affiliated with Decepticon Island gets Mini-Cons, who do very little but appear anyway only because they had toys. Ratchet gets one as well.
[[File:TF-TLK-Berserker.jpg|right|upright=1.7|thumb|'''DELUXE ROOK''' with Amazing ''STANDING AROUND ACTION!''']]
* After having a Deluxe-sized figure despite being the largest [[Dinobot (AOE)|Dinobot]] in ''[[Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction]]'', [[Scorn]] got a larger, more movie-accurate Voyager class figure for the toyline of ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (toyline)|The Last Knight]]''. Unfortunately, Scorn didn't even appear in the [[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|actual film]]!
* A more egregious ''The Last Knight'' example occurs in the case of [[Berserker]]. Despite being on-screen for only ''8.39 seconds'' (in which he's a prisoner of war and not even released from incarceration), and having only one line, Berserker got several toys to himself, one of which was an entirely new Deluxe class figure. This is in stark contrast to more prominent Decepticons [[Onslaught (ROTF)|Onslaught]], [[Dreadbot]], and [[Mohawk]], none of whom received toys until Mohawk got a ''[[Studio Series]]'' figure ''seven years later''. Set photos seem to indicate that Berserker was going to have a larger role than he did, explaining why he was given such a prominent role in the toyline.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Toys]]

To sell toys

2023-10-30T09:42:42Z

Timrollpickering: /* Killing off old product */ move Tigerhawk down; he was new product

[[File:MarvelUS-19.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Hasbro wasn't quite sure whether to advertise this expensive toy until the fans forced their hand.]]
To understand ''Transformers'' fiction, it is important to understand that it exists '''to sell toys.''' [[Hasbro]] and [[TakaraTomy]] are toy companies, and they are primarily interested in continuing to sell [[toy]]s to children and adults. The cartoons, comic books, etc., mostly exist to make this happen. To be sure, they normally [[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)#Reception|make a profit in their own right]], but this is regarded as mere gravy.

The "to sell toys" effect often distorts the fiction in interesting ways. Primarily, since you can't ([[Army-building|usually]]) sell someone the same toy twice,<ref>Although the toy lines from the [[live-action film series]] have given us multiple ''different'' toys of the ''same characters''.</ref> Hasbro and Takara constantly introduce new toys, and often require the creators of the fiction to introduce the new characters into ongoing storylines. Older characters (whose toys are no longer being sold) are shoved aside to make room.

Another effect of "to sell toys" is when the toys have gimmicks which must be explained in the fiction. Sometimes ([[Mini-Con]]s) this is relatively easy, while other times it requires a lot of imagination on the part of the writers (the in-comic explanations for the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] and [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]] are kinda wonky).

[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Japanese]] [[Triple Combination: Transformers Go! (cartoon)|shows]] are normally the worst offenders, because ''Transformers'' doesn't take itself very seriously over there.

The UK [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|movie-based ''Transformers'' comic]] took this to more blatant heights. For its first year, it had a specific four-page feature every week called ''Top Gear'', which existed solely to promote the newest ''Transformers'' merchandise. ''Any'' merchandise. This led to readers being told how great [[Optimash Prime]] was. For the [[2010]] ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (franchise)|Transformers: War for Cybertron]]'' game franchise, [[Ironhide (Movie)|''Ironhide himself'']] opened letters pages by telling readers how ''awesome'' the game was and how [[you]] should buy it.

{{bigquote|Truly, I'm speechless. Your species characterizes the infinite wonders of the churning, whorling, chaotic cosmos through the lens of... merchandising?

I can see why Swindle loves you idiots.|[[Sideways (disambiguation)|Sideways]] on the concept, [[Ask Vector Prime]].}}

==Casting==
===Huge casts===
[[File:CosmicRust-BigGroup.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|[[Pokeformers|Gotta catch 'em all!]]]]
Hasbro makes a lot of toys at once, and they generally want all of them to appear in their fiction. This can force writers to bring in vast numbers of characters all at once, sometimes with awkward results. Examples include:

*The first issue of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Generation 1 comic]], "[[The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers]]", in which ''twenty-eight'' different robots appeared and introduced themselves, even though only a handful are important to the plot.
*"[[The Special Teams Have Arrived]]", a free mini-comic given away with issue [[Rock and Roll-Out!|#54]] of the [[Marvel Comics|Marvel UK]] [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|comic]], notoriously introduces the reader to ''twenty-four'' new Transformers in just three pages. Granted, four of those are the [[Combiner|combined forms]] of the other twenty, but that's still a lot of new names to remember.
*The 1987 ''[[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]]'' Limited Series, which introduced over ''sixty'' characters in the course of four issues, including all the first waves of [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] and [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]], all their [[Nebulan]] partners, the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]], [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]], and [[Monsterbot (G1)|Monsterbot]]s.
*The cartoon episode trilogy "[[The Rebirth]]" likewise abruptly introduced well over ''forty'' of the 1987 toyline characters, mostly the same ones seen in ''Headmasters''. In both cases, this wasn't helped by the fact that the nature of Headmasters and Targetmasters meant every new toy had to effectively get two introductions.
*In the first four episodes of [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 cartoon)|the 2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon]], eighteen characters are introduced in quick succession.
*From #9 onwards, [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Titan's movie-based ''Transformers'']] heavily bumped up the cast with new toys. In one example, #17 brought in nine new toys in eleven pages; only one of the five Decepticons got any real focus or dialogue.

===Random casting===
The Hasbro-induced need to show all the toys can also cause stories to suddenly focus on a new character, sometimes dropping ongoing plot threads about older ones. Examples include:

*Season 2 of the cartoon introduced many new characters/buyable toys with no explanation; despite never having been seen before, the story treats them as though they have [[Beachcomber (G1)|been there]] [[Perceptor (G1)|the whole]] [[Tracks (G1)|time]]. [[Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1|One episode]] even hinges on this idea.
[[File:Decepticonpretenders-behold.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|After seven issues, it's finally time for these six dudes to do something!]]
[[File:FlamesofBoltax-Triggerbots.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Apparently, the Triggerbots didn't make much of an impression on Prime.]]
*The comic issue "[[Pretender to the Throne!]]" suddenly introduces a dozen Autobots and Decepticons that we've never met before, and follows their adventures. The story adds nothing to the long-range plot that couldn't have been accomplished by using existing characters; these teams were added to the mix to promote their new toys.
*Many issues of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel comic]] had cover blurbs in the form "Introducing the _______!", where the blank was whatever the latest line of toys was. The following issues specifically introduce new toys on the cover: [[Repeat Performance!|#8]], [[The Next Best Thing to Being There!|#10]], [[Brainstorm!|#11]], [[Command Performances!|#19]], [[Aerialbots over America!|#21]], [[Crater Critters|#29]], [[The Cure!|#30]], [[Pretender to the Throne!|#40]], [[People Power!|#42]], [[Ca$h and Car-nage!|#46]], [[Club Con!|#47]], and [[Yesterday's Heroes!|#60]]. Throw in a few covers where new characters were pictured but not named, and that's 1/5th of the series.
*In [[Spacehikers!|issue #36]] of the Marvel comics, when [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] decides that he needs help in dealing with [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]]'s inept leadership, he doesn't turn to any of the ''dozens'' of Autobots aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], which include two combiner teams and Omega Supreme. No, he has to call in his "old buddy"/new toy, [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]].
*In the prelude to the [[Underbase Saga]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] were the lead characters in a story set before the Transformers came to [[Earth]]. But rather than palling around with the likes of Jazz or Soundwave, they are instead shown alongside the newest "gimmick" characters, the [[Triggercon]]s and the [[Triggerbot]]s.
*[[Mainframe Entertainment]] planned to use [[Wolfang (Maximal)|Wolfang]] in ''Beast Wars'', but [[Tigatron]] appeared instead because he had an upcoming toy, and to save money as his CGI model was only a slight tweak of [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]'s.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_frm/thread/9c79c4226fc6dd28/30c3cdf158ea6e52?lnk=st&q=bob+forward+beast+wars+tigatron+wolfang&rnum=1#30c3cdf158ea6e52 Ben Yee relays some info from Bob Forward in regards to Wolfang being replaced by Tigatron in the Beast Wars cartoon]</ref>
*Rather than revealing stuff about the [[Vok]] and [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]], a long-running subplot, "[[Other Victories]]" spends much of its time telling us how great [[Tigerhawk]] is and how we should buy his toy.
*Material released by both [[3H Productions|3H]] and [[Fun Publications]] tends to release characters from various series and continuities and then write stories featuring every character (usually with a particular focus on that year's box set), which often leads to some bizarre casting choices. [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]], [[Strika (BM)|Strika]], and [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] were all retroactively added to [[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]] and [[Machine Wars: Transformers|Machine Wars]] because they wanted to do toys of them that year. The [[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]] version of [[Tracks (SG)|Tracks]] is introduced from nowhere, has minimal characterization, and doesn't do anything, because they wanted to do [[Tracks (G1)#Transformers (2010)|Tracks's 2010 toy]] in [[Diaclone]]/[[Road Rage (G1)|Road Rage]] colors. And pretty much every story taking place in the [[Primax 207.0 Epsilon|Classicsverse]], ostensibly a [[Marvel Comics continuity|Marvel G1]]-based series, will introduce or reintroduce characters who were dead (the various [[Underbase Saga]] casualties), not even implied in the original stories ([[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]], [[Metalhawk (G1)|Metalhawk]]), or [[Female Transformer#Marvel Comics continuity|don't make sense in that universe to begin with]] ([[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]]). Sometimes this gets a token justification, other times not.
*The [[First (and Second) in Flight|sixth issue]] of ''[[Transformers Animated: The Arrival|The Arrival]]'' stops following the regular cast so it can flag the awesome cool out-now-in-shops [[Safeguard (Animated)|Safeguard]] toy.
*Prominent generals in [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Titan's movieverse]] Decepticon army change frequently and without any acknowledgment as new toys jostle for (and gain) space.
*[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]] and its lead-ins were packed with ''[[Thrilling 30]]'' toys, so suddenly ''Beast Wars'' characters [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] and [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] are in G1. Things got worse in later issues when [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] and [[Crosscut (G1)|Crosscut]] needed a comic; Tankor berates Starscream for a few panels in [[No Exit: Dark Cybertron Chapter 6|''Dark Cybertron'' #6]], while Crosscut and [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] briefly halt the plot in [[The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|''Dark Cybertron'' #7]] to tell you who Crosscut ''is''. Then he vanishes. They've started getting an increased role in IDW fiction ever since, though.
*For "[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]", several Autobots had to abruptly depart the ''[[Lost Light]]'' for Cybertron so they could appear in their combiner teams. In the case of [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]], this was despite him having just become the Chief Medical Officer: a long-running plot!
*[[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] and [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] appeared in the IDWverse after a seven-year absence in ''[[Starscream: The Movie (comic)|Starscream: The Movie]]'' and ''[[The Falling, Chapter 2: Another Mine|Another Mine]]''. The fact that those two oft-ignored characters had new ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' and ''[[Power of the Primes (toyline)|Power of the Primes]]'' Legends Class toys released recently probably had something to do with the matter.

===Limited casting===
On the opposite side of things, Hasbro doesn't want to pay to depict characters that aren't selling toys. This can force a story, particularly an animated cartoon, to have a smaller cast than it otherwise might.

[[File:Metamorphdeceps2.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|The full might of the Decepticon army.]]
*The [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original cartoon]] and [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|early Marvel comics]] both featured an oddly lopsided cast, particularly at the beginning, with the Autobot forces on Earth outnumbering the Decepticons two to one. This difference was never really acknowledged, though the cartoon also used [[generic]]s to make it look like Megatron had more than four guys, three pets, and [[Reflector (G1)|a camera]] under his command.
*The early episodes of ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' featured only the toys available on the shelves. This resulted in two ridiculously small teams going to [[Earth]] for the all-important mission of gathering Mini-Cons, rather inexplicable in story terms.
*[[Transformers: Armada (Dreamwave)|Both the Dreamwave]] and [[Transformers: Armada (Panini)|Panini comics]] suffered exactly the same problem, but it gets worse: [[First Encounter|The first ''Armada'' episode]] reused models of older Transformers as [[generic]] background guys to bump numbers up. The comics ''didn't''. So Megatron apparently conquers all of planet Cybertron with an army of three guys, whereas the city/planet defending Autobots are just five blokes.
*Dreamwave would also [[Dreamwave Armada issue 10|feature a scene on Cybertron]], where the ''only'' Autobot who seemed to exist was [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]].
*For [[Transformers: Movie Prequel|the movie prequels]], IDW got around this by deciding that [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]] was going to be a [[Class Alpha drone unit|series of drones]] instead of one guy, allowing for really big battle scenes despite a then-limited number of toys. (It would later turn out there was ''also'' a Dreadwing who was one guy.) Titan Magazines would borrow this, and turn other Decepticons into drone series too.
*It seems unlikely that four bots and their human partners would be sufficient to handle every emergency on [[Griffin Rock]], but those four bots [[Transformers: Rescue Bots (toyline)|were the only ones on shelves at the time]] (other than [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus]] and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]], who were needed [[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|elsewhere]]), so they were the ones who went into [[Transformers: Rescue Bots (cartoon)|the show]]. As the toyline expanded, toy characters Blurr, Salvage, High Tide and Quickshadow were introduced into the cast.
*''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy (cartoon)|Kingdom]]'' acts as a celebration of the 25th anniversary of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', but only includes characters who were slated for the first three waves of the accompanying toyline (with the exception of [[Tigatron]], likely due to the ease of retooling [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]'s animation model into a spare character). This means that notable cartoon characters like [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] or [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] who didn't have toys in the first three waves never put in an appearance in the season. To compensate for the Predacons having depleted ranks as a result, [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] stays with the Predacons for most of his screentime while [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] was turned into a group of generics; Predacon [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] also says many Predacons have been lost in his war with the Maximals.
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==Plot==
===Forced explication===
{{main|Introdump}}

Rather than simply showing up in the background, new toy/characters often overtly introduce themselves, often with a ridiculous description of their special abilities. The Marvel comic is rife with examples, but it shows up across numerous fictions.

[[File:Introdump decepticons marvelus01.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Reflector is actually here, he's just buried underneath a pile of speech bubbles.]]
*Again, [[The Transformers (issue)|''Transformers'' #1]] has two huge splash pages in which 28 characters do nothing but stand around and tell each other who they are and what they can do.
*Towards the end of "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]", Jazz puts together a strike team. Naturally, he does this by calling out their names one by one, so that the camera can cut to each Autobot in turn and show them transform in noticeable detail.
*The two-part original ''Transformers'' cartoon episode "[[Dinobot Island, Part 1|Dinobot Island]]" features many new 1985 characters getting their own short little introductory scene, often with a characteristic bit of self-description ([[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]]: "I'd rather stay in my stunning auto mode!" [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]: "I'm ''always'' ready for action!" [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]]: "Wow, like, I hope we don't destroy this place before we can study it!")
*"[[The Rebirth]]" has ''three different sequences'' in which large new groups of characters form a lineup and introduce themselves to viewers one after another. Strangely enough, much of this screen- and dialogue-time is given over to Nebulan partners; the "main" Transformer characters get no such introductions, even though they are the items kids would have to purchase to acquire the Nebulan accessories. For instance, [[Spasma]], [[Monzo]], and [[Peacemaker]] (all speaking characters) are introduced by name as part of various lineups, but their in-store hosts [[Apeface]], [[Weirdwolf (G1)|Weirdwolf]], and [[Pointblank]] are never named (and Weirdwolf never even speaks).
*"[[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]" has the Maximals walk on one-by-one admiring their [[beast mode]]s, loudly explaining their names and showing character traits. This also gives the impression they deliberately changed their names to fit these new beast modes for no apparent reason.
*Crosscut and Swerve fill in Crosscut's backstory and job during a fight. That's all Crosscut does in [[The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|''Dark Cybertron'' #7]].

===Gimmicks===
{{main|Gimmick}}
When the toys can do something special, fiction writers must often go out of their way to show the gimmick in action.

* The ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)#1986 .28Scramble City and 2010.29|Scramble City]]'' category of G1 combiner teams have the ability to freely swap around their limbs. Because of this, an unusual amount of Japanese fiction focuses on the idea of characters swapping limbs, best shown by ''[[Scramble City: Mobilization]]'', with rather variable consequences, and sometimes resulting in the creation of [[Scramble 7|whole new combiner characters]]. Sometimes, this purportedly results in some kind of increase in power or the combiner gaining different traits, but these changes are almost invariably told more than shown. In some cases, simply [[Free-Combination|changing the arrangement of an existing set of limbs]] is cited as something that can vastly alter a character's capabilities, with little real explanation.
*The Headmaster gimmick got [[The Transformers: Headmasters|an entire Limited Series comic book]] devoted to it.
*The comic issue "[[Pretender to the Throne!]]" features [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] proudly creating the [[Pretender]]s, gloating that they will hide the Decepticons' identities from the Autobots "until it is too late". Not only does the plan not actually work, it's also a plot point with absolutely zero lead-in or build-up—at no point has Scorponok ever expressed concern about his troops being detected by the Autobots (if anything, considering the altmodes of his troops, he seems to be the ''least'' concerned with stealth), nor has he demonstrated the science skills to pull this off, and we've never even met the Pretender characters before. It was brought about solely because the new toys had to be jammed into the story. (The, uh, story of returning Optimus Prime's character to the comic book because he had [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#PMOP|a new toy]].)
*[[Rotor Force]] made their debut in "[[New Dawn]]", and both here and in subsequent ''Generation 2'' issues would primarily fight enemies not with guns like everyone else, but by firing their giant rotors at them. Page 3 of ''New Dawn'' actually shows them having to ''stop and reattach their rotors'' before they can carry on fighting.
[[File:Mistaken Identity Galvatronscourge.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|[[Johnny Yong Bosch|It's Morphin Time! MASTODON!]]]]
*The [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 franchise)|2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' franchise]] [[Megatron (RID)|Megatron]] had six alternate modes and [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 cartoon)|the cartoon]] really wanted you to see them, which is why [[Battle Protocol!|his first appearance]] is as ''a giant hand for no reason''. It gets sillier when he turns into Galvatron and gains four more modes. In "[[Mistaken Identity]]", he turns into his "Iron Mammoth" form when facing off against [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|a hostile Fortress Maximus]] even though he doesn't ''do'' anything in his form except stand there ''as he was already doing''.
*[[Jetstorm (Animated)|Jetstorm]] and [[Jetfire (Animated)|Jetfire]] are the only Autobot jets in the ''Animated'' line. (Not counting the toyless [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]].) To fully big this up, their origin story has it that there have ''never been'' any flying Autobots before, despite them having been in (and won) a long and bitter war with enemies who ''often fly''. This one was silly enough that [[Endgame, Part I|a later episode]] explicitly joked on this, pointing out that there were multiple Autobots before and after Jetfire and Jetstorm with some kind of flight capability.
* The second season of the 2015 ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'' cartoon coincided with the release of the [[Deployer (WFC)|Deployer]] toys, which fire smaller [[Mini-Con]] figures. Suddenly, every Decepticon in the cartoon was partnered with a Mini-Con or two, even Decepticons who'd appeared in the past as solo operatives.

The [[Unicron Trilogy continuity family|Unicron Trilogy]], noted for its gimmicks in all three toylines, was particularly notorious in this regard:

*The quest for power-enhancing [[Mini-Con]]s practically defined the plot of the ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' cartoon, with both factions out to recruit or capture all the Mini-Cons.
*[[Powerlinx]]ing is shown again and again and again in ''[[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|Energon]]'', despite having comparatively little relevance to most episode plotlines. In fact, due to the fact much of Energon's action was firefights, Powerlinxing seemed to be a disadvantage, since it resulted in a single larger Autobot shooting instead of two smaller ones.
*[[Cyber Key]] powerups are likewise shown repeatedly in ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]].'' In this case, while most characters had basic weapons, the Cyber Keys were necessary to unlock hidden weaponry or special techniques. So, for example, Optimus might be able to shoot at the Decepticons with a smaller firearm, but to fire his larger cannons he would need to summon his Cyber Key. Some characters, however, needed their Cyber Keys to activate what one would expect to be their main weapons (e.g. Starscream activating his Null Ray Cannon).
*All three series were also marked by lengthy transformation sequences which highlighted the gimmicks in very toy-accurate animation (and also made production cheaper, thanks to [[Stock footage|recycled footage]]).

===Strange developments===
Shoehorning loads of new characters with new powers can compel the writers to do things with the plot that, in all probability, they otherwise wouldn't.

*Marvel UK had to promote the [[Special Teams]] toys ''before'' they knew how they'd be appearing in the US reprints. To get around this, [[Simon Furman]] wrote a story arc titled "[[Second Generation!]]", where [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]], Optimus and [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] <s>watched an advert</s> saw a Matrix-induced vision of the Special Teams in action. These events were previewed in "The Special Teams Have Arrived", nine issues earlier, with no indication that they were part of a vision, making their place in continuity uncertain.
*In the US Marvel comics, the simultaneous introduction of the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] and [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] and the introduction of the Pretenders both saw a lot of rigamarole involved in explaining why both the Autobots and the Decepticons had new members with identical numbers/gimmicks at the same time.
*Season 3 of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original ''The Transformers'' cartoon]] almost completely ignored the characters of the previous two seasons that were no longer on toy shelves. The 1985 Autobot cars, for example, are not seen at all. [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] and the 1985 Mini-Vehicles, by contrast, show up now and again, as their toys were still shipping. Even Starscream, who was ''dead'', managed to get a couple of Season 3 episodes all to himself; again, his toy sold through 1986.
*One season later, "[[The Rebirth]]" - the last episodes of the entire series - was almost entirely spent on introducing new characters and giving old ones upgrades, leaving just barely enough time to provide any kind of conclusion.
*''[[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|The Headmasters]]'' was absolutely crazy about this. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus]] (whose toy was long gone) kicks the bucket only three episodes in for the sake of a sacrifice that would be nullified only a few episodes later, putting new(er) toy [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] back in the command chair for a short while. In the tenth episode, Rodimus departs the series and hands the title of Supreme Commander to brand-spanking-new toy [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]], who's had a few months, tops, of combat experience. Much like Season 3, ''Headmasters'' also ignored most of the Season 3 regulars ([[Springer (G1)|Springer]], [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s, the [[Quintesson]]s) or removed them altogether, sometimes fairly dubiously ([[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] and [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] leave with Rodimus, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] gets shot a bit and dies, [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] is buried in ice and nobody digs him up until ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: The Battlestars (story page)|Battlestars]]''). By the end of the series, the only remaining Autobots from the first three seasons were the [[Special Teams]], [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Twincast]] and his cassettes, [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]], [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]].
*[[Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 2|''Transformers Comic-Magazin'' #2]] wrote an entire story devoted to Optimus sternly explaining which Autobots and Decepticons were on sale in [[Germany]] in 1989. The reason he had to? [[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]] had ''shot an Autobot''!
*The first thirteen issues of the ''[[Transformers: Armada (Dreamwave)|Armada]]'' comic were focused around the Mini-Cons, with plots often revolving around their desire to be seen as equals and not be enslaved. Then without ''any'' prior set-up, the last five issues turn into a dimension-spanning battle against [[Unicron]]—who had just had a new and expensive toy.
*[[Tigerhawk]] debuts in "[[Other Victories]]", where he's the reason the Predacons lose their base and [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] is killed. This disrupts any ending for the Tarantulas/[[Vok]] storyline, as the episode is left with little time to properly explain the mysteries of either character and the plot of last episode, Tarantulas trying to destroy the whole ''Ark'', is reduced to two lines about the [[Tripredacus Council]].
[[File:Samprowl.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|<s>Upgrades are bad.</s> Upgrades are GOOD. We have always been at war with <s>Eurasia</s> Eastasia.]]
*"[[A Fistful of Energon]]" has [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] learn not to use upgrades, and he gives up using powerful samurai armour. But whoops, Hasbro thought "hey, we could make a toy out of that armour"! And so in [[Five Servos of Doom|a later episode]], Prowl ''regains'' it and the show hurriedly claims that the upgrade is fine ''now'' because Prowl realizes now that it's the Autobot, not the upgrade.
*The [[France|French]] decided to be good sports and start using propeller-driven nuclear bombers again in [[All Hail Megatron issue 11|''All Hail Megatron'' #11]], just so [[Octane|Tankor]] could be used.
*[[Ransack (ROTF)|Ransack]] has been on Earth for a while, in hiding from other Decepticons while he waits for orders from [[the Fallen]] in "[[Transformers Comic issue 2.7|Turnabout]]". Ransack is a member of a race that can scan any object and take its form as a disguise. Ransack moves around in the cunning disguise of ''a 100-year-old plane''. (At least, unlike the previous example, the oldness of the alt mode was pointed out.)
*In Titan's ''Revenge of the Fallen'' comic, [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]] go from being [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee's]] responsibility to bugging [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] to being [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe's]] responsibility in the space of three issues, all to allow each issue to focus on a specific toy-bearing movie star. Similarly, only one or two Decepticons per issue are sent on a mission, when presumably the Fallen might want to send loads of guys to silence the twins.
*In ''Dark of the Moon'', nearly all of the Transformers switch from built-in weaponry to handheld weaponry. It just so happens that the gimmick of the ''Dark of the Moon'' toys was that they had "MechTech" weapons that could be held by any other figure.
*Also in ''Dark of the Moon'', most Autobots transform into [[Stealth Force]] mode, a weaponized vehicle mode that allows them to access various weapons in their otherwise defenseless disguises, an incredibly useful combat mode that's never used in any prior or later films. Uniquely, this was something Hasbro came up with for the toyline on their own; director [[Michael Bay]] decided to incorporate it into the film only after seeing what they were working on for the then-upcoming toyline and taking a personal liking to it.
*The [[subline imprint]] of the ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Prime]]'' [[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|toyline]] was the ''[[Transformers: Prime (toyline)#BH|Beast Hunters]]'' line, which took hold at about the time of the [[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|show]]'s third season, which was given the subtitle of the imprint. In the episode "[[Project Predacon]]", [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] awkwardly redubs [[Team Prime]] as the "Beast Hunters", when they begin looking for Predacon fossils. The Autobots must've felt the same way as we did about the sudden name change, since really only the protocol-obsessed [[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]] begins using the term. Thanks to behind the scene troubles and the whole concept being a late addition to the series, the team never actually ''hunts any beasts'', as only three Predacons ever take a central role in the story.
[[File:YouMeAndTheUniverse-Scoopcolors.jpg||thumb|upright=1.4|Talk about "shoehorned in".]]
*The [[subline imprint]] for the ''Generations'' line from 2015 to 2016 was ''[[Combiner Wars (franchise)|Combiner Wars]]'', hence IDW's tie-in comic had to introduce a heapload of combiners in a universe that regarded combination as a lost art with unpredictable side-effects. (Devastator, Menasor, Superion, and Monstructor were around, but they had each been introduced separately, and each with their own unique explanations, over the course of ''ten years''.) Enter the [[Enigma of Combination]], an artifact of Nexus Prime with the power to merge any Transformers into a combiner. Not only is this artifact used on Superion, Menasor, and Defensor, it is also used on Optimus Prime and other selected Autobots to create [[Optimus Maximus (G1)|Optimus Maximus]]. The fact that Optimus had two Combiner Wars toys (one released, one upcoming at the time of the story's publication) might have influenced this decision.
*Also, the big toy of 2015 was a Titan Class Devastator... in his classic configuration instead of IDW's newly introduced 'Prowlastator' form. Unfortunately, Scrapper had been long dead and hence was unable to take his spot as the combiner's leg. However, IDW had another bulldozer-bot conveniently lying around - [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]]. Naturally, he was merged with the other Constructicons by the aforementioned Enigma, restoring Devastator's classic silhouette.
*A long-running plot thread of ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'', starting all the way back in [[How Ratchet Got His Hands Back|issue 5]], was [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] preparing [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] to succeed him as the ''[[Lost Light]]''{{'}}s Chief Medical Officer. [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|Issue 40]] ''finally'' sees Ratchet stepping down and leaving the ship (so he could participate in the events of ''[[The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone|Drift - Empire of Stone]]''), officially declaring First Aid "the new Chief Medical Officer"... but after only two issues in his new position, [[The One Where They Go to Earth|issue 43]] sees First Aid himself leave the ''Lost Light'' under a flimsy in-story pretense so he could participate in the events of ''Combiner Wars'', appointing [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] as his own successor (although he would later return to the ''Lost Light'' following the conclusion of ''Combiner Wars'').
*In a follow-up story, Galvatron creates two combiners out of random soldiers and foes. To plug the new merch, these are called [[Galvatronus (CW)|Galvatronus]] and [[Sky Reign]] but most of the characters that made them up in toy form were either on Cybertron, the ''[[Lost Light]]'', or dead at the time. Unusually for this page, Hasbro allowed IDW to use random limbs as long as the names were right but this leads to the comic pimping a toy you can't buy (though you could make it with others), and in Galvatronus' case a toy that doesn't even have the same face as in the comic.
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===Awkward continuity===
[[File:Earthforce.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|This happened... er.... look just buy the toys, ok?!]]
Sometimes the requirement to feature new toys can be so strong that continuity takes a major backseat and stories are produced that feature combinations of characters that make the story very difficult to slot into the main continuity. The Marvel UK comic was especially prone to this as it could not always foresee where, when and how characters would be introduced:

*The ''[[Transformers Annual 1985]]'' contains many stories featuring toys from the 1985 release long before they were formally introduced in the regular comic, often interacting with other characters who would be out of action by then. As a result, few of the stories easily fit the continuity of the weekly comic.
*The demands of Hasbro UK for the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] and [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]] to be featured heavily even before the US ''[[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]]'' mini-series was available meant that both the ''[[Transformers Annual 1987]]'' and the regular strip "[[Worlds Apart!]]" contain a slightly different set of events that are at odds with the mini-series.
*The requirement to give prominence to the rereleased toys in the [[Classics (Europe)|Classics]] range resulted in one of the biggest continuity trainwrecks of all, [[Earthforce]]. Over three decades later fans are still uncertain where it fits in continuity, and even [[Simon Furman]] admits to being unsure.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Looking back, as I try my hardest not to do, it's very hard to tie the Earthforce stories into a specific time frame (in terms of the US continuity), because (if I'm brutally honest) I didn't try too hard to make it work in the first place. By that point, I was just trying to tell a bunch of fun UK stories that didn't necessarily impact on the larger (US) storyline. How was I to know 15 or so years later people would be trying to reconcile it all?|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914233035/http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_furman.php|name=Simon Furman|site=TransFans.co.uk - Interviews: Simon Furman - Part 1 'The Past'|year=2004}}</ref>
*Germany's ''[[Transformers Comic-Magazin]]'' started in 1989 and reprinted older Marvel US and UK strips. Since, of course, these would rarely show the current toys, Comic-Magazin ran text stories from #2 that showcased ''completely different'' Transformers that were on Earth at the same time, and just happened not to be seen in the strips.
*Trapped between the need to pimp toys and the problem of not knowing what the plot of ''Revenge of the Fallen'' would be, Titan just threw up their hands and unambiguously set their lead strip in [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)#Alternate universe|an alternate universe]]. Similarly, the [[Dark of the Moon (video games)|video games]] for ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (franchise)|Dark of the Moon]]'' were all prequels so that the games would not directly contradict the then-upcoming movie's plot while still using some of the characters and settings who would be featured (some minor plot contradicitons ''did'' occur, but few fans have ever accepted the video games to be in perfect continuity with the films anyway).
*Based on evidence from various sources, it's been speculated that the episode "[[Starscream's Ghost]]" was originally meant to star [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], who at the time had been exiled from the Decepticons and was on somewhat friendly terms with the Autobots. Instead, his role was taken over by new toy [[Octane]]. The only other episode to prominently feature Octane, "[[Thief in the Night]]", which was aired ''after'' "Starscream's Ghost", kinda sorta explains his falling out with the Decepticons—except it doesn't: While said episode ''does'' have him go rogue, not only is he ''still'' a bad guy—by the end of that episode, ''Galvatron is no longer on bad terms with Octane''! Likewise, the episode "[[The God Gambit]]" starred [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], Starscream and Thrust, with Astrotrain (a new toy at the time) taking on a leadership role more akin to Megatron rather than the bus he's reduced to in almost every other episode.
*The Japanese broadcast of ''Animated'' outright skipped "[[Rise of the Constructicons]]" and "[[Sari, No One's Home]]", as they largely revolve around the toy-less [[Mixmaster (Animated)|Mixmaster]] and [[Scrapper (Animated)|Scrapper]]. Meanwhile, "[[Sound and Fury]]" was moved up to be the first episode to air after the pilot to promote Soundwave's toys, which is at odds with continuity since Megatron only came back online during "[[Home Is Where the Spark Is]]", which was pushed to air ''after'' "Sound and Fury".
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===Power levels===
In order to make new characters seem more ''totally awesome'', they're often depicted as ultra-powerful in their initial appearances. Once they become old news, they frequently seem to lose their super-charged abilities.

*The original ''Transformers'' cartoon introduced [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] as the ultimate threat. Once newer combiner teams came along, however, he was less of a threat, easily defeated at various times by [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] and even [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]].
[[File:Buzzsawyikes4.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Buzzsaw reminds Omega Supreme he's not a new toy any more.]]
*The Marvel comics feature [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] as nigh-invulnerable and ultimately powerful in [[Command Performances!|his debut issue]], slaughtering all but two of the Decepticon forces sent to attack him. Just [[Dark Star|two years later]], he's getting his butt handed to him by the likes of [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]], one of his original victims. He was also drawn as [[Scale|truly colossal]] in his first appearance, before becoming just a head taller than [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] by the time of his death.
*[[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], in a weird case of this, actually seemingly ''[[Scale|shrank]]'' between the third season of the G1 toon and [[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|''The Headmasters'']], going from being drawn as a genuine giant to barely bigger than the average combiner. Even in official [[scale charts]], he dropped from being shown as 800 meters tall to about 45. This was likely to avoid upstaging new-kid-on-the-block [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus.]]
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] was, amazingly, something of a threat in early episodes; he holds his own against [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] in his debut. He only became significantly weaker than the other Predacons during the second season.
*In her first appearance on the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon, [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] effortlessly blasts [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] to pieces. She never displays such a level of power again.
*Similarly, [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] was presented as a huge threat when he first appeared, but just a few episodes later, he seems just slightly tougher than the average Predacon (save for a few notable occasions).
*[[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] was actually a credible threat for his first couple of episodes.
*The [[Commando (RID)|Commandos]] were far more powerful and competent than the Predacons, who were made even ''less'' powerful and competent as episodes went on. Remarkably, this was actually used in the plot, with Megatron focusing on the new toys while the Predacons became underdogs trying to get their old status back and one-up the new guys.
[[File:ArmTVTidalWave.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Before he shrank in the wash.]]
*''Any'' new toy character in the Unicron Trilogy cartoons is almost guaranteed to win the day's battle.
*[[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] was a staggering behemoth as big as the sky in his introduction, and his ability to combine with Megatron gave the battle advantage to the Decepticons until his equally powerful counterpart [[Overload (Armada)|Overload]] was introduced. By the time of the ''Energon'' cartoon, Tidal Wave is just this tall guy (but not as tall as he used to be) and is treated as just another Decepticon, even after he gets a body upgrade in the form of "Mirage".
*When the newly redecoed Jetfire and [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus]] combine in Dreamwave's Armada comic, they are so powerful ''they can hurt Unicron himself''.
*[[Jungle Planet (colony)|Jungle Planet]] ruler [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]] was incredibly powerful when he was first introduced, but later on, he's getting slaps on the wrist by [[Lori Jiménez|Lori]] and [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]], and schooled by [[Bud Hansen|Bud]], ultimately becoming more of a sympathetic comedic bumbler than a credible threat.
*The Decepticons in ''Animated'' started off as being so horrifically powerful that the entire Autobot team had to take on a ''single'' one. By Season 3, this no longer happens. Uniquely, this was ''deliberate'' by the writers: they wanted to show the Decepticons as supreme threats, and have the Autobots gradually being better at dealing with them.
*The [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] in ''Prime'' started off pretty tough; easily wearing down [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]] in a group, then just two giving [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] a tough time. In the next episode, they've got Stormtrooper aim, and basically exist to give the Autobots someone to kill while saving the named Decepticons from the scrapheap. It gets to the point where in the third season, [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] actually ''counts'' on the Vehicons failing to execute [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]], and Wheeljack makes several amusing comments about the Vehicons' incompetence.
*Additionally, the [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticons]] started off as nightmarishly strong monsters. One wears ''[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]]'' to the point of exhaustion before dying (admittedly, Megs was deprived of his main asset when Airachnid webbed his fusion cannon). However, for the remainder of the series, the Insecticons are just as weak as the Vehicons, being blasted down in one shot, despite a return to form in "[[Tunnel Vision]]" and "[[Toxicity]]" (the latter of which saw the debut of notorious Autobot killer [[Hardshell]]).
{{-}}

===New bodies===
There's rarely a compelling reason for a Transformer to get a brand-new body in fiction; it's simply to promote a new toy. It has become a default way to keep a popular character on shelves, rather than having to kill them off and introduce a new character to keep moving toys. Sometimes fiction writers are able to work these alterations in elegantly... sometimes not.

[[File:Bumblebeeskindeep.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Ratchet pulls a Kitty Pryde on Bumblebee.]]
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] was rebuilt into Goldbug following his near-destruction... and was later re-rebuilt back into Bumblebee to sell the [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Pretender|new Classic Pretender toy]]. The reason given in [[Skin Deep|the comic storyline]] was that [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] reverted him without his consent because Ratchet liked his old form better, something Bumblebee is strangely fine with.
*Season 2 of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' introduced the new [[Transmetal]] toys in short order, requiring some strange sci-fi waffling to explain why members of both teams suddenly got special new bodies. The writers had originally planned to introduce these changes gradually, across the length of Season 2, but Hasbro ordered them to be brought in immediately. (The slow-and-gradual notion would eventually appear during Season 3.)
[[File:Retailbuyer decisiontree.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
*The [[Unicron Trilogy]] cartoons feature [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]] getting recolored and renamed "Galvatron" ''three times''; at the start of each subsequent series, he's given a different body but called Megatron ''again'', because the name "Megatron" just sells more toys. (This also means Hasbro gets to keep the [[trademark]] "Galvatron".) The Japanese versions handled this differently (with Megatron known as Megatron throughout Armada even after his upgrade, and being known as Galvatron throughout all of Energon) due to different trademark laws. Galaxy Force (the Japanese version of Cybertron) played it straight with Master Megatron being upgraded into Master Galvatron.
*Several times during the Unicron Trilogy, characters get new paint jobs as part of some magical power-up enhancement. These new color schemes exist solely to promote redecorated toys like "[[Ironhide (Energon)|Energon Ironhide]]" or "[[Hot Shot (Armada)/toys|Powerlinx Hot Shot]]". Even the comics got in on the action, introducing the redecorated versions of Jetfire and Optimus during the Unicron arc.
*The three future members of the [[Cybertron Defense Team (Cybertron)|Cybertron Defense Team]] get shot up by Megatron, then transmogrify through the power of [[fighting spirit]] into new forms. These new forms, of course, were just hitting shelves at a toy store near you.
*In the course of the [[Transformers (film)|live-action movie]], [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] gets irritated at a slight against his alternate mode, and scans a new form. Voilà, suddenly he's got ''two'' toys on the shelf! He later pulls the ''exact same thing'' in ''[[Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction]]'', but by now, he's been established as having a fragile ego, explaining the constant desire to switch alternate modes.
*When [[IDW Publishing|IDW]]'s ''Transformers'' comic originally came out, there were no Generation 1-themed toys to flog, and many characters were given altered designs for the series. Then along came ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'', featuring new toys of Generation 1 characters, and suddenly multiple characters get new, toy-accurate bodies in ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'', for no apparent in-story reason. Later, [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] even gets a namechange to ''Silver''streak to fit his toy.
*Sometimes, IDW's comics don't even bother with a reason: you just get the latest issue and a character suddenly resembles the latest toy. This can sometimes be explained as artist interpretation, but at other times...
*[[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] was originally grey, but when he was reunited with the ''Animated'' Decepticons, he changed his colours to purple while referring to it as his proper look. Why he changed colouration to go undercover was not explained, but it may have something to do with a purple-coloured Shockwave toy being out when that episode aired.
*In ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]] start out as an old ice cream truck combiner but after a disastrous mission [[NEST]] decides to upgrade them to new individual [[General Motors]] vehicles. New toys ''and'' product placement!
*[[Starscream (Armada)#Generations|''Armada'' Starscream]] got a new toy in 2014. There wasn't an ''Armada'' comic but there ''was'' a Generation 1 comic with a Starscream, which was then [[pack-in material|packed in]] with the toy series including Armada Starscream. And lo and behold, for ''[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]]'' Starscream got a new body! A year later, he swapped to ''another'' body for "[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]", which was his then-new Leader Class toy, and several issues were devoted to him choosing it and then flaunting it. Then again, this ''is'' Starscream we're talking about...
*[[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] finally got a new toy as well. Problem is, his comic body didn't look much like the toy. Then, in ''[[Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Dark Cybertron Chapter 11]]'', he revealed his new invention: reactive armor that changed his body to look like his opponent's. Who did he use this armor to battle? Why, it's Starscream, the guy his toy was retooled from!
*2015's "[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]" comic series brought back almost all of the combiner characters that have appeared in the IDW continuity thus far. However, [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] was apparently killed by [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] quit the Stunticons... so that [[Alpha Bravo]] and [[Offroad (CW)|Offroad]] can replace them! Meanwhile, Starscream rebuilds Devastator; not only does Devastator suddenly resemble his toy counterpart, but [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] is no longer a required member of the combiner team, leaving him free to combine with Optimus Prime and company to become the brand-new combiner [[Optimus Maximus (G1)|Optimus Maximus]]. Superion and Menasor, who had made previous appearances in IDW fiction, are both rebuilt by the [[Enigma of Combination]], causing their bodies to more closely resemble their toy counterparts.

===Character pimping===
Characters with toys may get more attention than those without:

*"[[Matrix Quest]]" has four separate teams on a mission. You could use any three Transformers in one of these teams, right? Nope, Furman has toys to promote: out go nine new Autobot characters and three existing ones with new toys.
*[[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge's]] presence in all three of his first three ''Beast Wars'' episodes: one for his origin, another for him joining the Maximals after all, and then an abrupt appearance at the very end of "[[Cutting Edge]]" where he turns up and single-handedly drives off a Predacon force.
*When ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)#Japanese release|Animated]]'' was released in Japan, episodes focusing on the [[Constructicon (Animated)|Constructicon]]s were never broadcast on television (instead being reduced to bonus content on the DVDs), as the Constructicons did not have toys. The episode order was also rearranged (and thus the internal narrative of the series, as well) so that episodes introducing new toys could air earlier than those that didn't.
*IDW's ''[[The Transformers: Spotlight|Spotlight]]'' came back in 2013 in order to promote six of the upcoming ''Generations'' toys. Even [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], a little-used character who would never have been given a ''Spotlight'' otherwise! (Initially published through Diamond and Comixology as per IDW's usual practice, these comics were subsequently packed-in with the toys they were based on, aiming to use the higher sales of the toys to boost comic sales in a "I'll scratch your back, you scratch mine" scenario.) Likewise, Waspinator, having a new toy out in late 2013, began making appearances and took on increased importance in the IDW universe. An upcoming [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] toy brought forth a Tankor appearance in Dark Cybertron. The opening arcs of the second seasons of ''More Than Meets The Eye'' and ''Robots in Disguise'' (as well as ''Windblade'' vol. 1) in 2014 also heavily feature casts of characters with new toys, such as Nightbeat, Rattrap, Arcee, and Jetfire.
* When [[Steeljaw (RID)|Steeljaw]] frees some Decepticons in the second season of ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'', the freed 'Cons include his former minions [[Clampdown (RID)|Clampdown]] and [[Thunderhoof (RID)|Thunderhoof]], yet not the other two members of the Pack, [[Fracture (RID)|Fracture]] and [[Underbite]]. He instead frees [[Bisk (RID)|Bisk]], [[Groundpounder (RID)|Groundpounder]], [[Overload (RID)|Overload]], [[Quillfire (RID)|Quillfire]] and [[Springload (RID)|Springload]]. There's no reason to neglect those who have already proven to be able to work together in the Pack (and thus Steeljaw should know would help in his eventual coup), except for the fact that the toys of both Fracture and Underbite had already sold, and the newly freed Decepticons have new figures on the shelves.

===Abrupt conclusions===
[[File:MarvelUSG2-12.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|It's the end of the road for Transformers Generation 2! That can't bode well for the toyline.]]
Just as ''Transformers'' fiction lives at Hasbro's pleasure, so too does it die. Falling sales, a change of plans, and standard [[rebranding]] can all cause a storyline to come to a sudden end when Hasbro decides to pull the plug.

*The American Generation 1 cartoon got a somewhat rushed conclusion in the form of "[[The Rebirth]]", rather than a full fourth season.
*The Generation 1 comics were nearly canceled at [[On the Edge of Extinction!|issue #75]], but granted a reprieve. The stay of execution was only temporary, however; with the Generation 1 toyline ending, the comic was terminated a mere five issues later, resulting in a rather hasty concluding plotline.
*Hasbro was only willing to support the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|''Generation 2'' comic]] for twelve issues, unless it proved an unqualified (perhaps phenomenal) success. Aware of this from the start, writer Simon Furman was able to plot a story arc that reached its finale as the series ended (and poked fun at it with a character whose name is a pun on "[[Jhiaxus (G2)|Gee, axe us]]".)
*The writers of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon reportedly never had any idea if they'd be back for another season. When the axe fell with Season 3, they had only three episodes left to wrap up the whole series.
*Hasbro nearly killed off the just-begun comic series ''[[Transformers: The Wreckers|The Wreckers]]'' in 2003, wishing instead for [[3H Productions|3H]] to focus on a ''[[Transformers: Universe (comic)|Universe]]'' comic advertising its current toyline.
*Even though ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' wasn't abruptly canceled, Kids WB ended the series on the [[cliffhanger]] of the episode "[[Revelation (episode)|Revelation]]", leaving millions of kids tuning in next time only to get a re-run of ''Xiaolin Showdown''. The reason? The Cybertron Defense Team toys hadn't hit stores yet.
*With ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' coming out in June, Titan had to end their alternate universe storyline in May so they could tie in early—an issue earlier than planned. The main strip handled this, with the notable exception of [[Jazz (Movie)#Titan Magazines Transformers movie comics|the Jazz plot arc]] going completely unresolved, but it played havoc with working out the IDW reprints!
*According to [[Rik Alvarez]], IDW was asked to drop their G1 continuity and move to the brand-spanking new [[Aligned continuity family|Aligned]] one. (They said "nah".)
{{-}}

==Death==
===Killing off old product===
[[File:Tftm1986a.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Guess who's no longer in the Mini Vehicles case assortment?]]
[[File:Newyorkunderbase.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Publisher's clearing house.]]
[[File:BW Scorponok Terrorsaur deaths.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Scorponok, Terrorsaur, we're condemning you to a fiery death 'cause Waspinator has a bigger fan club.]]
The most obvious To Sell Toys effect comes from the temporary nature of retail sales. Even in the 1980s, toys rarely stayed on the shelves past two years; today that timespan is much smaller. Once a toy is no longer selling, Hasbro has no interest in supporting fiction about that character—especially when there are newer toys to promote. Therefore, writers are often compelled to remove characters from the story by killing them off. Sometimes this happens through carefully developed story arcs, but it's easier to do it with huge, apocalyptic battles with massive numbers of casualties.

*Right before the introduction of most of the 1985 cast, the Marvel comic saw eleven of the original Autobots taken offline within a single issue in "[[Prime Time!]]". A few issues later, six of the original Decepticons met [[Command Performances!|a similar fate]] at the hands of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (which doubled as character pimping for the big guy). Though it was suggested they could be repaired, the vast majority of casualties wouldn't reappear in the US until they popped up in crowd shots [[Totaled!|thirty issues later]], and a number had their next appearance being a ''second'' death in the Underbase Saga.
*In ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', numerous main characters are killed or changed in the movie's first 30 minutes, including [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], and [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]]. They are replaced by a slew of new characters; in fact, the poster for the movie shows ''only'' new characters.
*Numerous characters are killed in the Marvel UK comics saga "[[Time Wars]]". The Grim Reaper seemed to spare either popular characters (Megatron and [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]) or newer characters ([[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]], [[Catilla (G1)|Catilla]] and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], for example.)
*The [[Underbase Saga]] features a super-powerful [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] killing literally ''dozens'' of characters; some place the count over fifty. The survivors were mostly from the [[Pretender]], [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]], and [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] ranks, those being the then-current toy lines. However, the explanation ([[Underbase]] power didn't affect those TFs with organic components) meant that even the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]], new toys at the time and introduced three issues before, met their end.
*The climactic [[On the Edge of Extinction!|battle with Unicron]] 25 issues later killed off many of the Underbase survivors, whose shelf run had ended.
*With its enormously expensive CGI animation, ''Beast Wars'' was particularly vulnerable to toy-based interference. The expense of creating and animating a CGI body model meant that the character roster had to remain fairly constant; the introduction of all-new characters usually required the removal of an equal number of existing characters. And so, [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] and [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] die just in time for the arrival of [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] and [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)|Silverbolt]]. (Frustrated with the situation, the writers carefully planned out<ref>http://www.builtstlouis.net/tf/manic/m-botcon.html</ref> the demise of [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]], anticipating that someone would have to be removed to make way for [[Rampage (BW)|newer characters]].)
*''[[Transformers: The Reign of Starscream|The Reign of Starscream]]'' would end up killing a large number of Autobots in [[The Reign of Starscream issue 5|issue #5]], after their toys had been around for a while; as they'd not made an appearance in the comics until this mini, this is both an example of Huge Cast ''and'' Product Clearing. It would then go on to bump off some Decepticons, while its sequel ''[[Transformers: Alliance|Alliance]]'' slaughtered ''hordes'' of Decepticons with old toys. Mowry is the new Furman...
*The ''Dark of the Moon'' [[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (Xbox 360/PS3)|console video game]] is a prequel to the film and can't afford to kill off most of its characters due for an appearance in the then-upcoming film. Luckily, there's several characters who've been around since the ''Revenge of the Fallen'' franchise who can be used to give the game some bosses to kill off like [[Mixmaster (ROTF)|Mixmaster]], [[Breakaway (ROTF)|Breakaway]], and [[Stratosphere]]!
*An odd case of this is in the [[live-action film series]], which, as well as advertising toys, also serves as advertising for [[General Motors]] vehicles. Hence, Autobots whose cars are no longer in demand have an uncanny tendency to either lose prominence or perish. The most prominent example would be [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] - the GMC Topkick had been discontinued for two years by ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (franchise)|Dark of the Moon]]'', and so, despite a fifty-dollar toy on the shelves, Ironhide dies halfway in. Similarly, [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] is the major Autobot casualty of ''[[Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction]]'' due to his Hummer H2 vehicle mode being a thing of the past by the time the film hit theaters (though unlike Ironhide, Ratchet had next to no representation in the toyline).
*IDW's [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|''Robots in Disguise'']] ongoing has to promote a [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]... with [[Alpha Bravo|a new helicopter]] instead of [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]]. Hence, Slingshot is the one to suffer most and die from the injuries caused when [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] tore him in half. This is especially weird considering that Devastator tore through Superion from the ''right'', and Slingshot was Superion's ''left'' arm at the time. Not to mention that Silverbolt, the torso, was explicitly ripped in half... The series would go on to have [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] leave the Stunticons over a humiliating defeat... one he suffered years ago, in [[The Question|Spotlight: Bumblebee]]. Naturally, the empty position was filled by new toy [[Offroad (CW)|Offroad]]. Then Hasbro decided to release Quickslinger and Brake-Neck (Slingshot and Wildrider renamed for trademark issues) ''much'' later after the others' release, part of a strategy that effectively forced fans to buy toys ''both'' of the "replacement" characters ''and'' the original characters.

This has become less common in recent years, as Hasbro has come to realize that their target audiences can actually get attached to certain [[character]]s, and might not enjoy seeing them die random, brutal, meaningless [[death]]s.
{{-}}

===Hi-and-die===
[[File:Chuffer cof.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Likely dialog: "SHEEEAAGH!!"]]
Kids don't want to buy a toy of a character who's dead. So if the plot calls for someone to die, smart money bets on the character who has a toy as the survivor. The guy without a toy, who you've never heard of before? Toast. This is the ''Transformers'' version of ''[[Star Trek]]''{{'}}s infamous {{w|redshirt syndrome}}. The stereotypical hi-and-die character is killed off in the same episode/issue that introduces him, if not the very same scene.

*This approach was particularly common in the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#UK comics|UK comics]]. Characters created specifically so they could be killed off include Wrecker leader [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]], Autobot/zombie food [[Chuffer]], Tailgate's Autobot trainee buddies/mutant fodder [[Subsea]] and [[Flattop (Autobot)|Flattop]], and the sixth member of the "Magnificent Six", [[Stampede]].
*The U.S. comics also used this approach on occasion, as with [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]'s poignantly adorable buddy [[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]].
*[[Transmutate (BW)|Transmutate]] showed up and died in [[Transmutate (episode)|that episode]], of course Hasbro doesn't make [[Transmutate (BW)#Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|a toy]] [[Action Master|that don't transform]], right?
*The ''Energon'' cartoon introduced [[Padlock (Energon)|Padlock]], whose purpose was to die at [[Shockblast]]'s hands, providing motivation for toy-character [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]].
*''Animated'' chucked in [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]] so Ratchet could have a tragic past where he failed to save someone. (And ''then'' she got a toy!)
*The [[Transformers Animated (Titan)|''Animated'' comic]] wants to do a story arc about an Autobot who's really a spy and then have him killed. Quick, [[Afterburn|make someone up]]!
*''[[Transformers: Exodus|Exodus]]'' invents hordes of characters solely to populate the story with casualties while preserving the classic characters: [[Chromatron]], [[Gauntlet (WFC)|Gauntlet]], [[Halogen (WFC)|Halogen]], [[Drixco]], [[Revo]], [[Catalycon]], and dozens of other unnamed Autobots, Decepticons and [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]].
*[[James Roberts]] elevated hi-and-die to an artform; though his run on ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' is crammed with minor non-toy characters who wind up dead, many still received some backstory, history, or distinctive characterization before - or even after - being killed off. Examples from ''More than Meets the Eye''{{'}}s first "season" include [[Polaris]], [[Hyperion (G1)|Hyperion]], [[Shock (G1)|Shock]], [[Ore]], [[Animus]], [[Dent]], [[Sonic (IDW)|Sonic]], [[Boom]], [[Piston (Wrecker)|Piston]], [[Crest]], [[Torque (G1)|Torque]], [[Sherma]], [[Momus]], "[[Fallout (G1)|Fallout]]", "[[Streaker]]", [[Heavies|Hammer and Anvil]], [[Trepan]], [[Frak]], [[Rushcut]], [[Rossum]], [[Tripodeca]], [[Pivot]], [[Scattergun]], [[Blockus]], [[Datum]], [[Ramp]], and [[Suture (G1)|Suture]]. Similarly, ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' introduced us to [[Squadron X]], comprising just about every Decepticon hi-and-die character from the Marvel continuity, who were then all slaughtered by Impactor.
{{-}}

===Resurrection===
Killing off a character isn't always toy-motivated; sometimes it's a dramatic plot development. But it can also be a problem if Hasbro decides to make a new toy of that character.

[[File:Inferno dies agenda2.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Only a flesh wound!]]
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] has been resurrected [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|so many times]] that it's practically a defining character trait. His original revival in the cartoon didn't correspond to any actual toy release, but the Marvel comic brought him back specifically to advertise his [[Powermaster]] form. A second death-and-revival introduced his [[Action Master]] body. And a ''third'' death-and-revival in ''Generation 2'' brought him into his [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#G2Hero|Hero]] toy form.
*The Japanese killed off Optimus (or "Convoy" as they called him) in [[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|''The Headmasters'']]. A few years later, they not only brought him back with a new toy, the ''entire franchise'' for that year was called ''[[Transformers: Return of Convoy (franchise)|Return of Convoy]]''.
*Numerous "dead" characters were brought back into the Marvel comic series when their Classics and/or Action Master versions were released. Many were "deactivated" rather than outright dead; however, very few ''non'' Action Master characters showed up alongside them.
*The series writers for ''Beast Wars'' considered [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] dead and gone at the end of Season 1. Hasbro, however, had a [[Transmetal]] Optimus Primal toy to promote, and so he was returned to life in Season 2. Hasbro wanted him brought back in the first minutes of the season premiere, but the writers managed to convince them that it would be better to do so at the ''end'' of the two-episode story following the premiere.
*At the end of Season 2 of ''Beast Wars'', [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] was pretty clearly shown being killed—being ''disintegrated''—but in the next season appeared to have just been bruised and cracked, because Hasbro was not ready to have a Mega-scaled toy removed from the series.
*Pretty much ''nobody'' could successfully die in the [[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|''Energon'' cartoon]]. [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]], [[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Starscream]], [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]], [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]], [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Dagger]], and [[Inferno (Energon)|Inferno]] all die and/or are resurrected from the dead during the course of the show.
*[[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] still had toys out in 2008. The [[bio]] for AllSpark-Enhanced Autobot Jazz states he was brought back from near-death by the AllSpark and is "more powerful than ever". Voilà, Jazz comes back from the dead thanks to the AllSpark in [[Transformers Comic issue 16|Titan's tie-in comic]]! Optimus even uses the ''term'' "Autobot Jazz" in [[Transformers Comic issue 21|a later issue]]...
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] was shot in the head and abandoned on [[Gorlam Prime]] back in "[[Spotlight: Hardhead]]". Six years later, Hasbro were releasing a new Nightbeat toy and back he comes into ''Dark Cybertron'', a chatty undead from the [[Dead Universe]]. He proceeds to survive the destruction of the Dead Universe and wound up on the ''Lost Light'' before seemingly dying again.
*[[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]'s IDW incarnation first appeared in the ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]'' limited series, set millions of years in the past. The final issue originally left his exact fate following his final confrontation with Megatron ambiguous; according to artist [[Alex Milne]], Sentinel was ''not'' dead ''yet'' as far as he was concerned, and the script had called for him to look like he could go either way.<ref name="milne">[https://web.archive.org/web/20110822003501/http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=37411 Post by Alex Milne on the IDW Publishing Forums]</ref> However, ''[[Spotlight: Optimus Prime]]'', published around the same time, at least ''implied'' that he was dead in the present day just like in other continuities, given how Optimus Prime had succeeded him. Subsequently, ''[[Spotlight: Blurr]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy]]'', among others, presented [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]] as the Prime who chronologically succeeded Sentinel, before being himself killed by Megatron and succeeded by Optimus. Fast forward to several years later, when Hasbro's [[Titans Return (toyline)|''Titans Return'' toy line]] introduced a new Sentinel Prime toy that was also a [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] with a [[Titan Master]] named [[Infinitus]], and lo and behold, the IDW version of Sentinel, having been presumed dead for four million years, suddenly makes an unexpected return in a ''[[The Last Autobot|Titans Return]]'' one-shot, with absolutely no buildup beforehand, and is revealed to actually ''be'' a smaller robot named Infinitus who survived the destruction of his larger body. After menacing everyone a little for a few issues, he gets dropped down a very big hole, never to be spoken of again.
{{-}}

===Untouchables===
[[File:Armorhide drawhisfire.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Really, they could just stand there making rude noises at Starscream.]]
Obviously, if a character ''does'' have a current toy (or soon will), they're ([[Cliffjumper (WFC)|usually]]) not going to die, even if the plot or common sense indicates they should. This is sometimes because Hasbro itself declares a character unkillable, and so comics and TV writers must follow suit.
*In "[[Optimal Situation]]", [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] had betrayed [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] to the Maximals, ruining his greatest shot at victory. As he declared, "There will be no more betrayals!", she would pay the price: being knocked into stasis lock so the Maximals could fix her and she could stay on their team.
*Megatron himself was in a prime position to be terminated, as were the Maximals later on, in "[[The Weak Component]]". Since this was only episode 6 and everyone had toys out, the cast politely agreed not to take this opportunity to end a brutal war for the planet.
*Titan's Movie strip was moved to an alternate universe, where you'd [[Rhythms of Darkness!|expect nobody to be safe from death]]. However, most of the cast had toys out, so whether it was a desperate guerrilla fight against Decepticon occupation, the rise of [[Unicron]], a [[Decepticon Civil War]], or the final battle, very few characters bought it. The big exception was [[Divebomb (Movie)|Divebomb]], dying in his first battle.
*In ''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' (mentioned earlier), James Roberts observed that Impactor was the only character who was guaranteed not to be killed. However, Hasbro shot down the idea of Perceptor or Springer dying, and so most of the fatalities were less well-known characters like Pyro, Ironfist, and eternally unlucky Wreckers Twin Twist and Topspin.
*Similar to his Beast Era counterpart, ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Prime]]'' [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] was worn down to the point of exhaustion, and was at [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]]'s mercy. Optimus, now [[One Shall Fall|sworn to outright kill Megatron when he gets the chance]], is about to pull the trigger, but ends up backing down when he's threatened by Decepticon reinforcements... in this case, the laughing stock redshirt Vehicons. It doesn't help that the ''[[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|Prime]]'' toyline had ''just'' gotten on shelves, but seriously? Optimus felt threatened by ''Vehicons''?
*If a Decepticon with a current toy is about to be captured in ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'', they can pull off the most miraculous of escapes, sometimes [[Bee Cool|disappearing under our heroes' noses]].
*Starscream, the end.

==Notable exceptions==
There are, however, a few notable exceptions to the To Sell Toys effect, such as fictional characters without a toy counterpart, and other anomalies:

===Toys not released in the relevant market===
[[File:Swoopg1marvelukfirst.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|YOU CAN'T HAVE ME.]]
Occasionally the ''Transformers'' fiction released in a particular country features characters whose toys were not released in that country. The Marvel UK comic featured two variations of this phenomenon:

*Characters inherited from the U.S. strips. Some, such as [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]], [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] and the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]], were given fairly prominent roles in the U.S. stories reprinted in the UK comic and so it was hard to ignore them completely in the UK originated material despite their toys not being around to need advertising. However the decision to develop the Predacons (even before their US appearances were reprinted), to have entire storylines focusing on Swoop, and also to keep Shockwave in continuity even after he'd been (supposedly) killed off in the US comic goes beyond this.
*Characters not featured in the U.S. strips. Bizarrely the UK comic also made use of some characters such as [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]], [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], [[Chop Shop (G1)|Chop Shop]], and [[Venom (G1)|Venom]], despite their toys not being available on UK toy shelves. None of these characters were inherited from the US material.

Writer [[Simon Furman]] has since stated that when writing the stories he was generally unaware of which toys were unavailable in the UK.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=We largely took our cue from what characters were being introduced into the US storyline. If there was a release schedule for the toys in the UK, we rarely saw it... But in the case of Swoop and the Predacons, I don't think I was consciously aware (at the time) that we were dealing with toys not generally available in the UK. They were just extant characters, and therefore fair game.|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914233035/http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_furman.php|name=Simon Furman|site=TransFans.co.uk - Interviews: Simon Furman - Part 1 'The Past'|year-2004}}</ref>

This would happen again with Titan, as foreign exclusives such as [[Bludgeon (ROTF)|Bludgeon]] and [[Slap Dash (ROTF)|Slap Dash]] palled around with UK-available toys.

Another example would be the original text stores published by [[Condor Verlag]] in their ''[[Transformers Comic-Magazin]]'': The text story from [[Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 11|issue 11]] features the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]], even though catalogs from the era, backed up by German fans' recollections, suggest that the German release of the ''[[Classics (Europe)|Classics]]'' line-up omitted the Classic Combaticons, possibly due to their "war" theme.
{{-}}

===Post-Marvel, pre-2013 G1 comics===
[[File:Infiltration 1b.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"Hey, Runamuck, it's our first appearance on a comic book cover in twenty years!" "Heh heh, now if only we could appear on toy store shelves..."]]
Both [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] and [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] comics, the two recent holders of the license to publish ''Transformers'' comic books, sometimes produce comics using whichever toy line is current (e.g., Dreamwave's ''[[Transformers: Armada (Dreamwave)|Armada]]'' comic or IDW's [[Transformers (film)|2007 movie]] tie-ins), and sometimes publish comics using whatever characters they please (e.g., ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]''). The characters in their "discretionary" comics are often not currently available in toy form ([[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]], a character appearing in numerous stories from IDW's G1 continuity during their early years, only had [[Hardhead (G1)#Universe (2008)|another toy]] on shelves at around 2009, a good twenty-two years since [[Hardhead (G1)#Generation 1|his last toy]]), sometimes are drawn with bodies that have ''never'' been toys (most of the ''War Within'' characters), and sometimes are toys that were never available outside of specific countries ([[Lio Convoy]] in IDW's ''Beast Wars'').

[[Chris Ryall]], IDW Editor-in-Chief and writer of the miniseries adapting the 2007 movie to comics, had stated on IDW's forums that Hasbro does not dictate what comics IDW must make ("Nope, no dictates at all from Hasbro. We put the plan together, send to them for approval.").<ref>http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=69377</ref> By the time of ''All Hail Megatron'', however, the ''Universe'' line came out and Hasbro asked IDW to start using some of those designs.<ref>[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=102461#102461 Guido reveals the Hasbro request]</ref> Though this practice did not influence the subsequent [[The Transformers (IDW)|ongoing series]], it did raise its head again in 2013, as Hasbro and IDW began working together to create new toys based on character designs from the comics, to promote upcoming toys with New Bodies and to include the [[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]] event (including various preludes) with the toys.

===New toys, same basic design===
In more recent times (mostly in the case of the [[live-action film series]]), Hasbro has used a combination of minor [[redeco]]s, [[retool]]s and sculpts based on the same basic designs to create new toys, instead of giving recurring characters a major design overhaul for the next installment. The fiction then rarely, if ever, acknowledges any of those minor design changes. According to screenwriter [[Roberto Orci]], some people at Hasbro even argued against changing the designs of some returning characters in ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen]]'', so that parents would '''not''' have to buy the same toy twice for their children just because of a minor change or modification to the characters' designs.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showpost.php?p=2186879&postcount=171 Roberto Orci posting at TFW2005.com]</ref> (Hasbro still released new, or modified, toys of those characters, prompting [[completist]]s to buy them as well, and the film gave some of the characters slight tweaks in their [[alternate mode]]s, based on changes in the real-life vehicle designs, which the toys had to incorporate.)

===Killing off characters with new toys===
Even characters with new or expensive toys can get the axe early on if the plot calls for it... or when poor timing caused by unplanned executive decisions resulted in bad coordination between in-fiction developments and toy release schedules.
*Despite being killed off in the middle of ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]'', [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] got a lot of new toys, including a Leader Class figure, a Voyager Class figure, and a Halloween costume for children!
*''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Prime]]'' [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]] was hyped up as a major character in the lead-up to the show's premiere, and got several toys like the other members of the main cast. He dies within the first five minutes of the [[Darkness Rising, Part 1|premiere episode]]. However, later he gets his fair share of screentime by [[Out of the Past|flashbacks]] and the like.
*Due to behind the scenes budget issues and the ''Prime'' [[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|toyline]] getting pushed back thanks to the ''Dark of the Moon'' [[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (toyline)|toyline]], [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] is quickly shut away inside a stasis pod in "[[Armada (episode)|Armada]]" for much of the remainder of the series at the ''same time'' as the mass release of her toy; [[Breakdown (WFC)|Breakdown]] also suffered a grimmer fate as he was killed off just a few episodes earlier (by Airachnid herself, no less). On a similar beat, poor [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] died in "[[Masters & Students]]", but his toys weren't released until well over a year later, making them posthumous toy releases.
*IDW [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]] gets a new ''Titans Return'' toy in mid late 2016, but was killed off at about the same time his toy was hitting shelves in the [[All Hail Optimus Part 6: No Fair Fights|final issue]] of the second season of ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]''.

===New toys with minimal fictional appearances===
Sometimes, characters that have a new or expensive toy barely see use in fiction.
*Generation 1 Whirl and Roadbuster were larger and more expensive than many of the other Autobots, but never appeared in the original cartoon. They were featured in the UK comics as members of the Wreckers.
*Sixshot's only appearance in the original cartoon is a quick sequence where he transforms into each of his alt modes to defeat the Aerialbots. He is never seen again.
*In ''Transformers: Armada'', Optimus Prime is the only character to not receive an upgrade after being defeated by Nemesis Prime, despite having an expensive $40 redeco on store shelves. Optimus does receive the redeco colors in the final episode of the series, but he returns to his old colors by the episode's conclusion.
*[[Optimus Prime (Movie)|"Silver Knight" Optimus Prime]] had an entire thematic segment of the [[Transformers: Age of Extinction (toyline)|''Age of Extinction'' toyline]] dedicated to him that was exclusive to [[Target]] stores. However, the planned upgrade of Optimus Prime was cut from the theatrical release of ''Age of Extinction''.
*''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]'' Quickslinger and Brake-Neck, meant to be [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] and [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]], did not get any focus in the accompanying IDW fiction: Slingshot is dead and Wildrider's whereabouts are unknown after his leaving the Stunticons. Instead, their selling point is giving fans the chance to complete G1-accurate [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] toys. Meanwhile, the Autobot [[Rook (CW)|Rook]] made only a background appearance in the event, and was so overlooked he had to be digitally added ''to'' those backgrounds; [[Alpha Bravo]], his [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] counterpart, gets a bit more but nothing you'd miss. (When Rook ''did'' get some work later, he was promptly killed off!)
*''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' introduced a massive amount of new toys and a ''massive'' amount of Headmasters, including many familiar G1 characters redone as Headmasters. However, very few of these new toys were given focus in IDW's [[Titans Return (comic)|tie-in comic arc]], including prominent characters such as [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]. ([[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] is a notable exception, returning after a long absence.) Also, despite the heavy emphasis on [[Titan Master]]s in the toyline, only one character, [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]], displayed actual Headmaster ability. [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] is briefly decapitated and turned into a lifeless body for [[Infinitus]] to take control of, for no real reason other than to show off the head-swapping gimmick inherent in all ''Titans Return'' figures. And, with a colossal new [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/toys#Generations|Titan-class]] toy for [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Fortress Maximus]] as the centerpiece of the line, you'd expect some significant toy-shilling action. Instead, Fortress Maximus's brand-new Titan body gets smacked around a bit before utterly failing in its one job of defending [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]]'s [[space bridge]] from the [[zombie]] Titans.
*Most likely caused by the complaints from fans about the small amount of Decepticons in the 2015 [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 toyline)|''Robots in Disguise'' toyline]], [[Steeljaw (RID)|Steeljaw]] breaks out many monsters of the week from the first season. Each one gets a figure, yet they all get one or two episodes to shine. [[Bisk (RID)|Bisk]] is the greatest example, appearing very briefly in Episode 4 of Season 1, getting captured, going free, and getting captured again in the next Episode.
**Every major 'Con from or affiliated with Decepticon Island gets Mini-Cons, who do very little but appear anyway only because they had toys. Ratchet gets one as well.
[[File:TF-TLK-Berserker.jpg|right|upright=1.7|thumb|'''DELUXE ROOK''' with Amazing ''STANDING AROUND ACTION!''']]
* After having a Deluxe-sized figure despite being the largest [[Dinobot (AOE)|Dinobot]] in ''[[Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction]]'', [[Scorn]] got a larger, more movie-accurate Voyager class figure for the toyline of ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (toyline)|The Last Knight]]''. Unfortunately, Scorn didn't even appear in the [[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|actual film]]!
* A more egregious ''The Last Knight'' example occurs in the case of [[Berserker]]. Despite being on-screen for only ''8.39 seconds'' (in which he's a prisoner of war and not even released from incarceration), and having only one line, Berserker got several toys to himself, one of which was an entirely new Deluxe class figure. This is in stark contrast to more prominent Decepticons [[Onslaught (ROTF)|Onslaught]], [[Dreadbot]], and [[Mohawk]], none of whom received toys until Mohawk got a ''[[Studio Series]]'' figure ''seven years later''. Set photos seem to indicate that Berserker was going to have a larger role than he did, explaining why he was given such a prominent role in the toyline.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Toys]]

Talk:A Small War!

2023-09-27T22:50:16Z

Timrollpickering: Created page with "==Thunderwing== I've not got the original issues to hand but I've seen it reported that the Transformation page declared Thunderwing a "commander in training", suggesting that..."

==Thunderwing==
I've not got the original issues to hand but I've seen it reported that the Transformation page declared Thunderwing a "commander in training", suggesting that the continuity problem was spotted at the time and this is supposed to be set during his rise to power, not under his actual leadership. I think there's only one caption that actually calls him "leader". [[User:Timrollpickering|Timrollpickering]] ([[User talk:Timrollpickering|talk]]) 18:50, 27 September 2023 (EDT)

The Transformers (Marvel comic)

2023-09-24T10:46:30Z

Timrollpickering: /* Aborted monthly */ Ghostbusters went monthly at same time as TF would have

{{disambig2|the Marvel Comics series|other uses of ''The Transformers''|Transformers (disambiguation)}}
{{nav-G1|logo=MarvelTheTransformers Logo1.png}}

{{bigquote|Four million years ago, they came from '''Cybertron''', a world composed entirely of machinery... a world torn by an age-old war between the heroic '''Autobots''' and the evil '''Decepticons'''. These incredibly powerful living robots, capable of converting themselves into land and air vehicles, weapons and other mechanical forms, continue their conflict here on '''Earth'''. They are...'''THE TRANSFORMERS'''|Marvel US introductory blurb}}

[[File:MarvelUS-01.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|The heroic Autobots fight to crush Earth's highways. [[Leonard McCoy|Doctor McCoy]] is very happy.]]
'''''The Transformers''''', the monthly comic book published in the U.S. by [[Marvel Comics]], was the very first original fiction to feature the famous robots in disguise, as well as the longest-running. It started life as [[The Transformers Four-Issue Limited Series|a four-issue, bimonthly limited series]] in 1984, but proved so popular that it continued publication as an ongoing monthly until spring of 1991. The series ultimately reached 80 issues and spun off several miniseries.

The series established the [[Marvel Comics continuity]], which would form the basis for several successor stories over the years. Marvel would publish the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|''Generation 2'' series]] only two years later, and [[IDW Publishing]] would later reunite several Marvel creatives for both [[The Transformers: Regeneration One|''Regeneration One'']], a continuation of the original Marvel comic, and the [[Transformers '84: Secrets & Lies|Transformers '84]] prequel miniseries.

Nearly all of the U.S. stories were later published by Marvel UK, along with new stories that fit between the gaps of the U.S. tales. See [[#Marvel UK|Marvel UK]] below.

==Marvel U.S.==
{{chapters|title=''The Transformers'' US issues:|content=
* [[The Transformers (issue)|#1]]
* [[Power Play!|#2]]
* [[Prisoner of War!|#3]]
* [[The Last Stand|#4]]
* [[The New Order|#5]]
* [[The Worse of Two Evils!|#6]]
* [[Warrior School!|#7]]
* [[Repeat Performance!|#8]]
* [[DIS-Integrated Circuits!|#9]]
* [[The Next Best Thing to Being There!|#10]]
* [[Brainstorm!|#11]]
* [[Prime Time!|#12]]
* [[Shooting Star!|#13]]
* [[Rock and Roll-Out!|#14]]
* [[I, Robot-Master!|#15]]
* [[Plight of the Bumblebee!|#16]]
* [[The Smelting Pool!|#17]]
* [[The Bridge to Nowhere!|#18]]
* [[Command Performances!|#19]]
* [[Showdown!|#20]]
* [[Aerialbots over America!|#21]]
* [[Heavy Traffic!|#22]]
* [[Decepticon Graffiti!|#23]]
* [[Afterdeath!|#24]]
* [[Gone but Not Forgotten!|#25]]
* [[Funeral for a Friend!|#26]]
* [[King of the Hill!|#27]]
* [[Mechanical Difficulties!|#28]]
* [[Crater Critters|#29]]
* [[The Cure!|#30]]
* [[Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom|#31]]
* [[Used Autobots|#32]]
* [[Man of Iron (issue)|#33]]
* [[Man of Iron (issue)|#34]]
* [[Child's Play (issue)|#35]]
* [[Spacehikers!|#36]]
* [[Toy Soldiers!|#37]]
* [[Trial by Fire!|#38]]
* [[The Desert Island of Space!|#39]]
* [[Pretender to the Throne!|#40]]
* [[Totaled!|#41]]
* [[People Power!|#42]]
* [[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|#43]]
* [[The Cosmic Carnival|#44]]
* [[Monstercon from Mars!|#45]]
* [[Ca$h and Car-nage!|#46]]
* [[Club Con!|#47]]
* [[The Flames of Boltax!|#48]]
* [[Cold War!|#49]]
* [[Dark Star|#50]]
* [[The Man in the Machine!|#51]]
* [[Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?|#52]]
* [[Recipe for Disaster!|#53]]
* [[King Con!|#54]]
* [[The Interplanetary Wrestling Championship!|#55]]
* [[Back from the Dead|#56]]
* [[The Resurrection Gambit!|#57]]
* [[All the Familiar Faces!|#58]]
* [[Skin Deep|#59]]
* [[Yesterday's Heroes!|#60]]
* [[The Primal Scream|#61]]
* [[Bird of Prey!|#62]]
* [[Kings of the Wild Frontier.|#63]]
* [[Deadly Obsession|#64]]
* [[Dark Creation|#65]]
* [[All Fall Down|#66]]
* [[Rhythms of Darkness!|#67]]
* [[The Human Factor!|#68]]
* [[Eye of the Storm|#69]]
* [[The Pri¢e of Life!|#70]]
* [[Surrender!|#71]]
* [[...All This and Civil War 2|#72]]
* [[Out of Time!|#73]]
* [[The Void! (US)|#74]]
* [[On the Edge of Extinction!|#75]]
* [[Still Life!|#76]]
* [[Exodus!|#77]]
* [[A Savage Circle|#78]]
* [[The Last Autobot?|#79]]
* [[End of the Road! (US)|#80]]
}}

===Related mini-series===
* ''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers (comic)|G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]''
* ''[[The Transformers: Headmasters]]''
* ''[[The Transformers Universe (Marvel)|The Transformers Universe]]''
* ''[[Transformers: The Movie (Marvel comic)|Transformers: The Movie]]'' (Though published by Marvel in the US and UK, is only related in the UK canon)

===Successor comics===
{{note|The different publishers' series are all mutually exclusive, effectively representing different branched timelines. The Collectors' Club and IDW efforts explicitly ignore the events of Marvel UK stories, although the latter takes copious ''characters and concepts'' from both the UK and G2 material}}
* ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
* ''[[Transformers: Classics]]'' ([[Transformers Collectors' Club]])
* ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One]]'', [[Transformers '84 issue 0|''Transformers '84'' #0]], & ''[[Transformers '84: Secrets & Lies|Secrets & Lies]]'' ([[IDW Publishing]])

===Overview===
[[File:MarvelUS01-AutobotLineup.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|After watching traffic reports for an hour, they finally decided to just stay home.]]
The story begins with a brief history of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and its [[Great War (G1)|civil war]], which eventually causes the planet to become lost in space. Battling aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], the original 28 characters crash-land on [[Earth]] four million years ago and awaken in the (then-) present day of 1984. The quest for [[Transformer fuel|fuel]] becomes their initial goal, driving the first several issues.

As the first fiction in the entire [[The Transformers (franchise)|franchise]], the initial issues of ''Transformers'' were breaking completely new ground. Early issues contain a variety of plot points and conventions, some of which would go on to shape the very mythos... and others that would fall by the wayside, forgotten and hilariously quaint. The concept of the life-giving [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]] is a good example of the former group; "[[Atechnogenesis|naturally occurring gears, levers and pulleys]]" comes to mind for the latter.

[[File:Newyorkunderbase.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|With a single wave of Starscream's hand, Hound, Bluestreak, Mirage, Hoist, Brawn, and Gears cease to occupy valuable page space!]]
The book soon built its own elaborate and wide-reaching universe, including hundreds of characters—[[Transformer]]s, [[human]]s, [[alien]]s—on Earth, Cybertron, and beyond. Late in the series, a long-running plot brought in the sinister menace of [[Unicron]], giving him a backstory and build-up that for many fans surpassed his original appearance in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' for storytelling and gravitas. This backstory would eventually go on to eclipse the origin given in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|cartoon]].

Because it was a book intended [[to sell toys]], ''Transformers'' featured an ever-rotating cast. New Transformers were often hastily brought in to meet the demands of [[Hasbro]], and older "product" was often swept aside or killed off ''en masse'' in [[Dark Star|epic, climactic battles]].

After some troubled times and steadily declining readership, the series was finally canceled at issue #80. A combination of factors was likely responsible: the Transformers toyline had become yesterday's fad, the core readership had grown older and moved on, and Hasbro seems to have pulled the plug.

Several subsequent series would build upon the series; see [[Marvel Comics continuity]] for more information.

===Creative team===
[[File:MarvelUS-75.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|He's authorized to devour anyone not in the current product line.]]
The book featured two primary writers: [[Bob Budiansky]] edited [[The Transformers Four-Issue Limited Series|the original 4-part limited series]] and wrote the book from issue #5 to issue #55. After that, [[Simon Furman]], already heavily experienced from his work on the UK book, took up the reins until the book was cancelled at issue #80. Other writers balked at having to keep track of this massive, unfamiliar cast, which is the reason the original miniseries has three writers and is an admitted mess.<ref>[http://rustingcarcass.yuku.com/topic/954/t/Bob-Budiansky.html Interview at Rusting Carcass]</ref>

''Transformers'' is a bit notorious for wild swings in writing quality, as serious plots alternated with such strange concepts as [[The Interplanetary Wrestling Championship!|Micromaster wrestling]] and [[Ca$h and Car-nage!|ridiculous bounty hunters]]. Some of this may be attributed to Bob Budiansky's eventual burn-out; after years of having to wrap his stories around to meet the latest toy-appearance demands from Hasbro, his later writing on the book showed a decline in quality. He is sometimes remembered unfavourably because of this period, perhaps unfairly so considering his fundamental role in shaping the Transformers universe and most of its characters, as well as some of the book's [[Warrior School!|most gripping early stories]]. Still, even such oddball stories as "[[Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom]]" and "[[Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?]]" have both their merits and their fans.

Budiansky himself proposed that Simon Furman take over as the U.S. series writer.<ref name="steveo otfcc2004">[http://www.camphortree.net/tf/tidbits/otfcc2004.txt Steve-o's OTFCC 2004 notes]</ref> With the changeover, the stories took on a more serious tone, relying on character conflict more than outlandish plot devices. Many fans regard Furman's run on the original book as one of the high points of all Transformers fiction.

The comic was written in "Marvel Style", where the writer gives the artist a plot outline instead of a full script. The artist then lays out the pages himself; afterward the writer comes back in and scripts the dialog based on the artist's work. This approach gives the artist a larger role in telling the story than simply drawing what the writer tells them to.<ref name="steveo otfcc2004" />

A number of artists worked on ''Transformers'', but the most frequent pencilers included [[Frank Springer]], [[Don Perlin]], [[José Delbo]], [[Geoff Senior]], and [[Andrew Wildman]]. Also of particular note is colorist [[Nelson Yomtov|Nelson "Nel" Yomtov]], who colored every single issue of the book, as well as all of the related mini-series.
{{--}}

===Publication and format===
As ''The Transformers'' title began life as a limited series, it was subject to the conventions Marvel had established for limited series at the time of its publication. "Standard" Marvel comics released concurrently in 1984 cost 60 cents and were printed on newsprint; in contrast, ''The Transformers'' sold for 75 cents and was printed on a whiter, higher-quality stock (for the time) known as "[[Mando paper]]".

Evidently considered a "deluxe format" book by Marvel, ''Transformers'' continued to be printed on Mando paper even after it became an ongoing series.<ref>''Marvel Age'' #23, November 1984</ref> It also remained at 75 cents—at least until [[King of the Hill!|issue 28]], when the price of the book rose to 1 dollar. With the exception of the double-sized [[Dark Star|issue 50]] and [[On the Edge of Extinction!|issue 75]], which were both priced at $1.50, ''The Transformers'' would remain at 1 dollar for the remainder of its original run.

===Cover dates===
There is some confusion over when issues first appeared, due to changing practices regarding the cover dates. When the comic began in 1984, Marvel issues were normally cover dated four months ahead of their going on sale. This was partially a hangover from the days of fierce newsstand competition when each company tried to make its comics look newer than its rivals and partially a mechanism to compensate for slower distribution on newsstands and overseas sales.

As a result of this, although [[The Transformers (issue)|issue #1]] is cover dated September, it went on sale in May. This is supported by the first Usenet post about Transformers which was posted by Ted Nolan to net.comics on May 22, 1984.<ref>Ted Nolan, "[http://groups.google.com/group/net.comics/msg/1cdaf7df610e0376?dmode=source&hl=en Year's worst?] in net.comics, 22-May-84 02:07:22 EDT</ref>

In 1989, Marvel decided to rationalize things by moving to a system where the cover date was only two months in advance. In order to achieve this, issues released in August 1989 have the cover date "Mid November", those in September 1989 have "December" and those in October "Mid December". The relevant ''Transformers'' issues were [[Skin Deep|#59]], [[Yesterday's Heroes!|#60]] and [[The Primal Scream|#61]].

===Comics Magazine===
{{main|The Transformers Comics Magazine}}
Marvel US released a bimonthly digest-sized magazine, which reprinted the first twenty issues of the main series - two issues per magazine - until cancelled with #10.

==Marvel UK==
'''Marvel UK''' produced a G1 comic which ran for 332 issues, reprinting the American stories and adding in many new stories built around them.

{{chapters|title=''The Transformers'' UK issues:|content=
* [[The Transformers (issue)|#1]]
* [[The Transformers (issue)|#2]]
* [[Power Play!|#3]]
* [[Power Play!|#4]]
* [[Prisoner of War!|#5]]
* [[Prisoner of War!|#6]]
* [[The Last Stand|#7]]
* [[The Last Stand|#8]]
* [[Man of Iron (issue)|#9]]
* [[Man of Iron (issue)|#10]]
* [[Man of Iron (issue)|#11]]
* [[Man of Iron (issue)|#12]]
* [[The Enemy Within!|#13]]
* [[The Enemy Within!|#14]]
* [[The Enemy Within!|#15]]
* [[The Enemy Within!|#16]]
* [[The Enemy Within!|#17]]
* [[Raiders of the Last Ark|#18]]
* [[Raiders of the Last Ark|#19]]
* [[Raiders of the Last Ark|#20]]
* [[Raiders of the Last Ark|#21]]
* [[The New Order|#22]]
* [[The New Order|#23]]
* [[The Worse of Two Evils!|#24]]
* [[The Worse of Two Evils!|#25]]
* [[Warrior School!|#26]]
* [[Repeat Performance!|#27]]
* [[Repeat Performance!|#28]]
* [[Decepticon Dam-Busters!|#29]]
* [[Decepticon Dam-Busters!|#30]]
* [[The Wrath of Guardian!|#31]]
* [[The Wrath of Grimlock!|#32]]
* [[DIS-Integrated Circuits!|#33]]
* [[DIS-Integrated Circuits!|#34]]
* [[The Next Best Thing to Being There!|#35]]
* [[The Next Best Thing to Being There!|#36]]
* [[Brainstorm!|#37]]
* [[Brainstorm!|#38]]
* [[Prime Time!|#39]]
* [[Prime Time!|#40]]
* [[Christmas Breaker!|#41]]
* [[Crisis of Command!|#42]]
* [[Crisis of Command!|#43]]
* [[Crisis of Command!|#44]]
* [[The Icarus Theory|#45]]
* [[The Icarus Theory|#46]]
* [[Dinobot Hunt!|#47]]
* [[Dinobot Hunt!|#48]]
* [[Dinobot Hunt!|#49]]
* [[Dinobot Hunt!|#50]]
* [[Shooting Star!|#51]]
* [[Shooting Star!|#52]]
* [[Rock and Roll-Out!|#53]]
* [[Rock and Roll-Out!|#54]]
* [[I, Robot-Master!|#55]]
* [[I, Robot-Master!|#56]]
* [[Plight of the Bumblebee!|#57]]
* [[Plight of the Bumblebee!|#58]]
* [[Robot Buster!|#59]]
* [[Robot Buster!|#60]]
* [[Devastation Derby!|#61]]
* [[Devastation Derby!|#62]]
* [[Second Generation!|#63]]
* [[Second Generation!|#64]]
* [[Second Generation!|#65]]
* [[The Smelting Pool!|#66]]
* [[The Smelting Pool!|#67]]
* [[The Bridge to Nowhere!|#68]]
* [[The Bridge to Nowhere!|#69]]
* [[Command Performances!|#70]]
* [[Command Performances!|#71]]
* [[Showdown!|#72]]
* [[Showdown!|#73]]
* [[In the National Interest|#74]]
* [[In the National Interest|#75]]
* [[In the National Interest|#76]]
* [[In the National Interest|#77]]
* [[Target: 2006|#78]]
* [[Target: 2006|#79]]
* [[Target: 2006|#80]]
* [[Target: 2006|#81]]
* [[Target: 2006|#82]]
* [[Target: 2006|#83]]
* [[Target: 2006|#84]]
* [[Target: 2006|#85]]
* [[Target: 2006|#86]]
* [[Target: 2006|#87]]
* [[Target: 2006|#88]]
* [[Aerialbots over America!|#89]]
* [[Aerialbots over America!|#90]]
* [[Heavy Traffic!|#91]]
* [[Heavy Traffic!|#92]]
* [[The Gift|#93]]
* [[Decepticon Graffiti!|#94]]
* [[Decepticon Graffiti!|#95]]
* [[Prey!|#96]]
* [[Prey!|#97]]
* [[...The Harder They Die!|#98]]
* [[Under Fire!|#99]]
* [[Distant Thunder!|#100]]
* [[Fallen Angel|#101]]
* [[Fallen Angel|#102]]
* [[Resurrection!|#103]]
* [[Resurrection!|#104]]
* [[Afterdeath!|#105]]
* [[Afterdeath!|#106]]
* [[Gone but Not Forgotten!|#107]]
* [[Gone but Not Forgotten!|#108]]
* [[Funeral for a Friend!|#109]]
* [[Funeral for a Friend!|#110]]
* [[King of the Hill!|#111]]
* [[King of the Hill!|#112]]
* [[Wanted: Galvatron — Dead or Alive!|#113]]
* [[Wanted: Galvatron — Dead or Alive!|#114]]
* [[Burning Sky!|#115]]
* [[Burning Sky!|#116]]
* [[Hunters|#117]]
* [[Hunters|#118]]
* [[Fire on High!|#119]]
* [[Fire on High!|#120]]
* [[Mechanical Difficulties!|#121]]
* [[Mechanical Difficulties!|#122]]
* [[Crater Critters|#123]]
* [[Crater Critters|#124]]
* [[Ancient Relics!|#125]]
* [[The Cure!|#126]]
* [[The Cure!|#127]]
* [[Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom|#128]]
* [[Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom|#129]]
* [[Worlds Apart!|#130]]
* [[Worlds Apart!|#131]]
* [[Kup's Story!|#132]]
* [[Headhunt|#133]]
* [[Headhunt|#134]]
* [[Grudge Match!|#135]]
* [[Grudge Match!|#136]]
* [[Ladies' Night (issue)|#137]]
* [[Ladies' Night (issue)|#138]]
* [[Used Autobots|#139]]
* [[Used Autobots|#140]]
* [[Child's Play (issue)|#141]]
* [[Child's Play (issue)|#142]]
* [[Spacehikers!|#143]]
* [[Spacehikers!|#144]]
* [[Stargazing|#145]]
* [[The Legacy of Unicron!|#146]]
* [[The Legacy of Unicron!|#147]]
* [[The Legacy of Unicron!|#148]]
* [[The Legacy of Unicron!|#149]]
* [[The Legacy of Unicron!|#150]]
* [[The Legacy of Unicron!|#151]]
* [[Enemy Action!|#152]]
* [[Enemy Action!|#153]]
* [[Toy Soldiers!|#154]]
* [[Toy Soldiers!|#155]]
* [[Trial by Fire!|#156]]
* [[Trial by Fire!|#157]]
* [[The Desert Island of Space!|#158]]
* [[The Desert Island of Space!|#159]]
* [[Salvage!|#160]]
* [[Salvage!|#161]]
* [[Pretender to the Throne!|#162]]
* [[Pretender to the Throne!|#163]]
* [[City of Fear!|#164]]
* [[City of Fear!|#165]]
* [[Legion of the Lost!|#166]]
* [[Legion of the Lost!|#167]]
* [[Meltdown!|#168]]
* [[Meltdown!|#169]]
* [[Deadly Games!|#170]]
* [[Deadly Games!|#171]]
* [[Wrecking Havoc|#172]]
* [[Wrecking Havoc|#173]]
* [[Totaled!|#174]]
* [[Totaled!|#175]]
* [[People Power!|#176]]
* [[People Power!|#177]]
* [[The Cosmic Carnival|#178]]
* [[The Cosmic Carnival|#179]]
* [[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|#180]]
* [[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|#181]]
* [[Space Pirates!|#182]]
* [[Space Pirates!|#183]]
* [[Space Pirates!|#184]]
* [[Space Pirates!|#185]]
* [[Space Pirates!|#186]]
* [[Space Pirates!|#187]]
* [[Firebug!|#188]]
* [[Dry Run!|#189]]
* [[Monstercon from Mars!|#190]]
* [[Monstercon from Mars!|#191]]
* [[Ca$h and Car-nage!|#192]]
* [[Ca$h and Car-nage!|#193]]
* [[Club Con!|#194]]
* [[Club Con!|#195]]
* [[The Flames of Boltax!|#196]]
* [[The Flames of Boltax!|#197]]
* [[Cold Comfort and Joy!|#198]]
* [[Time Wars|#199]]
* [[Time Wars|#200]]
* [[Time Wars|#201]]
* [[Time Wars|#202]]
* [[Time Wars|#203]]
* [[Time Wars|#204]]
* [[Time Wars|#205]]
* [[Cold War!|#206]]
* [[Cold War!|#207]]
* [[Dark Star|#208]]
* [[Dark Star|#209]]
* [[Dark Star|#210]]
* [[The Man in the Machine!|#211]]
* [[The Man in the Machine!|#212]]
* [[Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?|#213]]
* [[Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?|#214]]
* [[Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?|#215]]
* [[Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?|#216]]
* [[Recipe for Disaster!|#217]]
* [[Recipe for Disaster!|#218]]
* [[Recipe for Disaster!|#219]]
* [[Recipe for Disaster!|#220]]
* [[Survivors!|#221]]
* [[Survivors!|#222]]
* [[Aspects of Evil!|#223]]
* [[Aspects of Evil!|#224]]
* [[Aspects of Evil!|#225]]
* [[Aspects of Evil!|#226]]
* [[Aspects of Evil!|#227]]
* [[(Double) Deal of the Century!|#228]]
* [[The Hunting Party (Marvel)|#229]]
* [[The Big Shutdown!|#230]]
* [[The Big Shutdown!|#231]]
* [[King Con!|#232]]
* [[King Con!|#233]]
* [[King Con!|#234]]
* [[King Con!|#235]]
* [[The Interplanetary Wrestling Championship!|#236]]
* [[The Interplanetary Wrestling Championship!|#237]]
* [[The Interplanetary Wrestling Championship!|#238]]
* [[The Interplanetary Wrestling Championship!|#239]]
* [[Back from the Dead|#240]]
* [[Back from the Dead|#241]]
* [[Back from the Dead|#242]]
* [[The Resurrection Gambit!|#243]]
* [[The Resurrection Gambit!|#244]]
* [[The Resurrection Gambit!|#245]]
* [[All the Familiar Faces!|#246]]
* [[All the Familiar Faces!|#247]]
* [[All the Familiar Faces!|#248]]
* [[Skin Deep|#249]]
* [[Skin Deep|#250]]
* [[Skin Deep|#251]]
* [[Yesterday's Heroes!|#252]]
* [[Yesterday's Heroes!|#253]]
* [[Yesterday's Heroes!|#254]]
* [[...Perchance to Dream|#255]]
* [[...Perchance to Dream|#256]]
* [[...Perchance to Dream|#257]]
* [[...Perchance to Dream|#258]]
* [[The Primal Scream|#259]]
* [[The Primal Scream|#260]]
* [[The Primal Scream|#261]]
* [[Bird of Prey!|#262]]
* [[Bird of Prey!|#263]]
* [[Bird of Prey!|#264]]
* [[Once upon a Time...|#265]]
* [[Life in the Slow Lane|#266]]
* [[Snow Fun!|#267]]
* [[Flashback!|#268]]
* [[Mystery!|#269]]
* [[The Bad Guy's Ball!|#270]]
* [[The Living Nightlights!|#271]]
* [[Cry Wolf!|#272]]
* [[Wolf in the Fold!|#273]]
* [[Where Wolf?|#274]]
* [[Secrets (G1)|#275]]
* [[Bugged!|#276]]
* [[Internal Affairs!|#277]]
* [[The House that Wheeljack Built!|#278]]
* [[Divide and Conquer!|#279]]
* [[The 4,000,000 Year Itch!|#280]]
* [[Makin' Tracks!|#281]]
* [[Kings of the Wild Frontier.|#282]]
* [[Kings of the Wild Frontier.|#283]]
* [[Kings of the Wild Frontier.|#284]]
* [[Kings of the Wild Frontier.|#285]]
* [[Deadly Obsession|#286]]
* [[Deadly Obsession|#287]]
* [[Deadly Obsession|#288]]
* [[Deadly Obsession|#289]]
* [[Dark Creation|#290]]
* [[Dark Creation|#291]]
* [[Dark Creation|#292]]
* [[Dark Creation|#293]]
* [[All Fall Down|#294]]
* [[All Fall Down|#295]]
* [[All Fall Down|#296]]
* [[All Fall Down|#297]]
* [[Rhythms of Darkness!|#298]]
* [[Rhythms of Darkness!|#299]]
* [[Rhythms of Darkness!|#300]]
* [[Rhythms of Darkness!|#301]]
* [[The Human Factor!|#302]]
* [[The Human Factor!|#303]]
* [[The Human Factor!|#304]]
* [[The Human Factor!|#305]]
* [[Eye of the Storm|#306]]
* [[Eye of the Storm|#307]]
* [[Eye of the Storm|#308]]
* [[The Pri¢e of Life!|#309]]
* [[The Pri¢e of Life!|#310]]
* [[Surrender!|#311]]
* [[Surrender!|#312]]
* [[...All This and Civil War 2|#313]]
* [[...All This and Civil War 2|#314]]
* [[Out of Time!|#315]]
* [[Out of Time!|#316]]
* [[The Void! (US)|#317]]
* [[The Void! (US)|#318]]
* [[On the Edge of Extinction!|#319]]
* [[On the Edge of Extinction!|#320]]
* [[On the Edge of Extinction!|#321]]
* [[On the Edge of Extinction!|#322]]
* [[Still Life!|#323]]
* [[Still Life!|#324]]
* [[Exodus!|#325]]
* [[Exodus!|#326]]
* [[A Savage Circle|#327]]
* [[A Savage Circle|#328]]
* [[The Last Autobot?|#329]]
* [[The Last Autobot?|#330]]
* [[End of the Road! (US)|#331]]
* [[End of the Road! (US)|#332]]
}}

{{chapters|title=Second stories for issues with two non-reprint ''Transformers'' stories:|content=

* [[Robo-Capers issue 74|#74]]
* ...
* [[Cybertron: The Middle Years!|#83]]
* ...
* [[Robo-Capers issue 87|#87]]
* [[Robo-Capers issue 88|#88]]
* ...
* [[Robo-Capers issue 91|#91]]
* ...
* [[Robo-Capers issue 97|#97]]
* ...
* [[Robo-Capers issue 114|#114]]
* ...
* [[Ring of Hate!|#130]]
* [[Ring of Hate!|#131]]
* [[Ring of Hate!|#132]]
* [[Ring of Hate!|#133]]
* [[Broken Glass!|#134]]
* [[Broken Glass!|#135]]
* [[Broken Glass!|#136]]
* [[Broken Glass!|#137]]
* [[Love and Steel!|#138]]
* [[Love and Steel!|#139]]
* [[Love and Steel!|#140]]
* [[Love and Steel!|#141]]
* [[Brothers in Armor!!|#142]]
* [[Brothers in Armor!!|#143]]
* [[Brothers in Armor!!|#144]]
* [[Brothers in Armor!!|#145]]
* ...
* [[The Wind of Change!|#183]]
* ...
* [[The Fall and Rise of the Decepticon Empire.|#213]]
* [[The Fall and Rise of the Decepticon Empire.|#214]]
* [[Race with the Devil|#215]]
* [[Race with the Devil|#216]]
* [[Race with the Devil|#217]]
* [[Race with the Devil|#218]]
* [[Survivors!|#219]]
* [[Survivors!|#220]]
* ...
* [[A Small War!|#232]]
* [[A Small War!|#233]]
* [[Prime's Rib!|#234]]
* [[Deathbringer (issue)|#235]]
* [[Deathbringer (issue)|#236]]
* [[Way of the Warrior|#237]]
* [[Survival Run|#238]]
* [[A Savage Place!|#239]]
* [[Out to Lunch!|#240]]
* [[Rage!|#241]]
* [[Assault on the Ark!|#242]]
* [[Mind Games (G1)|#243]]
* [[Two Megatrons!|#244]]
* [[Underworld!|#245]]
* [[Demons!|#246]]
* [[Dawn of Darkness|#247]]
* [[Fallen Star!|#248]]
* [[Whose Lifeforce Is It Anyway?|#249]]
* [[The Greatest Gift of All!|#250]]
* [[The Void! (UK)|#251]]
* [[Edge of Impact|#252]]
* [[Shadow of Evil|#253]]
* [[White Fire|#254]]
* ...
* [[...Perchance to Dream|#259]]
* [[...Perchance to Dream|#260]]
* [[Starting Over!|#261]]
* [[Two Steps Back!|#262]]
* [[Break-Away!|#263]]
* [[Desert Island Risks!|#264]]
* [[Blood on the Tracks|#265]]
* [[Blood on the Tracks|#266]]
* [[Blood on the Tracks|#267]]
* [[Blood on the Tracks|#268]]
* [[Power Struggle|#269]]
* [[Power Struggle|#270]]
* [[Power Struggle|#271]]
* [[Power Struggle|#272]]
* [[Ashes, Ashes...|#273]]
* [[Ashes, Ashes...|#274]]
* [[Ashes, Ashes...|#275]]
* [[Ashes, Ashes...|#276]]
* [[...All Fall Down!|#278]]
* [[...All Fall Down!|#279]]
* [[...All Fall Down!|#280]]
* [[...All Fall Down!|#281]]
* [[Shut Up!|#282]]
* [[Manoeuvres!|#283]]
* [[Assassins|#284]]
* [[External Forces!|#285]]
* [[The Lesser Evil!|#286]]
* [[Inside Story!|#287]]
* [[Front Line! (issue)|#288]]
* [[End of the Road! (UK)|#289]]
* ...
* [[Dreadwind's Xmas!|#302]]
}}

{{chapters|title=''The Transformers'' UK Stories by Category:|content=
* '''US Reprints:''' [[The Transformers (issue)|#1]]
* [[The Transformers (issue)|#2]]
* [[Power Play!|#3]]
* [[Power Play!|#4]]
* [[Prisoner of War!|#5]]
* [[Prisoner of War!|#6]]
* [[The Last Stand|#7]]
* [[The Last Stand|#8]]
* [[The New Order|#22]]
* [[The New Order|#23]]
* [[The Worse of Two Evils!|#24]]
* [[The Worse of Two Evils!|#25]]
* [[Warrior School!|#26]]
* [[Repeat Performance!|#27]]
* [[Repeat Performance!|#28]]
* [[DIS-Integrated Circuits!|#33]]
* [[DIS-Integrated Circuits!|#34]]
* [[The Next Best Thing to Being There!|#35]]
* [[The Next Best Thing to Being There!|#36]]
* [[Brainstorm!|#37]]
* [[Brainstorm!|#38]]
* [[Prime Time!|#39]]
* [[Prime Time!|#40]]
* [[Shooting Star!|#51]]
* [[Shooting Star!|#52]]
* [[Rock and Roll-Out!|#53]]
* [[Rock and Roll-Out!|#54]]
* [[I, Robot-Master!|#55]]
* [[I, Robot-Master!|#56]]
* [[Plight of the Bumblebee!|#57]]
* [[Plight of the Bumblebee!|#58]]
* [[The Smelting Pool!|#66]]
* [[The Smelting Pool!|#67]]
* [[The Bridge to Nowhere!|#68]]
* [[The Bridge to Nowhere!|#69]]
* [[Command Performances!|#70]]
* [[Command Performances!|#71]]
* [[Showdown!|#72]]
* [[Showdown!|#73]]
* [[Aerialbots over America!|#89]]
* [[Aerialbots over America!|#90]]
* [[Heavy Traffic!|#91]]
* [[Heavy Traffic!|#92]]
* [[Decepticon Graffiti!|#94]]
* [[Decepticon Graffiti!|#95]]
* [[Afterdeath!|#105]]
* [[Afterdeath!|#106]]
* [[Gone but Not Forgotten!|#107]]
* [[Gone but Not Forgotten!|#108]]
* [[Funeral for a Friend!|#109]]
* [[Funeral for a Friend!|#110]]
* [[King of the Hill!|#111]]
* [[King of the Hill!|#112]]
* [[Mechanical Difficulties!|#121]]
* [[Mechanical Difficulties!|#122]]
* [[Crater Critters|#123]]
* [[Crater Critters|#124]]
* [[The Cure!|#126]]
* [[The Cure!|#127]]
* [[Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom|#128]]
* [[Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom|#129]]
* [[Used Autobots|#139]]
* [[Used Autobots|#140]]
* [[Child's Play (issue)|#141]]
* [[Child's Play (issue)|#142]]
* [[Toy Soldiers!|#154]]
* [[Toy Soldiers!|#155]]
* [[Trial by Fire!|#156]]
* [[Trial by Fire!|#157]]
* [[The Desert Island of Space!|#158]]
* [[The Desert Island of Space!|#159]]
* [[Spacehikers!|#143]]
* [[Spacehikers!|#144]]
* [[Pretender to the Throne!|#162]]
* [[Pretender to the Throne!|#163]]
* [[People Power!|#176]]
* [[People Power!|#177]]
* [[The Cosmic Carnival|#178]]
* [[The Cosmic Carnival|#179]]
* [[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|#180]]
* [[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|#181]]
* [[Monstercon from Mars!|#190]]
* [[Monstercon from Mars!|#191]]
* [[Ca$h and Car-nage!|#192]]
* [[Ca$h and Car-nage!|#193]]
* [[Club Con!|#194]]
* [[Club Con!|#195]]
* [[The Flames of Boltax!|#196]]
* [[The Flames of Boltax!|#197]]
* [[Cold War!|#206]]
* [[Cold War!|#207]]
* [[Dark Star|#208]]
* [[Dark Star|#209]]
* [[Dark Star|#210]]
* [[The Man in the Machine!|#211]]
* [[The Man in the Machine!|#212]]
* [[Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?|#213]]
* [[Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?|#214]]
* [[Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?|#215]]
* [[Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?|#216]]
* [[Recipe for Disaster!|#217]]
* [[Recipe for Disaster!|#218]]
* [[Recipe for Disaster!|#219]]
* [[Recipe for Disaster!|#220]]
* [[King Con!|#232]]
* [[King Con!|#233]]
* [[King Con!|#234]]
* [[King Con!|#235]]
* [[The Interplanetary Wrestling Championship!|#236]]
* [[The Interplanetary Wrestling Championship!|#237]]
* [[The Interplanetary Wrestling Championship!|#238]]
* [[The Interplanetary Wrestling Championship!|#239]]
* [[Back from the Dead|#240]]
* [[Back from the Dead|#241]]
* [[Back from the Dead|#242]]
* [[The Resurrection Gambit!|#243]]
* [[The Resurrection Gambit!|#244]]
* [[The Resurrection Gambit!|#245]]
* [[All the Familiar Faces!|#246]]
* [[All the Familiar Faces!|#247]]
* [[All the Familiar Faces!|#248]]
* [[Skin Deep|#249]]
* [[Skin Deep|#250]]
* [[Skin Deep|#251]]
* [[Yesterday's Heroes!|#252]]
* [[Yesterday's Heroes!|#253]]
* [[Yesterday's Heroes!|#254]]
* [[The Primal Scream|#259]]
* [[The Primal Scream|#260]]
* [[The Primal Scream|#261]]
* [[Bird of Prey!|#262]]
* [[Bird of Prey!|#263]]
* [[Bird of Prey!|#264]]
* [[Kings of the Wild Frontier.|#282]]
* [[Kings of the Wild Frontier.|#283]]
* [[Kings of the Wild Frontier.|#284]]
* [[Kings of the Wild Frontier.|#285]]
* [[Deadly Obsession|#286]]
* [[Deadly Obsession|#287]]
* [[Deadly Obsession|#288]]
* [[Deadly Obsession|#289]]
* [[Dark Creation|#290]]
* [[Dark Creation|#291]]
* [[Dark Creation|#292]]
* [[Dark Creation|#293]]
* [[All Fall Down|#294]]
* [[All Fall Down|#295]]
* [[All Fall Down|#296]]
* [[All Fall Down|#297]]
* [[Rhythms of Darkness!|#298]]
* [[Rhythms of Darkness!|#299]]
* [[Rhythms of Darkness!|#300]]
* [[Rhythms of Darkness!|#301]]
* [[The Human Factor!|#302]]
* [[The Human Factor!|#303]]
* [[The Human Factor!|#304]]
* [[The Human Factor!|#305]]
* [[Eye of the Storm|#306]]
* [[Eye of the Storm|#307]]
* [[Eye of the Storm|#308]]
* [[The Pri¢e of Life!|#309]]
* [[The Pri¢e of Life!|#310]]
* [[Surrender!|#311]]
* [[Surrender!|#312]]
* [[...All This and Civil War 2|#313]]
* [[...All This and Civil War 2|#314]]
* [[Out of Time!|#315]]
* [[Out of Time!|#316]]
* [[The Void! (US)|#317]]
* [[The Void! (US)|#318]]
* [[On the Edge of Extinction!|#319]]
* [[On the Edge of Extinction!|#320]]
* [[On the Edge of Extinction!|#321]]
* [[On the Edge of Extinction!|#322]]
* [[Still Life!|#323]]
* [[Still Life!|#324]]
* [[Exodus!|#325]]
* [[Exodus!|#326]]
* [[A Savage Circle|#327]]
* [[A Savage Circle|#328]]
* [[The Last Autobot?|#329]]
* [[The Last Autobot?|#330]]
* [[End of the Road! (US)|#331]]
* [[End of the Road! (US)|#332]]

* '''UK Material:''' [[Man of Iron (issue)|#9]]
* [[Man of Iron (issue)|#10]]
* [[Man of Iron (issue)|#11]]
* [[Man of Iron (issue)|#12]]
* [[The Enemy Within!|#13]]
* [[The Enemy Within!|#14]]
* [[The Enemy Within!|#15]]
* [[The Enemy Within!|#16]]
* [[The Enemy Within!|#17]]
* [[Raiders of the Last Ark|#18]]
* [[Raiders of the Last Ark|#19]]
* [[Raiders of the Last Ark|#20]]
* [[Raiders of the Last Ark|#21]]
* [[Decepticon Dam-Busters!|#29]]
* [[Decepticon Dam-Busters!|#30]]
* [[The Wrath of Guardian!|#31]]
* [[The Wrath of Grimlock!|#32]]
* [[Christmas Breaker!|#41]]
* [[Crisis of Command!|#42]]
* [[Crisis of Command!|#43]]
* [[Crisis of Command!|#44]]
* [[The Icarus Theory|#45]]
* [[The Icarus Theory|#46]]
* [[Dinobot Hunt!|#47]]
* [[Dinobot Hunt!|#48]]
* [[Dinobot Hunt!|#49]]
* [[Dinobot Hunt!|#50]]
* [[Robot Buster!|#59]]
* [[Robot Buster!|#60]]
* [[Devastation Derby!|#61]]
* [[Devastation Derby!|#62]]
* [[Second Generation!|#63]]
* [[Second Generation!|#64]]
* [[Second Generation!|#65]]
* [[In the National Interest|#74]]
* [[In the National Interest|#75]]
* [[In the National Interest|#76]]
* [[In the National Interest|#77]]
* [[Target: 2006|#78]]
* [[Target: 2006|#79]]
* [[Target: 2006|#80]]
* [[Target: 2006|#81]]
* [[Target: 2006|#82]]
* [[Target: 2006|#83]]
* [[Target: 2006|#84]]
* [[Target: 2006|#85]]
* [[Target: 2006|#86]]
* [[Target: 2006|#87]]
* [[Target: 2006|#88]]
* [[The Gift|#93]]
* [[Prey!|#96]]
* [[Prey!|#97]]
* [[...The Harder They Die!|#98]]
* [[Under Fire!|#99]]
* [[Distant Thunder!|#100]]
* [[Fallen Angel|#101]]
* [[Fallen Angel|#102]]
* [[Resurrection!|#103]]
* [[Resurrection!|#104]]
* [[Wanted: Galvatron — Dead or Alive!|#113]]
* [[Wanted: Galvatron — Dead or Alive!|#114]]
* [[Burning Sky!|#115]]
* [[Burning Sky!|#116]]
* [[Hunters|#117]]
* [[Hunters|#118]]
* [[Fire on High!|#119]]
* [[Fire on High!|#120]]
* [[Ancient Relics!|#125]]
* [[Worlds Apart!|#130]]
* [[Worlds Apart!|#131]]
* [[Kup's Story!|#132]]
* [[Headhunt|#133]]
* [[Headhunt|#134]]
* [[Grudge Match!|#135]]
* [[Grudge Match!|#136]]
* [[Ladies' Night (issue)|#137]]
* [[Ladies' Night (issue)|#138]]
* [[Stargazing|#145]]
* [[The Legacy of Unicron!|#146]]
* [[The Legacy of Unicron!|#147]]
* [[The Legacy of Unicron!|#148]]
* [[The Legacy of Unicron!|#149]]
* [[The Legacy of Unicron!|#150]]
* [[The Legacy of Unicron!|#151]]
* [[Enemy Action!|#152]]
* [[Enemy Action!|#153]]
* [[Salvage!|#160]]
* [[Salvage!|#161]]
* [[City of Fear!|#164]]
* [[City of Fear!|#165]]
* [[Legion of the Lost!|#166]]
* [[Legion of the Lost!|#167]]
* [[Meltdown!|#168]]
* [[Meltdown!|#169]]
* [[Deadly Games!|#170]]
* [[Deadly Games!|#171]]
* [[Wrecking Havoc|#172]]
* [[Wrecking Havoc|#173]]
* [[Totaled!|#174]]
* [[Totaled!|#175]]
* [[Space Pirates!|#182]]
* [[Space Pirates!|#183]]
* [[Space Pirates!|#184]]
* [[Space Pirates!|#185]]
* [[Space Pirates!|#186]]
* [[Space Pirates!|#187]]
* [[Firebug!|#188]]
* [[Dry Run!|#189]]
* [[Cold Comfort and Joy!|#198]]
* [[Time Wars|#199]]
* [[Time Wars|#200]]
* [[Time Wars|#201]]
* [[Time Wars|#202]]
* [[Time Wars|#203]]
* [[Time Wars|#204]]
* [[Time Wars|#205]]
* [[The Fall and Rise of the Decepticon Empire.|#213]]
* [[The Fall and Rise of the Decepticon Empire.|#214]]

* '''UK B&W Material:''' [[Race with the Devil|#215]]
* [[Race with the Devil|#216]]
* [[Race with the Devil|#217]]
* [[Race with the Devil|#218]]
* [[Survivors!|#219]]
* [[Survivors!|#220]]
* [[Survivors!|#221]]
* [[Survivors!|#222]]
* [[Aspects of Evil!|#223]]
* [[Aspects of Evil!|#224]]
* [[Aspects of Evil!|#225]]
* [[Aspects of Evil!|#226]]
* [[Aspects of Evil!|#227]]
* [[(Double) Deal of the Century!|#228]]
* [[The Hunting Party (Marvel)|#229]]
* [[The Big Shutdown!|#230]]
* [[The Big Shutdown!|#231]]
* [[A Small War!|#232]]
* [[A Small War!|#233]]
* [[Prime's Rib!|#234]]
* [[Deathbringer (issue)|#235]]
* [[Deathbringer (issue)|#236]]
* [[Way of the Warrior|#237]]
* [[Survival Run|#238]]
* [[A Savage Place!|#239]]
* [[Out to Lunch!|#240]]
* [[Rage!|#241]]
* [[Assault on the Ark!|#242]]
* [[Mind Games (G1)|#243]]
* [[Two Megatrons!|#244]]
* [[Underworld!|#245]]
* [[Demons!|#246]]
* [[Dawn of Darkness|#247]]
* [[Fallen Star!|#248]]
* [[Whose Lifeforce Is It Anyway?|#249]]
* [[The Greatest Gift of All!|#250]]
* [[The Void! (UK)|#251]]
* [[Edge of Impact|#252]]
* [[Shadow of Evil|#253]]
* [[White Fire|#254]]

* '''UK Text Material:''' [[Cybertron: The Middle Years!|#83]]
* [[Dreadwind's Xmas!|#302]]

* '''Earthforce:''' [[...Perchance to Dream|#255]]
* [[...Perchance to Dream|#256]]
* [[...Perchance to Dream|#257]]
* [[...Perchance to Dream|#258]]
* [[...Perchance to Dream|#259]]
* [[...Perchance to Dream|#260]]
* [[Starting Over!|#261]]
* [[Two Steps Back!|#262]]
* [[Break-Away!|#263]]
* [[Desert Island Risks!|#264]]
* [[Once upon a Time...|#265]]
* [[Life in the Slow Lane|#266]]
* [[Snow Fun!|#267]]
* [[Flashback!|#268]]
* [[Mystery!|#269]]
* [[The Bad Guy's Ball!|#270]]
* [[The Living Nightlights!|#271]]
* [[Cry Wolf!|#272]]
* [[Wolf in the Fold!|#273]]
* [[Where Wolf?|#274]]
* [[Secrets (G1)|#275]]
* [[Bugged!|#276]]
* [[Internal Affairs!|#277]]
* [[The House that Wheeljack Built!|#278]]
* [[Divide and Conquer!|#279]]
* [[The 4,000,000 Year Itch!|#280]]
* [[Makin' Tracks!|#281]]
* [[Shut Up!|#282]]
* [[Manoeuvres!|#283]]
* [[Assassins|#284]]
* [[External Forces!|#285]]
* [[The Lesser Evil!|#286]]
* [[Inside Story!|#287]]
* [[Front Line! (issue)|#288]]
* [[End of the Road! (UK)|#289]]

* '''Headmasters:''' [[Ring of Hate!|#130]]
* [[Ring of Hate!|#131]]
* [[Ring of Hate!|#132]]
* [[Ring of Hate!|#133]]
* [[Broken Glass!|#134]]
* [[Broken Glass!|#135]]
* [[Broken Glass!|#136]]
* [[Broken Glass!|#137]]
* [[Love and Steel!|#138]]
* [[Love and Steel!|#139]]
* [[Love and Steel!|#140]]
* [[Love and Steel!|#141]]
* [[Brothers in Armor!!|#142]]
* [[Brothers in Armor!!|#143]]
* [[Brothers in Armor!!|#144]]
* [[Brothers in Armor!!|#145]]

* '''G.I. Joe and the Transformers:''' [[Blood on the Tracks|#265]]
* [[Blood on the Tracks|#266]]
* [[Blood on the Tracks|#267]]
* [[Blood on the Tracks|#268]]
* [[Power Struggle|#269]]
* [[Power Struggle|#270]]
* [[Power Struggle|#271]]
* [[Power Struggle|#272]]
* [[Ashes, Ashes...|#273]]
* [[Ashes, Ashes...|#274]]
* [[Ashes, Ashes...|#275]]
* [[Ashes, Ashes...|#276]]
* [[...All Fall Down!|#278]]
* [[...All Fall Down!|#279]]
* [[...All Fall Down!|#280]]
* [[...All Fall Down!|#281]]

* '''Robo-Capers with Transformer material:''' [[Robo-Capers issue 53|#53]]
*[[Robo-Capers issue 59|#59]]
*[[Robo-Capers issue 63|#63]]
*[[Robo-Capers issue 66|#66]]
*[[Robo-Capers issue 74|#74]]
*[[Robo-Capers issue 87|#87]]
*[[Robo-Capers issue 88|#88]]
*[[Robo-Capers issue 91|#91]]
*[[Robo-Capers issue 93|#93]]
*[[Robo-Capers issue 97|#97]]
*[[Not Robo Capers|#98]]
*[[Robo-Capers issue 99|#99]]
*[[Robo-Capers issue 114|#114]]
*[[The Wind of Change!|#183]]
}}

===Overview===
{{bigquote|Dear [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]], To put it bluntly, the Marvel UK ''Transformers'' comic is 100% better than the American version we get over here. Your comics have beautiful covers, high quality artwork and very intelligent plots. Here in the States, Transformers comics are monthly instead of weekly and have bad artwork and stupid plots. Thank you for showing us the Autobots and Decepticons of the 21st Century. You guys in Britain are, as always, one step ahead when it comes to [[time travel]] (from Wells' Time Machine to [[Doctor Who]] — you always come through)! Bob Newell, Warren, MI.|Dread Tidings, issue #188}}

[[File:MarvelUK-244.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|This is the best Cracker Jack prize ever!]]
Though not without contradiction, the Marvel UK book managed to weave a number of highly complex stories "behind the scenes" of the Marvel U.S. tales. Topics included expanded stories and battles in the early days of the war (before [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave's]] arrival), more intrigue among the [[Decepticon]] commanders on Earth, the [[Autobot]] resistance on Cybertron, and the time-travelling exploits of [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], who arrives directly from the future world of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.

The UK book's weekly schedule and shorter format meant splitting stories into parts, often right in the middle of the action. Like the U.S. book, Marvel UK featured [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|a regular column of letters from readers]]; however, these were supposedly answered by various Transformers, including Grimlock, [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]], and others.

Exactly how many copies it sold is vaguely estimated at 200,000 at its height, though [[Ian Rimmer]] remembers 128,000 in 1986. Either way, it was the company's biggest hit and would establish a 'house style' that Marvel UK would use on their subsequent toy-and-cartoon licensed comics. <ref>''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 2]]'' page 6</ref> (None would reach ''Transformers'' height until ''The Real Ghostbusters''.) We know the comic began to drop about roughly 10,000 readers every sixth months from the summer of 1988 and by the time of #319, the comic's average weekly circulation was 19,839; but at this point, the sales had mostly stabilised due to the long-term fans sticking around. The older age of the readers can be noticed in the covers [[Harry Papadopoulos]] commissioned at the time: brighter covers with word balloons and puns were dropped for moodier painted covers and things like [[:Image:MarvelUK-309.jpg|Expressionist screaming heads and a reference to a King Crimson song]].<ref name=CheatedDeath>[[James Roberts]], [https://medium.com/@jamesroberts_96602/transformers-uk-the-comic-that-nearly-cheated-death-9ac69e7578d2 Transformers UK — the comic that (nearly) cheated death]</ref>

===Creative team===
[[File:Megatron-timewars-comparison.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Change of artists? Eh, who'll notice?]]
Most UK-specific stories were written by [[Simon Furman]], who was later assigned to write for the U.S. comic as well. Curiously, it was from this point that the divergences between the UK and U.S. stories became more pronounced.

Regular artists included [[Will Simpson]], [[Robin Smith]], [[Dan Reed]], [[Jeff Anderson]], [[Lee Sullivan]], [[Geoff Senior]], and [[Andrew Wildman]]. The large stable of artists resulted in some extreme contrasts of style throughout the book, such as Reed's highly organic art being followed by the clean, mechanical precision of Sullivan or Senior. Sometimes these changes occurred within the context of a single story.
{{--}}

===Complexity and contradiction in continuity===
[[File:Goldbugorigins.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|In no continuity was his face damaged. Maybe Bumblebee was just really ugly by Transformer standards.]]
Making the new stories align with the U.S. book occasionally involved some bending over backwards in storytelling terms. [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]], for example, winds up with partial amnesia at the end of [[Resurrection!|one story]], explaining why he doesn't remember the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] when he encounters them again in a [[Gone but Not Forgotten!|later U.S. story]]. U.S. reprints were sometimes physically edited as well; for example, a UK story has [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] being transported to [[Limbo]] after the events of U.S. #23, necessitating the removal of his occasional background appearances thereafter.

Another major change was the exclusion of the ''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers (comic)|G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]'' crossover, which featured [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee's]] destruction and subsequent restoration as Goldbug. UK continuity accounted for the reformatting by showing Bumblebee destroyed by [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]] and rebuilt by [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] during "[[Hunters]]". Also, the UK comic continued to feature Megatron and Shockwave after their apparent deaths in the U.S. comic. While Megatron's appearance was eventually [[Two Megatrons!|reconciled]] (sort of, if you squint) with the U.S. continuity, Shockwave's was not.

The "[[...Perchance to Dream]]" story in UK #255-260 began the [[Earthforce]] storyline and heralded a nigh-irreconcilable division between U.S. and UK stories. This was in part a deliberate decision to not try to maintain continuity due to past problems.<ref name="furint1">{{citesocial|quote='''Question''' Why do you feel continuity suffered more instead of less, between Marvel UK and US when you took over the US book?" "The problem was, we were badly out of synch with the US material reprints by the time I was also writing the US comic. I was trying my hardest to craft semi-crossover stories (like the [[Deathbringer (issue)|Deathbringer two-parter]] with [[Dark Creation|US #65]]) and then the UK comic would run a batch of old UK reprint material and completely throw it out. I realised I was making matters worse (and more confusing) and not better, and pretty much stopped trying to directly tie the two together. Looking back, as I try my hardest not to do, it’s very hard to tie the Earthforce stories into a specific time frame (in terms of the US continuity), because (if I’m brutally honest) I didn’t try too hard to make it work in the first place. By that point, I was just trying to tell a bunch of fun UK stories that didn’t necessarily impact on the larger (US) storyline. How was I to know 15 or so years later people would be trying to reconcile it all?|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914233035/http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_furman.php|name=Simon Furman|site=TransFans.co.uk|year=2004}}</ref>

===Publication and format===
The Marvel UK book was published fortnightly from #1 to #26, weekly from #27 to #308, and fortnightly again from #309 to its conclusion in #332. These issues used a larger, magazine-sized format, compared to the traditional size for modern U.S. comic books. They contained 24 pages, numbered inclusive of advertising (unlike the U.S. comic). The color and paper quality was better than that of the U.S. comic, resulting in much whiter whites and, in UK-exclusive stories, no ugly dot artifacts in the colored regions.

Typically, 11 pages would be devoted to a U.S. or UK Transformers story, while the remaining pages were divided between a [[Back-up strips|back-up strip]], a letters page, small humorous comic strips (most notably ''[[Robo-Capers]]'' and ''[[Combat Colin]]''), and advertisements. Between issues #213 and #289 the format was changed to accommodate three five-page strips: the US reprint (published in colour), a new UK story (published in black and white) and a back-up strip. Issue #289 was the last to contain new UK Transformers stories.

In issue #290 there was another format change, with the comic returning to full colour throughout and reprints of classic UK stories taking the place of new black and white material. The three-strip structure was then dropped for good with issue #309; issue #310 then returned to the traditional format of an 11-page US reprint and a back-up strip, albeit published fortnightly once more.

UK children's comics typically have a weekly or fortnightly publication schedule, and monthly publication is the preserve of more substantial magazines aimed at older readers. The decision to publish fortnightly necessitated the division of the U.S. storylines between two or more UK comics, otherwise the UK comic would run out of material. The back-up strip then bulked out the issue to an acceptable size. When the comic began to be published weekly, this required still more Transformers material, which led to longer runs of original UK stories.

The Marvel UK series ran for about a year longer than its American counterpart and altogether had about twice as many stories.

===Aborted monthly===
The last issues of the comic, when readers were aware the US monthly had ended, had 'Blaster' tell the readers that the comic may not be about to end after all. Someone at the Transmaster UK fanletter ''Trans Talk'' then just phoned up the offices and asked the editor what was going on, and Papadopoulos told them the comic was going monthly; this was something ''Action Force'', ''Thundercats'', and ''Real Ghostbusters'' had all done either before or at the same time.<ref>''Trans Talk'' November 1991</ref><ref name=CheatedDeath/> <strike>Papadopoulos</strike> Blaster then confirmed this in #330:

[[File:TransformersGoesMonthly.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Colin's hopes were prematurely raised like so many fans'...]]

"The BIG NEWS! From the mail, we know that you’ve all been a little glum about where Transformers has been going — into the trashcan seems to be the generally accepted view. Well, surprise, surprise! As of issue 333, Transformers will get a bright, polished new look. You’ll be getting a 36-page monthly containing 10 pages of newly coloured Transformers classic adventures, 11 pages that feature the return of G I Joe… plus five originated new pages of Transformers that will continue the saga of the relentless war between the heroic Autobots and evil Decepticons! What better way to kick off 1992?!"

(#330-1 contained recoloured "[[The Big Shutdown!]]" pages, a presumed 'dry run' for the recoloured strip. The only other strips from the black-and-white era to be colourised at the time were the [[Mayhem Attack Squad]] storyline told across "[[The Hunting Party (Marvel)|The Hunting Party]]", "[[Way of the Warrior]]", "[[Survival Run]]", "[[A Savage Place!]]", "[[Cry Wolf!]]", "[[Wolf in the Fold!]]", and "[[Where Wolf?]]", all in [[Transformers Annual 1992]]; the rest would have to wait to be colourised by [[John-Paul Bove]] for ''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection| The Definitive G1 Collection]]''.)

Alas! #332 revealed the planned monthly continuation had been abruptly cancelled, right when [[Combat Colin]] was promoting the change and everything!

The exact reason for this change is that doing ''new'' strips would've meant spending money, and Marvel UK's then-head Paul Neary didn't want to spend it on what he considered a 'dead end' of relying on licensed material. It's also possible he saw cancelling the comic as a way to shake things up. (He would later tell ''Comics World'' #33, regarding Death's Head's original self), "I didn't think there was much future in Transformers-based robots". Interestingly, Furman hadn't been asked to write the planned new tales and we don't know if that was due to timing or someone else would've been tapped.<ref name=CheatedDeath/>

===Cover dates===
Similarly to the U.S. comic, there is also some confusion over when issues of the UK comic were published. The date on a British weekly during ''Transformers''{{'}}s run was normally the ''off''-sale date when it would be replaced by the next issue. For example [[Manoeuvres!|issue #283]] has a cover date of 18 August 1990 but was released on the 11th August 1990. During at least most of the run, the norm was for weekly comics to come out on a Saturday.

Occasionally, an issue was seen arriving on the Friday before it was "due", with such sightings usually during the Christmas/New Year period when distribution can be unsettled and overcompensated for, but it is hard to verify individual sightings.

===Marvel UK Annuals===
{{main|Transformers Annual}}
Marvel UK's '''Transformers Annuals''' were published every year, in summer to autumn in time for the Christmas market, for the life of the comic. Each annual was made up of a combination of a comic strip, text stories and editorial content. Some annuals also contained crossover stories with the main weekly comic in an attempt to boost sales. Due to falling sales, later annuals mainly contained reprinted stories from the comic. (Reprinted stories are not listed below.) These reprints are still of interest, as they present formerly black-and-white works in full colour.

{{chapters|title=[[Transformers Annual 1985|Marvel UK Annual 1985]]|content=
* [[Plague of the Insecticons!]]
* [[Missing in Action]]
* [[And There Shall Come...a Leader!]]
* [[Hunted!]]
}}

{{chapters|title=[[Transformers Annual 1986|Marvel UK Annual 1986]]|content=
* [[In the Beginning...]]
* [[The Return of the Transformers]]
* [[To a Power Unknown!]]
* [[State Games]]
* [[Victory!]]
* [[The Mission]]
}}

{{chapters|title=[[Transformers Annual 1987|Marvel UK Annual 1987]]|content=
* [[What's in a Name?]]
* [[Doomsday for Nebulos]]
* [[Vicious Circle!]]
* [[Stylor's Story]]
* [[Ark Duty]]
* [[The Final Conflict]]
}}

{{chapters|title=[[Transformers Annual 1989|Marvel UK Annual 1989]]|content=
* [[The Saga of the Transformers — So Far!]]
* [[Altered Image!]]
* [[Prime Bomb!]]
* [[All in the Minds!]]
* [[Peace]]
}}

{{chapters|title=[[Transformers Annual 1990|Marvel UK Annual 1990]]|content=
* [[The Quest!]]
* [[Destiny of the Dinobots!]]
* [[Trigger-Happy!]]
* [[Dreadwing Down!]]
* [[The Chain Gang!]]
}}

{{chapters|title=[[Transformers Annual 1991|Marvel UK Annual 1991]]|content=
* [[The Magnificent Six!]]
}}

{{chapters|title=[[Transformers Annual 1992|Marvel UK Annual 1992]]|content=
* [[Another Time & Place]]
}}

===Collected Comics===
{{main|Transformers Collected Comics}}
Marvel UK also published a companion series of sorts as a series of "Collected Comics" Specials, reprinting stories from the main series, mostly UK-original material. Of note was that these volumes would sometimes fully-colourise strips that had originally been told partially in black-and-white, along with other minor corrections. This reprint series outlived the ongoing for a couple more years, tapping into the remaining supply of colour UK material.

==Notes==
* There was almost an entirely ''new'' Marvel continuity seperate from the other two, as a toy company in continental [[Europe]] had bought the licensing rights for some of the [[Japan|Japanese]] toys that Hasbro weren't releasing in Europe. Marvel UK were approached to create an extra comic about these toys, and [[Ian Rimmer]] got [[James Hill]] and [[Mike Collins]] to start work on ''It Wouldn't Be Called Transformers'' for the UK-and-European market before Hasbro just bought the other company out. <ref>''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 2]]'' page 18</ref>
* While Marvel US had some more involvement from Hasbro until the later years (when they'd lost interest), Marvel UK didn't even have to show Hasbro UK the scripts! This sort of laissez-faire attitude is very much ''not'' how licensed comics are done anymore.<ref>''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 2]]'' page 11</ref>
* [[The Night the Transformers Saved Christmas]] was a four-page comic special published in ''[[Woman's Day]]'' magazine. There were no credits, but it was obviously a Marvel Comics production.
* According to the third issue of ''All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z''{{'}}s entries on [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]], the events of the Marvel UK Generation 1 comics take place on Marvel Earth-120185. The universe is named after the publication date of the first Marvel UK-exclusive story, "[[Man of Iron (issue)|Man of Iron]]".
* According to the [http://www.marvunapp.com/master/earthteaz.htm Marvel Universe Appendix], the events of the Marvel US comics take place on Marvel Earth-91274.
{{--}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://www.oneshallstand.com/articles/overview.html Guide to TF UK by Crespo99]
* [http://groups.google.com/group/net.comics/browse_thread/thread/4eeba9a9b0fe0817/1cdaf7df610e0376 May, 1984 net.comics review]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Transformers (Marvel Comics), The}}
[[Category:Continuities]]
[[Category:Generation 1 comic series]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]
[[Category:Marvel US issues]]

Dreadwind's Xmas!

2023-09-24T10:41:00Z

Timrollpickering: fix spelling of Harry Papadopoulos

{{comicstory
|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #302
|prev=Rhythms of Darkness!
|title="Dreadwind's Xmas!"
|next=The Human Factor!
|image=MarvelUK-302.jpg
|caption=
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|coverdate=[[December 29|29th December]] [[1990]]
|writer=[[Harry Papadopoulos]]
|chronology=Xmas [[Marvel Comics timeline|1990]]
|continuity=[[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Letters page]]
}}
'''Dreadwind has had too much of the Christmas spirits...'''

==Synopsis==
Dreadwind has barricaded himself into his room at the [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] [[United Kingdom|UK]] offices, resisting his replacement as the [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|letters page]] answerer. After some weeks he has become bitter and twisted. Then on [[Christmas|Christmas Eve]] he is visited at midnight by three apparitions. The first resembles [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] and states it is "the ghost of the past". It tells Dreadwind to give up and go back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. The second resembles [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] and is the "ghost of the present" who asks Dreadwind what has been achieved other than turning his bitterness on himself. The third is cowled but reveals itself to be a distorted version of Dreadwind who tells the Decepticon that this is what he will become if he doesn't change his ways. The spirits vanish and Dreadwind cries. At dawn he abandons his occupation and leaves, heading home to plot vengeance on the Ultimate Beings...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c2=
*[[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] (1)
|c4=
*[[Ghost of the past]] (2)
*[[Ghost of the present]] (3)
*[[Ghost of the future]] (4)
}}

==Quotes==
"Bah, Hot Rod!" he moaned.
:—'''Dreadwind''' channels Dickens.

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
*This was a text only story.

===Continuity errors===

===Continuity notes===
*There is no mention of [[Hi-Test (G1)|Hi-Test]].

===Real-life references===
*This was based on ''{{w|A Christmas Carol}}'' by [[Dickens|Charles Dickens]].
*The ghost of the present quotes from ''{{w|Thus Spoke Zarathustra}}'' by {{w|Friedrich Nietzsche}}.

===Other trivia===
*With the UK comic no longer producing originated comic stories, this text story served as the year's [[Christmas]] tale and appeared on the ''Transformation'' page.
*No credits are given for this story. Only years later, with the release of ''[[Transformers: Best of the Rarities]]'', was it confirmed to be written by the last editor on the UK comic, [[Harry Papadopoulos]].
*The title only appears on the cover.
*Dreadwind had been replaced as the letters page answerer from [[Rhythms of Darkness!|issue #300]]; however the ''Transformation'' page in that issue reported on his refusal to be evicted from his office.

===Back-up material===
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[The Human Factor!]]"
*'''Reprint ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[In the National Interest]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|G.I. Joe the Action Force]]'' - "Alliance of Convenience" and ''[[Combat Colin]]''

===Covers===
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-302.jpg|'''UK issue #302'''
</gallery>
*'''UK issue #302 cover:''' Dreadwind is looked upon by three ghosts, by [[Staz|Stewart Johnson]] and [[John Burns]].

===Advertisements===
*None yet identified.

===Reprints===
*'''''[[Transformers: Best of the Rarities]]:''''' [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] "cassette" by [[James Biggie]].
<gallery>
File:TF RaritiesCover.jpg|'''''Transformers: Best of the Rarities''''' (IDW Publishing, 2022)
</gallery>

[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK text stories]]

Classic Covers Calendar

2023-07-04T11:27:38Z

Timrollpickering: /* What went wrong */ paper change a factor

In [[1989]], as part of its blowout [[Time Wars|200th issue]], the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''Transformers'' comic by Marvel UK]] introduced the "'''Classic Covers Calendar'''". This feature would celebrate the history of the comic by printing the inks of a classic cover with new (uncredited) colours in a two-page spread, centrefold style, paired with a portion of that year's calendar. All the [[Stubbie|dumb stubbies]] had to do was print one instalment in the comic once a month. What could go wrong?
__NOTOC__
==What went wrong==
January's instalment didn't even spell "calender" correctly. An inauspicious start.

The main problem was that the Classic Covers Calendar was plagued with scheduling issues. With the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Cover dates 2|understanding that contemporary cover dates reflected the seventh day after release]], we can estimate each issue's publication date. The pattern emerges that over half of the calendars were published after their corresponding month was already underway, usually about four days late, with the January calendar dropping on the 7th. April's calendar was the first and only instalment to actually release on the first day of the month.

This was followed by calendar for '''''June''''', published erroneously in place of May (and in what would have been good time, too!) before the May calendar arrived 27 days too late, far beyond its usefulness. July and August's calendars were released in advance of their months beginning, though by September things had once again started turning up slightly belated.

Readers were encouraged to remove their Classic Covers Calendars from their comics to display as posters; this would have been fine if they had kept being printed as regular centrefolds, but by halfway through the year the calendars ''weren't actually printed in the centre pages''. This was because from [[Aspects of Evil!|issue 225]] onwards the middle eight pages of the comic were printed on a cheaper paper with only black & white on them, pushing the calendars outward. This necessitated the comic's editorial give instructions on how to remove and replace staples.<ref>On the Transformation page in both [[Aspects of Evil!|issue 224]] and [[The Hunting Party (Marvel)|issue 229]], fact fans!</ref> A non-zero amount of calendars were printed overleaf from the main strip; pulling them out for use would divorce the comic story from its closing page(s). The calendar would also push other features out of the book, with [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Dread Tidings]] getting the chop on at least two occasions.

More subjectively, the Classic Covers Calendars were just... not good? The calendars reused the original inks of each cover, paired with new colours by an uncredited artist. Due to the limitations of the printing process, this meant that the new colours were much flatter than the painted front covers that were the norm when they were originally published. Barry Kitson's March page and both of Robin Smith's contributions were particular casualties of the loss of painted details. Naturally, the calendars also removed the trade dress and speech bubbles present on the original covers, altering each image's composition – and even ''context'' in some cases, with Starscream's shouted defiance of the festive spirit in "[[Stargazing]]" being more of an angry shrug in a snowstorm. (Incidentally, December 31st is presented as being on the same Saturday as December 30th.) Additionally, the variety of covers was lacking, given it was an opportunity to revisit the book's history, with "[[Headhunt]]", "[[Enemy Action!]]", and "[[Grudge Match!]]" each represented twice.

The calendar did not return in 1990.

==Gallery==
{|class="wikitable" border="10" style="width:100%;" align="center"
|-
!
! January
! February
! March
! April
! June
! May
|-
! Calendar
|[[File:Classic Covers Calendar 200.jpg|frameless|150px]] [[Time Wars|Issue 200]]
|[[File:Classic Covers Calendar 204.jpg|frameless|150px]] [[Time Wars|Issue 204]]
|[[File:Classic Covers Calendar 208.jpg|frameless|150px]] [[Dark Star|Issue 208]]
|[[File:Classic Covers Calendar 212.jpg|frameless|150px]] [[The Man in the Machine!|Issue 212]]
|[[File:Classic Covers Calendar 216.jpg|frameless|150px]] [[Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?|Issue 216]]
|[[File:Classic Covers Calendar 220.jpg|frameless|150px]] [[Recipe for Disaster!|Issue 220]]
|-
! Cover date
|January 14, 1989
|February 11, 1989
|March 11, 1989
|April 8, 1989
|May 6, 1989
|June 3, 1989
|-
! Approx. publication
|January 7, 1989
|February 4, 1989
|March 4, 1989
|April 1, 1989
|April 29, 1989
|May 27, 1989
|-
! Original cover
|[[File:MarvelUK-117.jpg|frameless|150px]] Issue 117, "[[Hunters]]"
|[[File:MarvelUK-134.jpg|frameless|150px]] Issue 134, "[[Headhunt]]"
|[[File:MarvelUK-138.jpg|frameless|150px]] Issue 138 "[[Ladies' Night (issue)|Ladies' Night]]"
|[[File:MarvelUK-152.jpg|frameless|150px]] Issue 152, "[[Enemy Action!]]"
|[[File:MarvelUK-133.jpg|frameless|150px]] Issue 133, "[[Headhunt]]"
|[[File:MarvelUK-136.jpg|frameless|150px]] Issue 136, "[[Grudge Match!]]"
|-
! Original artist
|[[Geoff Senior]]
|[[Lee Sullivan]]
|[[Barry Kitson]]
|Lee Sullivan
|[[Dave Gibbons]]
|[[Robin Smith]]
|-
|}

{|class="wikitable" border="10" style="width:100%" align="center"
|-
!
! July
! August
! September
! October
! November
! December
|-
! Calendar
|[[File:Classic Covers Calendar 224.jpg|frameless|150px]] [[Aspects of Evil!|Issue 224]]
|[[File:Classic Covers Calendar 229.jpg|frameless|150px]] [[The Hunting Party (Marvel)|Issue 229]]
|[[File:Classic Covers Calendar 234.jpg|frameless|150px]] [[King Con!|Issue 234]]
|[[File:Classic Covers Calendar 237.jpg|frameless|150px]] [[The Interplanetary Wrestling Championship!|Issue 237]]
|[[File:Classic Covers Calendar 243.jpg|frameless|150px]] [[The Resurrection Gambit!|Issue 243]]
|[[File:Classic Covers Calendar 247.jpg|frameless|150px]] [[All the Familiar Faces!|Issue 247]]
|-
! Cover date
|July 1, 1989
|August 5, 1989
|September 9, 1989
|September 30, 1989
|November 11, 1989
|December 9, 1989
|-
! Approx. publication
|June 24, 1989
|29 July, 1989
|September 2, 1989
|September 23, 1989
|November 4, 1989
|December 2, 1989
|-
! Original cover
|[[File:MarvelUK-129.jpg|frameless|150px]] Issue 129, "[[Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom]]"
| style="vertical-align: top;" |[[File:MarvelUK-142.jpg|frameless|150px]] Issue 142, "[[Child's Play (issue)|Child's Play]]"
| style="vertical-align: top;" |[[File:MarvelUK-130.jpg|frameless|150px]] Issue 130, "[[Worlds Apart!]]"
| style="vertical-align: top;" |[[File:MarvelUK-153.jpg|frameless|150px]] Issue 153, "[[Enemy Action!]]"
| style="vertical-align: top;" |[[File:MarvelUK-135.jpg|frameless|150px]] Issue 135, "[[Grudge Match!]]"
| style="vertical-align: top;" |[[File:MarvelUK-145.jpg|frameless|150px]] Issue 145, "[[Stargazing]]"
|-
! Original artist
|Robin Smith
|[[Dan Reed]]
|Geoff Senior
|Lee Sullivan
|[[Jeff Anderson]]
|Barry Kitson
|}

==Notes==
*The ''[[Combat Colin]]'' strip in [[Recipe for Disaster!|issue 220]] 'explains' the June/May gaffe by blaming the evil genius Professor Madprof, whose time machine had mixed up the seasons (riffing on the then-recent mild winter and cold spring weather in real life).
*[https://whencanireusethiscalendar.com/?y=1989 Re-use your calendars!] It might be too late for [[2023]], but set a reminder for [[2034]]!

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Marvel Generation 1 issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Talk:Parallel import

2022-08-24T14:15:29Z

Timrollpickering: /* Mispacks */

Just posting a little note here to remind people that neither T.J. Maxx nor T.K. Maxx is an error in this article. Both are real stores (owned by the same company). "J" stores are American, "K" stores are British. Just hoping to forestall some mistaken "corrections". --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] ([[User talk:Khajidha|talk]]) 14:36, 5 April 2017 (EDT)
:"K" stores also exist in Germany. They reportedly had the first wave of FOC Legends, at a time when Generations was supposed to be a TRU exclusive line here in Europe. Then again, the Decepticon data discs were also found at TK Maxx and B&M stores in the UK, and at least at B&M they came in European packaging...--[[User:Nevermore|Nevermore]] ([[User talk:Nevermore|talk]]) 15:56, 5 April 2017 (EDT)
::I just remember thinking it was a typo the first time I heard of TK Maxx. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] ([[User talk:Khajidha|talk]]) 20:53, 5 April 2017 (EDT)

== Grey vs Gray ==

Surely if most Grey Imports are found in the UK, then the UK spelling of Grey with an e is more appropriate?
*There, better? (Please remember to sign your posts in the future using the second button from the right).--[[User:Nevermore|Nevermore]] ([[User talk:Nevermore|talk]]) 16:41, 6 April 2017 (EDT)

== Mispacks ==

Should we mention somewhere on here that this is different from the occasional find of items intended for one market erroneously packed in cases meant for another market? --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] ([[User talk:Khajidha|talk]]) 09:36, 6 November 2017 (EST)

:I think the problem is it's very hard for fans, especially years later, to tell the difference between a shop receiving product through the regular supply channels that just comes in the wrong packaging for whatever reason (e.g. mistakes at the packaging plant or surplus stock from the US being sent to a market a year behind rather than producing new cards or packaging intended for one grouping of European countries going to another), an individual shop or chain getting a product otherwise skipped in that country as an exclusive (my memory is that the G2 Aerialbots in the UK were stickered as being a Woolworths exclusive), collector focused shops that legitimately import directly instead of or in addition to the local distribution and a shop having alternative suppliers who provide out of territory product. It all results in foreign packaging being on sale in that country but isn't all for the same reason. [[User:Timrollpickering|Timrollpickering]] ([[User talk:Timrollpickering|talk]]) 10:15, 24 August 2022 (EDT)

Talk:Shelfwarmer

2022-04-21T22:15:16Z

Timrollpickering: fix contents box

==Early comments==
Real Gears move O.K. in my neck of the woods.

Signal flare and Offshoot however, despite their awesomeness, lasted for years.[[User:Chiasaur11|Chiasaur11]] 03:30, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

:Yeah, I'm not sure the entire Real Gear line could be lumped in as "pegwarmers". I know there's some give and take depending on where you're located, but it's not like there's pegs and pegs of these things just sittin' around for months on end... -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 03:59, 8 October 2007 (UTC)
::...well, there are everyplace I've looked since July. I guess it is a regional difference, but if so it's a very stark and extreme one.--[[User:Thylacine 2000|Thylacine 2000]] 13:18, 8 October 2007 (UTC)
::I'd say Signal Flare and Offshoot should replace the Real Gears. The Real Gears are moving well, I haven't seen Meantime and the gorilla game controller since I picked up my own. Signal Flare and Offshoot were hanging around well into 2006. --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 04:11, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

Yeah the way things went over the summer, I don't think one can objectively call ''any'' of the movie toyline "shelfwarmers" in the truest sense. At least in the case of the actual transforming toys rather than all the tie-in merchandise, nearly every store has had trouble keeping them on the shelves.--[[User:Rosicrucian|Rosicrucian]] 04:31, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

Power-Up is the only RGR who I'd say would qualify as a shelfwarmer. Everyone eles moved and moved well... and I've hit a LOT of stores in a fair few states since the movei-line launch. --[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]] 13:26, 8 October 2007 (UTC)

Swindle and Bonecrusher in Germany. Seriously. I know I might sound like a broken record, but these fuckers are STILL warming the pegs in half a dozen stores I visited over the past few weeks, and that's more than three months after the two of them first came out. One TRU store even still has TWO ENTIRE SHELVES full of them.--[[User:Nevermore|Nevermore]] 19:57, 28 November 2007 (UTC)

Supreme Cheetor and Alternators Swindle should be added to this page, I think. Also, I don't know if it was only my area that was like this, but the stores in my area were LOADED with Drill Bit and Manterror for years, even after Beast Machines was on the shelves and even after Transquito and BW Scavenger finally vanished. Wal-Mart, Target, K-Mart (ESPECIALLY K-Mart), even the GROCERY STORES had these guys flooding the shelves for years. They made it hard to get early Beast Machines toys until the stores finally decided to take them off the shelves. [[User:Fiction Alchemist|C.V. Reynolds]] 11:15, 26 December 2007 (UTC)

:Oh, excuse me. I should tried to make my comment actually make some... sense. Yes, Drill Bit and Manterror were on the shelves all through the remainder of Beast Wars, but they didn't cause as much trouble as I made out. Some of the stores were giving more space to Transformers at the time, after all. It did briefly seem like Drill Bit and Manterror were disappearing at one point, but they returned in full before Beast Machines. I believe that the stores may have wanted to take one more try to clear their inventory of an ending line, and put out their remaining shelfwarmers in hopes they might actually sell. Much like in the case of the Fuzors, clearance failed to work for these guys as well. Still don't know if any other places were flooded with Drill Bit or Manterror, though. [[User:71.243.235.10|71.243.235.10]] 11:32, 26 December 2007 (UTC) It logged me out while I was typing my message for some reason, so I'm re-signing. Sorry about that. [[User:Fiction Alchemist|C.V. Reynolds]] 11:33, 26 December 2007 (UTC)

As a random aside, and possibly an isolated case, but I remember as late as... I dunno, but the first waves of Toy Biz Marvel Heroes were out, there were still reasonable piles of Insecticons at some toy stores in the Atlanta area. (Specifically, at a Lionel Toy World near my childhood home - I found them while looking for the first Toy-Biz Daredevil, shoulda bought 'em). [[User:Hooper X|-hx]] 02:45, 16 April 2008 (UTC)

This might be pointless to ask, but can we get some verification on the shelfwarmer/pegwarmer status of some of these toys, especially Transformers Movie Stockade? I can verify as a personal eyewitness that Movie version Payload is a pegwarmer (my local Wal-Mart store has about two or three pegs filled with nothing but Payload). However, I've only seen Stockade from time to time, so he seems to be quite popular in my area. - [[User:Zadok Rox|Zadok Rox]] 02:31, 3 June 2008 (UTC)

== Current (April 2009) shelfwarmers... ==

The TRU exclusive Mudflap should probably be mentioned, a shelfwarming redeco of a shelfwarmer. Whose bright idea was this?
Also, is it just my area that seems to have unlimited numbers of original deco Animated Lugnuts? [[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 21:35, 23 April 2009 (EDT)

It's July and ROTF is out (obviously). Try buying a Voyager Movie 2 anything that isn't fucking Demolishor. I checked pretty much every toyshop worth looking at in London, and only once managed to find Starscream (or indeed anything that wasn't Demolishor).

That's London as in the largest city in the UK. Yeah. {{unsigned|81.154.60.137|16:24, 15 July 2009}}
:Demolishor certainly seems to be around in greater numbers than most other Voyagers here in San Antonio, but I still see a fair number of Starscreams and Stratospheres, a few Megatrons, and sometimes some Optimus Primes. The Fallen and Mixmaster have also shown up, but haven't been refreshed on the shelves as often, at least at the Wal-Marts and Targets to which I've had time to go.
:The point is, while Demolishor may indeed turn out to be shelfwarmer, your local Voyager availability status alone isn't enough to judge. Your situation is regrettable, but not necessarily representative of the situation anywhere beyond London, or at least whatever falls within your definition of "toyshop[s] worth looking at in London".
:Oh—and please don't forget to sign your talk page posts. Click the signature button (second from the right) above the edit window, or type four tildes (<nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>).--[[User:Apcog|Apcog]] 18:19, 15 July 2009 (EDT)

=== as for August 2009... ===

While the fifth wave of Animated STILL haven't reached Poland, there's LOTS AND PLENTY of Jazzes, Oil-Slicks (seriously, who would want this guy...?), Snarls (same here - but Swoops have vanished!) and Soundwaves lying around. Damn, they even started to cut these Deluxes' prices by half in some markets. ...but try buying first wave's Prowl for example. I went on a ''damn shopping crusade'' and in the end I settled for an online shop. And international shopping's is ''really'' expensive. At last I found my Prowl in an obscure toy shop, totally by chance, by the way. I bet it was the last copy around. ''And we're talking 'bout the capital here.'' Ah, the bitter joy of being TF fan while living on the Outer Rim of the galaxy.
-- [[User:Silver|Silvery]] 06:28, 29 August 2009 (EDT)

=== As of March 2010 ===
Big Bad Toy Store claims to be sold out of Battle Unicorns. I just looked. (Darn darn darn darn darn. I want that toy. I smell [[Scalping|scalpers]]). [[User:ZeldaTheSwordsman|ZeldaTheSwordsman]] 23:09, 15 March 2010 (EDT)

== Japanese movie toys ==

Am i the only one who noticed that they are publishing Japanese movie toys in retail now? I noticed it in Belgium, but i have no idea if the rest of Europe/America has the same trend. If so, could this be considered to be such shelfwarmers that they try to get rid of the Japanese toys in time for the ROTF toy line?(not that i'm complaining...clear windows '76 Bumblebee? battle damage Arcee? count me in!)--[[User:Sunjumper|Sunjumper]] 15:23, 25 April 2009 (EDT)

==Titanium Galvatron==
The major shelfwarmer ever? Titanium Galvatron, he has been lying around in my city for years, and only one store got rid of him, by selling himm at $2. In other stores (just one because the other having him closed and they had like 10 of him) there are about 6 or 7 and there's so little chance of him selling out (has been there for 3 years), that I call the place "Galvatron's lair", and to make matters worse, they STILL have the T.E.C.H. line.[[User:ACIDSTORM92|ACIDSTORM92]] 20:16, 30 December 2009 (EST)
:Both Titanium Galvatron and the T.E.C.H line are still there, I guess that sets a new record.-[[User:ACIDSTORM92|ACIDSTORM92]] 03:38, 6 July 2010 (EDT)
::Might come as a shocker for most of you, but Galvatron is STILL there, he appeared to be gone, but it seems he never left. Might have to buy the little guy afterall and erect an altar in his honor.-[[User:ACIDSTORM92|ACIDSTORM92]] 04:40, 22 April 2011 (EDT)
:::Wow! Just wow. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 10:13, 22 April 2011 (EDT)

== Mudflap ==

In Northern VA, Mudflap, along with the "Tuner" variant are major shelfwarmers. Is this true in any other places?--[[User:MistaTee|MistaTee]] 15:49, 27 May 2010 (EDT)

He does shelfwarm quite well in France - in my sector, anyway (along with Chromia, Skids and Wheelie...) --[[User:HunterCham|HunterCham]] 16:04, 27 May 2010 (EDT)
: All over the place here. Some stores, he's at least 90% of the peg contents. --[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]] 16:14, 27 May 2010 (EDT)
::Around here (NC foothills) both twins, in all size classes, are major shelfwarmers. When will movie makers learn that trying to force a "kid appeal" character never works? --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 11:45, 6 July 2010 (EDT)
:::He's all over the place here, too. TRU is sold out of all their new stock except for a few HFTD Legends and one PCC, but Tuner Mudflap still dominates. Here's a thread on seibertron.com about it: http://www.seibertron.com/energonpub/tuner-mudflap-killed-wal-mart-s-transformer-section-p1101154.php--[[User:Kookaburra|Kookaburra]] 16:04, 21 July 2010 (EDT)
::::I haven't seen him. But then again, I live in Belgium and the local store is full of ROTF Demolishors anyway. --[[User:-Blackout-|-Blackout-]] 16:18, 21 July 2010 (EDT)
:::::You know what, Hasbro should never use the name Mudflap again, is cursed. I went to many stores in Texas, Alabama and Florida and every store had Mudflaps and Tuner Mudflaps, in some cases it was the entire Deluxe pricepoint.[[User:ACIDSTORM92|ACIDSTORM92]] 02:00, 29 July 2010 (EDT)
::::::It's not so much the name that's cursed, as much as it's Hasbro releasing what amounts to practically the same toy twice, within a very short timespan. I know they're going for "recognizability" here but ''GEEZ''. --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 02:05, 29 July 2010 (EDT)
:::::::Plus, it's a crappy toy. It makes the previous [[Mudflap (Cybertron)|Mudflap]] toy look great by comparison. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 08:16, 29 July 2010 (EDT)
:I wouldn't say "crappy", but Hasbro could of done better. Btw, one of my local Walmart stores in the northern part of South Carolina had plenty of Tuner Mudflaps. Meanwhile, the one closest to me has Sideways and Dead End clogging up the pegs (maybe they should trade some?). - [[User:Zadok Rox|Zadok Rox]] 09:29, 29 July 2010 (EDT)

== Verbosing/De-verbosing ==

Hey, Loki? My cleanup actually made the page shorter (''not'' more verbose), and cut out a lot of redundant adjectives. I also shortened or split a bunch of run-on sentences. And, some of the original text simply makes no sense, like "As the fandom became more aware of the concept of shelfwarmers and as Hasbro changed its strategies in selling toys to retailers, documenting what is and isn't a shelfwarmer became more and more acute." How can ''documenting'' be made more "acute"? So, instead of a wholesale revert, could you tell me which specific bits of my edit you had problems with? 'Cause I still think the last part of this page needs serious cleanup. Thanks! [[User:JW|JW]] 15:10, 27 September 2010 (EDT)
:Looking at a lot of overuse of contractions, quotation marks, and useless parentheses makes it look much less formal like a 14-year-old wrote it. Besides, filesize is not inversely proportionate to the amount of useful information contained within the article; sure you could make it shorter ''and'' cut out verboseness, but it is possible to have more uneeded words with a shorter page by cutting out useful information in favor of the text in question. Special symbols like quotation marks and parentheses should be used sparingly, opt to learn how to use semicolons effectively and how to word sentences to stress certain words or phrases without quotation marks. As for "How can documenting be made more "acute"?", acute means sharp and so can mean clear like a clear command or sentence, resulting in the sentence meaning "Documenting can be made clearer by presenting more accurate information" without so many words by using the word "acute". Also, don't fuss about your edit being reverted. In this case, I reverted it so while you are making a better cleanup the rest of us don't have to read your not up to par changes in the meantime. Although there are [[User:Detour|some]] [[User:Eire|people]] who are very fussy about ''their pages'' being edited in a way they don't necessarily like, I don't revert edits for reasons like that. --[[User:LokitheGrammarNazi|LokitheGrammarNazi]] 15:29, 27 September 2010 (EDT)
::Loki, I'm the author or co-author of a dozen or so books (available through Amazon; tell your friends!), so I do know my way around grammar. And I'm not making a fuss, I'm beginning a discussion. Third, while "acute" does indeed mean "sharp", "severe", "penetrating", "brief", or "sensitive", it does not mean "clear" or "easy" in normal usage. If you can point to an example elsewhere where it's used that way, I'd be enlightened.
::Regardless, thank you for your reply. If I feel a need to edit this page again, I'll start with a strict trim for length, so we can take things one step at a time. [[User:JW|JW]] 15:44, 27 September 2010 (EDT)
:::If I should cite where acute can mean clear, then you should cite what books you authored because all I have to go on about your knowledge of grammar is that you play with legos, not that making lego creations at your high caliber is a bad thing but it does make me think that grammar is the least of your worries. At least you can spell the word "grammar" as I see not a whole lot of people can around here. Immediately demanding as to why I edited your edits a minute after I made them does seem like you were making a fuss over it, but at least I am not the type to start a mediocre playground argument. Hell, writing an argument that is boiled down to "I did this wonderful thing that automatically makes me smart" sounds like you made it up just to try to impress me, however shamelessly and soullessly advertizing it in the same sentence also makes me give you the benefit of the doubt. But do not worry, another user has already put your edit back on top, not that I agree with his edits either. I am not re-reverting that edit because I do not want to look like those who just revert every single revertation without a written reason like [[User:Khajidha|that person]] to any of the moderators. --[[User:LokitheGrammarNazi|LokitheGrammarNazi]] 16:00, 27 September 2010 (EDT)
::::I reverted it because JW had clarified several sentences and reduced the verbosity of the paragraph. Also, I question the validity of the grammatical opinions of a person who uses verbose as a verb (I'm giving JW the benefit of the doubt that his section header is simply playing off of your usage). Not to mention that there is no such word as "revertation", it's reversion. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 16:08, 27 September 2010 (EDT)
:::::Playing? Moi? Thanks for the positive vote, Khajidha. I was worried I'd lost my touch. [[User:JW|JW]] 16:27, 27 September 2010 (EDT)
::::::[[Furmanism|Just what are you playing at]], JW? Sorry, had to do it :) --[[User:MistaTee|MistaTee]] 16:43, 27 September 2010 (EDT)
:::::::Hey, my Furmanism days are ''over, '''fin-''''' uh, completed. Um. [[User:JW|JW]] 16:46, 27 September 2010 (EDT)
::::::I did change a few things that I felt were still unclear or clunky. I also removed pipes from links that didn't need them ([[retool]]s instead of [[Retool|retools]]).--[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 16:45, 27 September 2010 (EDT)
::::''then you should cite what books you authored''
::::The first link on my user page is to a bibliography. My real name is also there, and can be used to search on Amazon. Loki, may I ask a personal question? Your writing is very precise and usually correct, but kinda stilted. Is English not your first langauge? For example, "Hell, writing an argument that is boiled down to..." is arguably okay, but would much more often be written as, "Hell, writing an argument that boils down to..." or even, "Hell, you wrote an argument that boils down to..." Further, you used "advertizing", which is a very rare spelling of the word, and you didn't capitalize "Lego". So, I ask, because you intend to be this Wiki's "Grammar Nazi", and I'm curious about your bona fides. Please let me know if I offend.
::::(Also, dude, this is a website about robot toys. Getting condescending because I also "play with legos" {sic} is ''inane.'') [[User:JW|JW]] 16:23, 27 September 2010 (EDT)
:::::It's best not to take someone's user name too seriously. I personally couldn't think of anything better as my real name isn't too good and flashy of a screen name. Sure, I may have made a few mistakes here and there but everyone does. English most definitely is my first language, but I have read many a book by some authors who don't have a very good grasp on it plus a few southern local trends do play a subtle part in my method of speech. Usually I do not police my writing on the internet with as much scrutiny as demonstrated in places like in my personal writing or even writing for an academic assignment where editing myself up to par with my own standards requires contant editing in bursts, as you can probably see in my user contributions. Sometimes my train of thought exceeds the speed that I can type at and some words get lost in the [[void]] and don't get typed down and so look horrible. Besides, most of the edits that live up to my screen name are for punctuation like too many commas or misuse of colons and semicolons, though I do rarely alter the structure of a sentence so it sounds ''right'', whatever that may mean to any one person. Overall, you seem more like the kind of person I could get along with... grammatically, of course. --[[User:LokitheGrammarNazi|LokitheGrammarNazi]] 17:15, 27 September 2010 (EDT)
::::::Lord knows I can be obsessive about commas, too. [[User:JW|JW]] 18:52, 27 September 2010 (EDT)

== Animated shelfwarmers ==

[[Snarl (Animated)|Snarl]] and [[Oil Slick (Animated)|Oil Slick]], anyone? All of the Toys R Us locations I've been to recently (in Canada and the USA) are packed with these guys. While Walmart and Target have gotten rid of Animated products to make room for 2010 and Generations, Toys R Us has the new lines while leaving Snarl and Oil Slick to lie around. Plus, someone above me mentioned them. There were also 11 (I counted) Atomic Lugnuts, but I don't think he's shelfwarming nearly as bad as the other two. Do they deserve a mention in the article? --[[User:NCZ|NCZ]] 15:36, 13 October 2010 (EDT)
:Around here Snarl is clogging shelves but Oil Slick sells about as well as any other animated figure. The squadrons of Lugnuts (both decos) eventually disappeared after several months. Animated Ratchet is possibly the biggest shelfwarmer at my local TRU. Arcee, Rodimus, even Ironhide disappear instantly, this guy stays and stays. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 17:04, 13 October 2010 (EDT)
::At my TRU it's the same, with a lone Electrostatic Soundwave as the only non-Cybertronian Ratchet hold out.--[[User:Kookaburra|Kookaburra]] 21:16, 14 October 2010 (EDT)
:::Animated is pretty much all sold out where I am. Even the single, solitary Lugnut that had been hanging around for months is gone. --[[User:-Blackout-|-Blackout-]] 02:12, 15 October 2010 (EDT)

== The Retail Cross Reference Conundrum ==

Something I'm not immediately seeing described in brief Google searches or here in this wiki is what I've taken to calling the "Cross Reference Conundrum" and that's when retail cross references (the store's computer system treating different toys of the same class and price as if they were the same item for stocking purposes) forces the unpopular toys to stick around taking up space and filling the store's count and end up blocking the popular ones from either shipping or, in the case of less-than-mindful employees, being stocked despite boxes sitting in the backroom. I work at a retail store that sells Transformers and since a single space can be dedicated to a great many toys from the same size class/price point, the store's quota is filled because it has all it "needs", even if the majority (or heck, even every last one) is some lousy repaint nobody wants to buy. Sure enough, when the space finally does sell down at whatever pathetic pace and the popular ones are restocked, they sell out in no time. I've seen some popular Voyager Class toys sell in mere hours after they were stocked into space previously occupied by other Voyagers that took a few weeks to sell. I swear, the existence of cross references and its unintended survival-of-the-least-popular side effect likely reduces some sales to a fraction of what they would be, and I'm amazed retailers and toy manufacturers like Hasbro tolerate this. (Or am I mistaken and do sales, whether fast or slow always somehow equalize in the end?)

Anyone else note this phenomenon in the world of transformers, or even toys in general? I'm not certain what search terms would bring up discussions about it, but I've even had employees at other, unrelated stores tell me "If we get it, it will appear here, but until these sell down we won't be receiving anymore." or words to that effect. Any on-line references could justify a mention in this article, but without such refs, I'd just be ranting with such an inclusion.

Thanks, {{unsigned|4.254.80.136}}
: That makes a lot of sense, and if we can get a little corroboration would be a valuable contribution to the article. [[User:JW|JW]] 10:14, 6 December 2010 (EST)
::I spoke to a Hasbro rep who was in my local Walmart a few months ago about this. According to her, Walmart uses the system described above where as long as there is product on the shelf new orders won't be made even if all 49 figures are Tuner Mudflaps. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 08:24, 7 December 2010 (EST)
:::Yeah, that sounds exactly right. Everything is done by item count, and if every Deluxe Transformer whether Generations, HFTD, ROTF, or RTS, is scanned as TRANS DLX FIG then as long as there are an adequate number of TRANS DLX FIG on the shelf, there's no need to put more out. (This also leads to cases where ostensibly JUST Hunt for the Decepticons Deluxes are on sale, but all Deluxes ring up at the sale price.) We just need this clarified and explained by a reliable and citable reference. [[User:Hooper X|-hx]] 10:48, 7 December 2010 (EST)
::::Yeah, I knew my conversation wouldn't be a reliable source, just confirming that the general idea is correct and should be explored. I also think that the different main lines are inventoried seperately, meaning that Generations would get reordered even if HFTD was still clogging shelves. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 10:56, 7 December 2010 (EST)
:::::Having worked in one of the aforementioned toy departments, I can confirm that Khajidha's information from the Hasbro rep is correct. I believe Khajidha's right about main lines being inventoried separately as well. I left toys before Universe 2003 started so I don't know for sure how concurrent lines are being handled, but I do know that RID, Armada, and Energon were not cross-referenced with each other. Have to wonder who would be a reliable and citable source that would also be willing to verify our information in a reliable and citable way? I don't see Wal-Mart wanting to verify this at such a level. --[[User:Tigerpaw28|Tigerpaw28]] 12:10, 7 December 2010 (EST)
::::::This sucks. Those Tuner Mudflaps are gonna limit the deluxe stock of Transformers for YEARS! --[[User:MistaTee|MistaTee]] 17:36, 7 December 2010 (EST)

Years late all round but I remember similar problems with Argos. For those unfamiliar with the chain or concept, Argos is a catalogue store where you chose items from a catalogue, fill out a form and pay at a til (or now on a machine), then the goods are collected from the stock room. The system broadly works and allows a store to stock and turnover more than it would with shelf displays, but for smaller toys it's never been very good at itemising the different ones in a range so you wind up ordering blind and even then getting the sub-line. During the Beast Wars era it was common to order a deluxe Fuzor or Transmetal and get a "choice" of earlier deluxes presented even if one of the new toys was on the limited display shelf. I don't know how responsive the system is now or if it led to instant returns (though the average person buying a toy of that kind in Argos probably isn't an expert on the range or the recipient's collection) but it's a rare case where the customer is interfacing with the stock system. [[User:Timrollpickering|Timrollpickering]] ([[User talk:Timrollpickering|talk]]) 10:28, 18 September 2014 (EDT)

== UK Entertainer shelfwarmers as of June 2011 ==

Seems that ROTF Mixmaster is still at Entertainer stores across the West Midlands of the UK (possibly nationwide) in bloody fleets. There must've been a massive glut of the middle waves of ROTF because skids, mudflap and chromia did the same and it meant Generations and RTS never made it onto their shelves. HFTD never made it past wave 1. What's truly sad is a recent fleet of those first movie ''unleashed'' Megatron statues have suddenly arrived and nobody gives a toss. Animated Shockwaves and Skywarps did the same last year but those were desireable. They're still trying to clear out the Bumblebee voice changers as well. [[User:Durge|Durge]] 11:52, 19 June 2011 (EDT)

== Dark of the Moon in Australia (Or at least Brisbane, Queensland) ==

Summed up?

Everywhere. Strafe from the 2010-11 lineup is fairly unpopular too (Though, honestly, Wave 3 was skipped entirely and wave 4 only appeared in May of -2012-)

Most of it comes from stubborn refusal to mark down anything at most stores along with a HEAVY glut of wave 1 toys, Leader Bumblebee and Ironhide are still sitting at a 'normal' $70. Most deluxe toys are knocked down a few dollars ($20-30 standard, $15 on 'sale') but aren't moving at all.

I should have taken a picture when I was in the city, an eight foot span that was six foot tall FILLED with DotM toys on pegs at least six deep. I'll post a catalog page next time I get a toy one considering they're ALL filled with DotM toys in an effort to get them to go.[[Special:Contributions/114.77.169.116|114.77.169.116]] 11:54, 7 August 2012 (EDT)

==Prime Bumblebee==
Is it safe to say that Prime Bumblebee (and his remold/recolors to some degree) are pretty much Shelfwarmers? --[[User:MistaTee|MistaTee]] 12:08, 7 August 2012 (EDT)
: Not unless they're still there next year. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 15:17, 7 August 2012 (EDT)
::Yeah, a toy has to stay on the shelf long after it STOPPED shipping to be a shelfwarmer. BBs problem is that Hasbro has been and still is shipping him in huge numbers compaired to everyone else. He comes at the problem from an entirely different direction. An "Overshipper" rather than a "Shelfwarmer" if you will. At least so far.--[[Special:Contributions/76.28.76.206|76.28.76.206]] 15:29, 7 August 2012 (EDT)
Bumblebee has had the problem of being the 'Kid focus character' for the past few lines, being shipped in large numbers while getting SEVERAL redecos that are then shipped in equally large numbers. Someone in Hasbro's marketing team evidently thinks that kids'll nag for ANOTHER Bumblebee just because the new one is a different colour. But, it seems to have equaled out so far... Maybe they've been bought up to kitbash into Cliffjumpers? [[Special:Contributions/114.77.169.116|114.77.169.116]] 20:47, 7 August 2012 (EDT)
:Not around here. EVERY store has pegs and pegs of nothing but BB. Sometimes both the yellow and the grey versions stick around in large numbers. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 20:54, 7 August 2012 (EDT)
::It's not just Prime Bumblebee. The TRU near me still has ROTF Leader 'bee (at least since the last time I was up there, about a month ago). My local Wal-Mart has an endcap of just DOTM BBs. And at least 6 or 7 of the PRID versions.--[[Special:Contributions/108.20.212.48|108.20.212.48]] 12:23, 2 September 2012 (EDT)
:Nobody at Hasbro thinks kids will ask for a second Bumblebee because he's in different colors. They think a kid might want a Bumblebee after the old one has stopped shipping, so they keep Bumblebee around in various decoes so he's always available for a new customer to buy into the brand. It lets them superficially refresh their product to keep the retail buyers happy, while letting them make "entry" characters always there for people who want them. -[[User:LV|LV]] 12:48, 2 September 2012 (EDT)

== CW shelfwarmers ==

Anyone else think the Jetfire seeker retools qualify?
:Skywarp does, at least. All but one of the stores that sell large Transformers in my area still have him, and consequently none of them have had the TR leaders yet. (And the one store that doesn't have Skywarp? They never got him in the first place because they still have at least 12 ''Megatrons''.)
:Thundercracker is gone by now but he did linger for long enough to make Ultra Magnus rare. [[User:NovaSaber|NovaSaber]] ([[User talk:NovaSaber|talk]]) 14:49, 11 September 2016 (EDT)
::All three Seeker redecoes linger around here, Starscream less so but still not really selling. The Armada Megatron was another lingerer here. And I've never SEEN Ultra Magnus. Located in Hickory, NC, for reference. --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] ([[User talk:Khajidha|talk]]) 17:21, 11 September 2016 (EDT)
:::Gonna go ahead and say that yeah, Skywarp is a damnable plague. It's often the only Leader-class toy on the shelf throughout Hampton Roads. Starscream has barely had the chance to show up just about anywhere. We're fairly well into ''Titans Return'' now and I'm waiting for Skywarp to clear out so that we can start getting some new stuff. I've checked all the way from Newport News down to Chesapeake, at every Toys-R-Us, Walmart, and Target I can find. He's EVERYWHERE. It's like the weird early episodes of the original cartoon when all the background Cons were just clones of the main 3. --[[User:King Starscream|King Starscream]] ([[User talk:King Starscream|talk]]) 16:33, 14 October 2016 (EDT)

== Titans Return ==

Is anyone else having the same horde of Sentinel Primes clogging up their retailers? He's practically the ONLY Voyager out right now besides the occasional left over Menasor. It seems like every case sells 3 Galvatrons and 1 Sentinel, and now no one has room for anything new. --[[User:King Starscream|King Starscream]] ([[User talk:King Starscream|talk]]) 16:35, 14 October 2016 (EDT)
:This page is not a real-time, up-to-the-minute status report, especially on a line that has ''only gotten its second wave out at retail''. Dial it back. --[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]] ([[User talk:M Sipher|talk]]) 14:32, 15 October 2016 (EDT)
Not Titans Return, but here in the UK it's striking how the CW runs of Armada Megatron and Ultra Magnus can still be found, a year after they were first released (especially given how awesome Mags is!). But the winners here are Generations Frenzy and Ratbat, still sitting on pegs 4 years after release. I'd almost take pity on them and buy them, but (a) I already did, and (b) there's three or four packs at my local TRU.[[User:James Casey|James Casey]] ([[User talk:James Casey|talk]]) 05:59, 5 November 2016 (EDT)

Meanwhile, many Walgreens exclusive Brainstorms had flooded to some of my country's shopping malls' shelves. [[User:FigureGunplaFan|FigureGunplaFan]] ([[User talk:FigureGunplaFan|talk]]) 10:21, 22 February 2017 (EST)

==Year of the Monkey Optimus==
Maybe this is just a Canadian thing, but many of my local TRU's seem to have this toy in ''vast'' quantities - I'm talking, like, eight or nine boxes, heavily marked down, gathering dust at the bottom of the shelf beneath Titans Return and Last Knight stuff. Has anyone else in other countries experienced this? [[User:Grum|Grum]] ([[User talk:Grum|talk]]) 18:48, 12 July 2017 (EDT)
:I don't think I ever saw him in the U.S. --[[User:MistaTee|MistaTee]] ([[User talk:MistaTee|talk]]) 23:22, 12 July 2017 (EDT)

== Brawns and Clobber, shelfwarmer supreme ==

If there is one that I would call a shelfwarmer it would be Titans Return Brawn, with Clobber close behind. A small local store here has roughly 7 Brawns and 4 Clobbers... Since early 2017. It's no better in a larger retailer some towns away which ALSO has a massive amount of Brawns and Clobbers relaxing side by side. Even in stores in Germany, whenever there is a TF section, you can guarantee there is just an army of them staring right at you. Would that be enough to warrant their own inclusion on this page? [[User:Jirr'kel|Shockblaster's Hideout]] ([[User talk:Jirr'kel|talk]]) 04:21, 3 May 2019 (EDT)

To sell toys

2022-01-01T21:23:13Z

Timrollpickering: /* Awkward continuity */ three now

[[File:MarvelUS-19.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Hasbro wasn't quite sure whether to advertise this expensive toy until the fans forced their hand.]]
To understand ''Transformers'' fiction, it is important to understand that it exists '''to sell toys.''' [[Hasbro]] and [[TakaraTomy]] are toy companies, and they are primarily interested in continuing to sell [[toy]]s to children and adults. The cartoons, comic books, etc., mostly exist to make this happen. To be sure, they normally [[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)#Reception|make a profit in their own right]], but this is regarded as mere gravy.

The "to sell toys" effect often distorts the fiction in interesting ways. Primarily, since you can't ([[Army-building|usually]]) sell someone the same toy twice,<ref>Although the toy lines from the [[live-action film series]] have given us multiple ''different'' toys of the ''same characters''.</ref> Hasbro and Takara constantly introduce new toys, and often require the creators of the fiction to introduce the new characters into ongoing storylines. Older characters (whose toys are no longer being sold) are shoved aside to make room.

Another effect of "to sell toys" is when the toys have gimmicks which must be explained in the fiction. Sometimes ([[Mini-Con]]s) this is relatively easy, while other times it requires a lot of imagination on the part of the writers (the in-comic explanations for the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] and [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]] are kinda wonky).

[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Japanese]] [[Triple Combination: Transformers Go! (cartoon)|shows]] are normally the worst offenders, because ''Transformers'' doesn't take itself very seriously over there.

The UK [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|movie-based ''Transformers'' comic]] took this to more blatant heights. For its first year, it had a specific four-page feature every week called ''Top Gear'', which existed solely to promote the newest ''Transformers'' merchandise. ''Any'' merchandise. This led to readers being told how great [[Optimash Prime]] was. For the [[2010]] ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (franchise)|Transformers: War for Cybertron]]'' game franchise, [[Ironhide (Movie)|''Ironhide himself'']] opened letters pages by telling readers how ''awesome'' the game was and how [[you]] should buy it.

{{bigquote|Truly, I'm speechless. Your species characterizes the infinite wonders of the churning, whorling, chaotic cosmos through the lens of... merchandising?

I can see why Swindle loves you idiots.|[[Sideways (disambiguation)|Sideways]] on the concept, [[Ask Vector Prime]].}}

==Casting==
===Huge casts===
[[File:CosmicRust-BigGroup.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|[[Pokeformers|Gotta catch 'em all!]]]]
Hasbro makes a lot of toys at once, and they generally want all of them to appear in their fiction. This can force writers to bring in vast numbers of characters all at once, sometimes with awkward results. Examples include:

*The first issue of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Generation 1 comic]], "[[The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers]]", in which ''twenty-eight'' different robots appeared and introduced themselves, even though only a handful are important to the plot.
*"[[The Special Teams Have Arrived]]", a free mini-comic given away with issue [[Rock and Roll-Out!|#54]] of the [[Marvel Comics|Marvel UK]] [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|comic]], notoriously introduces the reader to ''twenty-four'' new Transformers in just three pages. Granted, four of those are the [[Combiner|combined forms]] of the other twenty, but that's still a lot of new names to remember.
*The 1987 ''[[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]]'' Limited Series, which introduced over ''sixty'' characters in the course of four issues, including all the first waves of [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] and [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]], all their [[Nebulan]] partners, the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]], [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]], and [[Monsterbot (G1)|Monsterbot]]s.
*The cartoon episode trilogy "[[The Rebirth]]" likewise abruptly introduced well over ''forty'' of the 1987 toyline characters, mostly the same ones seen in ''Headmasters''. In both cases, this wasn't helped by the fact that the nature of Headmasters and Targetmasters meant every new toy had to effectively get two introductions.
*In the first four episodes of [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 cartoon)|the 2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon]], eighteen characters are introduced in quick succession.
*From #9 onwards, [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Titan's movie-based ''Transformers'']] heavily bumped up the cast with new toys. In one example, #17 brought in nine new toys in eleven pages; only one of the five Decepticons got any real focus or dialogue.

===Random casting===
The Hasbro-induced need to show all the toys can also cause stories to suddenly focus on a new character, sometimes dropping ongoing plot threads about older ones. Examples include:

*Season 2 of the cartoon introduced many new characters/buyable toys with no explanation; despite never having been seen before, the story treats them as though they have [[Beachcomber (G1)|been there]] [[Perceptor (G1)|the whole]] [[Tracks (G1)|time]]. [[Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1|One episode]] even hinges on this idea.
[[File:Decepticonpretenders-behold.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|After seven issues, it's finally time for these six dudes to do something!]]
[[File:FlamesofBoltax-Triggerbots.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Apparently, the Triggerbots didn't make much of an impression on Prime.]]
*The comic issue "[[Pretender to the Throne!]]" suddenly introduces a dozen Autobots and Decepticons that we've never met before, and follows their adventures. The story adds nothing to the long-range plot that couldn't have been accomplished by using existing characters; these teams were added to the mix to promote their new toys.
*Many issues of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel comic]] had cover blurbs in the form "Introducing the _______!", where the blank was whatever the latest line of toys was. The following issues specifically introduce new toys on the cover: [[Repeat Performance!|#8]], [[The Next Best Thing to Being There!|#10]], [[Brainstorm!|#11]], [[Command Performances!|#19]], [[Aerialbots over America!|#21]], [[Crater Critters|#29]], [[The Cure!|#30]], [[Pretender to the Throne!|#40]], [[People Power!|#42]], [[Ca$h and Car-nage!|#46]], [[Club Con!|#47]], and [[Yesterday's Heroes!|#60]]. Throw in a few covers where new characters were pictured but not named, and that's 1/5th of the series.
*In [[Spacehikers!|issue #36]] of the Marvel comics, when [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] decides that he needs help in dealing with [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]]'s inept leadership, he doesn't turn to any of the ''dozens'' of Autobots aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], which include two combiner teams and Omega Supreme. No, he has to call in his "old buddy"/new toy, [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]].
*In the prelude to the [[Underbase Saga]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] were the lead characters in a story set before the Transformers came to [[Earth]]. But rather than palling around with the likes of Jazz or Soundwave, they are instead shown alongside the newest "gimmick" characters, the [[Triggercon]]s and the [[Triggerbot]]s.
*[[Mainframe Entertainment]] planned to use [[Wolfang (Maximal)|Wolfang]] in ''Beast Wars'', but [[Tigatron]] appeared instead because he had an upcoming toy, and to save money as his CGI model was only a slight tweak of [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]'s.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_frm/thread/9c79c4226fc6dd28/30c3cdf158ea6e52?lnk=st&q=bob+forward+beast+wars+tigatron+wolfang&rnum=1#30c3cdf158ea6e52 Ben Yee relays some info from Bob Forward in regards to Wolfang being replaced by Tigatron in the Beast Wars cartoon]</ref>
*Rather than revealing stuff about the [[Vok]] and [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]], a long-running subplot, "[[Other Victories]]" spends much of its time telling us how great [[Tigerhawk]] is and how we should buy his toy.
*Material released by both [[3H Productions|3H]] and [[Fun Publications]] tends to release characters from various series and continuities and then write stories featuring every character (usually with a particular focus on that year's box set), which often leads to some bizarre casting choices. [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]], [[Strika (BM)|Strika]], and [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] were all retroactively added to [[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]] and [[Machine Wars: Transformers|Machine Wars]] because they wanted to do toys of them that year. The [[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]] version of [[Tracks (SG)|Tracks]] is introduced from nowhere, has minimal characterization, and doesn't do anything, because they wanted to do [[Tracks (G1)#Transformers (2010)|Tracks's 2010 toy]] in [[Diaclone]]/[[Road Rage (G1)|Road Rage]] colors. And pretty much every story taking place in the [[Primax 207.0 Epsilon|Classicsverse]], ostensibly a [[Marvel Comics continuity|Marvel G1]]-based series, will introduce or reintroduce characters who were dead (the various [[Underbase Saga]] casualties), not even implied in the original stories ([[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]], [[Metalhawk (G1)|Metalhawk]]), or [[Female Transformer#Marvel Comics continuity|don't make sense in that universe to begin with]] ([[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]]). Sometimes this gets a token justification, other times not.
*The [[First (and Second) in Flight|sixth issue]] of ''[[Transformers Animated: The Arrival|The Arrival]]'' stops following the regular cast so it can flag the awesome cool out-now-in-shops [[Safeguard (Animated)|Safeguard]] toy.
*Prominent generals in [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Titan's movieverse]] Decepticon army change frequently and without any acknowledgment as new toys jostle for (and gain) space.
*[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]] and its lead-ins were packed with ''[[Thrilling 30]]'' toys, so suddenly ''Beast Wars'' characters [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] and [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] are in G1. Things got worse in later issues when [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] and [[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]] needed a comic; Tankor berates Starscream for a few panels in [[No Exit: Dark Cybertron Chapter 6|''Dark Cybertron'' #6]], while Crosscut and [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] briefly halt the plot in [[The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|''Dark Cybertron'' #7]] to tell you who Crosscut ''is''. Then he vanishes. They've started getting an increased role in IDW fiction ever since, though.
*For "[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]", several Autobots had to abruptly depart the ''[[Lost Light]]'' for Cybertron so they could appear in their combiner teams. In the case of [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]], this was despite him having just become the Chief Medical Officer: a long-running plot!
*[[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] and [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] appeared in the IDWverse after a seven-year absence in ''[[Starscream: The Movie (comic)|Starscream: The Movie]]'' and ''[[The Falling, Chapter 2: Another Mine|Another Mine]]''. The fact that those two oft-ignored characters had new ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' and ''[[Power of the Primes (toyline)|Power of the Primes]]'' Legends Class toys released recently probably had something to do with the matter.

===Limited casting===
On the opposite side of things, Hasbro doesn't want to pay to depict characters that aren't selling toys. This can force a story, particularly an animated cartoon, to have a smaller cast than it otherwise might.

[[File:Metamorphdeceps2.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|The full might of the Decepticon army.]]
*The [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original cartoon]] and [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|early Marvel comics]] both featured an oddly lopsided cast, particularly at the beginning, with the Autobot forces on Earth outnumbering the Decepticons two to one. This difference was never really acknowledged, though the cartoon also used [[generic]]s to make it look like Megatron had more than four guys, three pets, and [[Reflector (G1)|a camera]] under his command.
*The early episodes of ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' featured only the toys available on the shelves. This resulted in two ridiculously small teams going to [[Earth]] for the all-important mission of gathering Mini-Cons, rather inexplicable in story terms.
*[[Transformers: Armada (Dreamwave)|Both the Dreamwave]] and [[Transformers: Armada (Panini)|Panini comics]] suffered exactly the same problem, but it gets worse: [[First Encounter|The first ''Armada'' episode]] reused models of older Transformers as [[generic]] background guys to bump numbers up. The comics ''didn't''. So Megatron apparently conquers all of planet Cybertron with an army of three guys, whereas the city/planet defending Autobots are just five blokes.
*Dreamwave would also [[Dreamwave Armada issue 10|feature a scene on Cybertron]], where the ''only'' Autobot who seemed to exist was [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]].
*For [[Transformers: Movie Prequel|the movie prequels]], IDW got around this by deciding that [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]] was going to be a [[Class Alpha drone unit|series of drones]] instead of one guy, allowing for really big battle scenes despite a then-limited number of toys. (It would later turn out there was ''also'' a Dreadwing who was one guy.) Titan Magazines would borrow this, and turn other Decepticons into drone series too.
*It seems unlikely that four bots and their human partners would be sufficient to handle every emergency on [[Griffin Rock]], but those four bots [[Transformers: Rescue Bots (toyline)|were the only ones on shelves at the time]] (other than [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus]] and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]], who were needed [[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|elsewhere]]), so they were the ones who went into [[Transformers: Rescue Bots (cartoon)|the show]]. As the toyline expanded, toy characters Blurr, Salvage, High Tide and Quickshadow were introduced into the cast.
*''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy (cartoon)|Kingdom]]'' acts as a celebration of the 25th anniversary of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', but only includes characters who were slated for the first three waves of the accompanying toyline (with the exception of [[Tigatron]], likely due to the ease of retooling [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]'s animation model into a spare character). This means that notable cartoon characters like [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] or [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] who didn't have toys in the first three waves never put in an appearance in the season. To compensate for the Predacons having depleted ranks as a result, [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] stays with the Predacons for most of his screentime while [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] was turned into a group of generics; Predacon [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] also says many Predacons have been lost in his war with the Maximals.
{{-}}

==Plot==
===Forced explication===
{{main|Introdump}}

Rather than simply showing up in the background, new toy/characters often overtly introduce themselves, often with a ridiculous description of their special abilities. The Marvel comic is rife with examples, but it shows up across numerous fictions.

[[File:Introdump decepticons marvelus01.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Reflector is actually here, he's just buried underneath a pile of speech bubbles.]]
*Again, [[The Transformers (issue)|''Transformers'' #1]] has two huge splash pages in which 28 characters do nothing but stand around and tell each other who they are and what they can do.
*Towards the end of "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]", Jazz puts together a strike team. Naturally, he does this by calling out their names one by one, so that the camera can cut to each Autobot in turn and show them transform in noticeable detail.
*The two-part original ''Transformers'' cartoon episode "[[Dinobot Island, Part 1|Dinobot Island]]" features many new 1985 characters getting their own short little introductory scene, often with a characteristic bit of self-description ([[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]]: "I'd rather stay in my stunning auto mode!" [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]: "I'm ''always'' ready for action!" [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]]: "Wow, like, I hope we don't destroy this place before we can study it!")
*"[[The Rebirth]]" has ''three different sequences'' in which large new groups of characters form a lineup and introduce themselves to viewers one after another. Strangely enough, much of this screen- and dialogue-time is given over to Nebulan partners; the "main" Transformer characters get no such introductions, even though they are the items kids would have to purchase to acquire the Nebulan accessories. For instance, [[Spasma]], [[Monzo]], and [[Peacemaker]] (all speaking characters) are introduced by name as part of various lineups, but their in-store hosts [[Apeface]], [[Weirdwolf (G1)|Weirdwolf]], and [[Pointblank]] are never named (and Weirdwolf never even speaks).
*"[[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]" has the Maximals walk on one-by-one admiring their [[beast mode]]s, loudly explaining their names and showing character traits. This also gives the impression they deliberately changed their names to fit these new beast modes for no apparent reason.
*Crosscut and Swerve fill in Crosscut's backstory and job during a fight. That's all Crosscut does in [[The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|''Dark Cybertron'' #7]].

===Gimmicks===
{{main|Gimmick}}
When the toys can do something special, fiction writers must often go out of their way to show the gimmick in action.

* The ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)#1986 .28Scramble City and 2010.29|Scramble City]]'' category of G1 combiner teams have the ability to freely swap around their limbs. Because of this, an unusual amount of Japanese fiction focuses on the idea of characters swapping limbs, best shown by ''[[Scramble City: Mobilization]]'', with rather variable consequences, and sometimes resulting in the creation of [[Scramble 7|whole new combiner characters]]. Sometimes, this purportedly results in some kind of increase in power or the combiner gaining different traits, but these changes are almost invariably told more than shown. In some cases, simply [[Free-Combination|changing the arrangement of an existing set of limbs]] is cited as something that can vastly alter a character's capabilities, with little real explanation.
*The Headmaster gimmick got [[The Transformers: Headmasters|an entire Limited Series comic book]] devoted to it.
*The comic issue "[[Pretender to the Throne!]]" features [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] proudly creating the [[Pretender]]s, gloating that they will hide the Decepticons' identities from the Autobots "until it is too late". Not only does the plan not actually work, it's also a plot point with absolutely zero lead-in or build-up—at no point has Scorponok ever expressed concern about his troops being detected by the Autobots (if anything, considering the altmodes of his troops, he seems to be the ''least'' concerned with stealth), nor has he demonstrated the science skills to pull this off, and we've never even met the Pretender characters before. It was brought about solely because the new toys had to be jammed into the story. (The, uh, story of returning Optimus Prime's character to the comic book because he had [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#PMOP|a new toy]].)
*[[Rotor Force]] made their debut in "[[New Dawn]]", and both here and in subsequent ''Generation 2'' issues would primarily fight enemies not with guns like everyone else, but by firing their giant rotors at them. Page 3 of ''New Dawn'' actually shows them having to ''stop and reattach their rotors'' before they can carry on fighting.
[[File:Mistaken Identity Galvatronscourge.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|[[Johnny Yong Bosch|It's Morphin Time! MASTODON!]]]]
*The [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 franchise)|2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' franchise]] [[Megatron (RID)|Megatron]] had six alternate modes and [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 cartoon)|the cartoon]] really wanted you to see them, which is why [[Battle Protocol!|his first appearance]] is as ''a giant hand for no reason''. It gets sillier when he turns into Galvatron and gains four more modes. In "[[Mistaken Identity]]", he turns into his "Iron Mammoth" form when facing off against [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|a hostile Fortress Maximus]] even though he doesn't ''do'' anything in his form except stand there ''as he was already doing''.
*[[Jetstorm (Animated)|Jetstorm]] and [[Jetfire (Animated)|Jetfire]] are the only Autobot jets in the ''Animated'' line. (Not counting the toyless [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]].) To fully big this up, their origin story has it that there have ''never been'' any flying Autobots before, despite them having been in (and won) a long and bitter war with enemies who ''often fly''. This one was silly enough that [[Endgame, Part I|a later episode]] explicitly joked on this, pointing out that there were multiple Autobots before and after Jetfire and Jetstorm with some kind of flight capability.
* The second season of the 2015 ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'' cartoon coincided with the release of the [[Deployer (WFC)|Deployer]] toys, which fire smaller [[Mini-Con]] figures. Suddenly, every Decepticon in the cartoon was partnered with a Mini-Con or two, even Decepticons who'd appeared in the past as solo operatives.

The [[Unicron Trilogy continuity family|Unicron Trilogy]], noted for its gimmicks in all three toylines, was particularly notorious in this regard:

*The quest for power-enhancing [[Mini-Con]]s practically defined the plot of the ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' cartoon, with both factions out to recruit or capture all the Mini-Cons.
*[[Powerlinx]]ing is shown again and again and again in ''[[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|Energon]]'', despite having comparatively little relevance to most episode plotlines. In fact, due to the fact much of Energon's action was firefights, Powerlinxing seemed to be a disadvantage, since it resulted in a single larger Autobot shooting instead of two smaller ones.
*[[Cyber Key]] powerups are likewise shown repeatedly in ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]].'' In this case, while most characters had basic weapons, the Cyber Keys were necessary to unlock hidden weaponry or special techniques. So, for example, Optimus might be able to shoot at the Decepticons with a smaller firearm, but to fire his larger cannons he would need to summon his Cyber Key. Some characters, however, needed their Cyber Keys to activate what one would expect to be their main weapons (e.g. Starscream activating his Null Ray Cannon).
*All three series were also marked by lengthy transformation sequences which highlighted the gimmicks in very toy-accurate animation (and also made production cheaper, thanks to [[Stock footage|recycled footage]]).

===Strange developments===
Shoehorning loads of new characters with new powers can compel the writers to do things with the plot that, in all probability, they otherwise wouldn't.

*Marvel UK had to promote the [[Special Teams]] toys ''before'' they knew how they'd be appearing in the US reprints. To get around this, [[Simon Furman]] wrote a story arc titled "[[Second Generation!]]", where [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]], Optimus and [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] <s>watched an advert</s> saw a Matrix-induced vision of the Special Teams in action. These events were previewed in "The Special Teams Have Arrived", nine issues earlier, with no indication that they were part of a vision, making their place in continuity uncertain.
*In the US Marvel comics, the simultaneous introduction of the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] and [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] and the introduction of the Pretenders both saw a lot of rigamarole involved in explaining why both the Autobots and the Decepticons had new members with identical numbers/gimmicks at the same time.
*Season 3 of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original ''The Transformers'' cartoon]] almost completely ignored the characters of the previous two seasons that were no longer on toy shelves. The 1985 Autobot cars, for example, are not seen at all. [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] and the 1985 Mini-Vehicles, by contrast, show up now and again, as their toys were still shipping. Even Starscream, who was ''dead'', managed to get a couple of Season 3 episodes all to himself; again, his toy sold through 1986.
*One season later, "[[The Rebirth]]" - the last episodes of the entire series - was almost entirely spent on introducing new characters and giving old ones upgrades, leaving just barely enough time to provide any kind of conclusion.
*''[[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|The Headmasters]]'' was absolutely crazy about this. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus]] (whose toy was long gone) kicks the bucket only three episodes in for the sake of a sacrifice that would be nullified only a few episodes later, putting new(er) toy [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] back in the command chair for a short while. In the tenth episode, Rodimus departs the series and hands the title of Supreme Commander to brand-spanking-new toy [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]], who's had a few months, tops, of combat experience. Much like Season 3, ''Headmasters'' also ignored most of the Season 3 regulars ([[Springer (G1)|Springer]], [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s, the [[Quintesson]]s) or removed them altogether, sometimes fairly dubiously ([[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] and [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] leave with Rodimus, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] gets shot a bit and dies, [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] is buried in ice and nobody digs him up until ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: The Battlestars (story page)|Battlestars]]''). By the end of the series, the only remaining Autobots from the first three seasons were the [[Special Teams]], [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Twincast]] and his cassettes, [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]], [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]].
*[[Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 2|''Transformers Comic-Magazin'' #2]] wrote an entire story devoted to Optimus sternly explaining which Autobots and Decepticons were on sale in [[Germany]] in 1989. The reason he had to? [[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]] had ''shot an Autobot''!
*The first thirteen issues of the ''[[Transformers: Armada (Dreamwave)|Armada]]'' comic were focused around the Mini-Cons, with plots often revolving around their desire to be seen as equals and not be enslaved. Then without ''any'' prior set-up, the last five issues turn into a dimension-spanning battle against [[Unicron]]—who had just had a new and expensive toy.
*[[Tigerhawk]] debuts in "[[Other Victories]]", where he's the reason the Predacons lose their base and [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] is killed. This disrupts any ending for the Tarantulas/[[Vok]] storyline, as the episode is left with little time to properly explain the mysteries of either character and the plot of last episode, Tarantulas trying to destroy the whole ''Ark'', is reduced to two lines about the [[Tripredacus Council]].
[[File:Samprowl.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|<s>Upgrades are bad.</s> Upgrades are GOOD. We have always been at war with <s>Eurasia</s> Eastasia.]]
*"[[A Fistful of Energon]]" has [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] learn not to use upgrades, and he gives up using powerful samurai armour. But whoops, Hasbro thought "hey, we could make a toy out of that armour"! And so in [[Five Servos of Doom|a later episode]], Prowl ''regains'' it and the show hurriedly claims that the upgrade is fine ''now'' because Prowl realizes now that it's the Autobot, not the upgrade.
*The [[France|French]] decided to be good sports and start using propeller-driven nuclear bombers again in [[All Hail Megatron issue 11|''All Hail Megatron'' #11]], just so [[Octane|Tankor]] could be used.
*[[Ransack (ROTF)|Ransack]] has been on Earth for a while, in hiding from other Decepticons while he waits for orders from [[the Fallen]] in "[[Transformers Comic issue 2.7|Turnabout]]". Ransack is a member of a race that can scan any object and take its form as a disguise. Ransack moves around in the cunning disguise of ''a 100-year-old plane''. (At least, unlike the previous example, the oldness of the alt mode was pointed out.)
*In Titan's ''Revenge of the Fallen'' comic, [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]] go from being [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee's]] responsibility to bugging [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] to being [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe's]] responsibility in the space of three issues, all to allow each issue to focus on a specific toy-bearing movie star. Similarly, only one or two Decepticons per issue are sent on a mission, when presumably the Fallen might want to send loads of guys to silence the twins.
*In ''Dark of the Moon'', nearly all of the Transformers switch from built-in weaponry to handheld weaponry. It just so happens that the gimmick of the ''Dark of the Moon'' toys was that they had "MechTech" weapons that could be held by any other figure.
*Also in ''Dark of the Moon'', most Autobots transform into [[Stealth Force]] mode, a weaponized vehicle mode that allows them to access various weapons in their otherwise defenseless disguises, an incredibly useful combat mode that's never used in any prior or later films. Uniquely, this was something Hasbro came up with for the toyline on their own; director [[Michael Bay]] decided to incorporate it into the film only after seeing what they were working on for the then-upcoming toyline and taking a personal liking to it.
*The [[subline imprint]] of the ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Prime]]'' [[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|toyline]] was the ''[[Transformers: Prime (toyline)#BH|Beast Hunters]]'' line, which took hold at about the time of the [[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|show]]'s third season, which was given the subtitle of the imprint. In the episode "[[Project Predacon]]", [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] awkwardly redubs [[Team Prime]] as the "Beast Hunters", when they begin looking for Predacon fossils. The Autobots must've felt the same way as we did about the sudden name change, since really only the protocol-obsessed [[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]] begins using the term. Thanks to behind the scene troubles and the whole concept being a late addition to the series, the team never actually ''hunts any beasts'', as only three Predacons ever take a central role in the story.
[[File:YouMeAndTheUniverse-Scoopcolors.jpg||thumb|upright=1.4|Talk about "shoehorned in".]]
*The [[subline imprint]] for the ''Generations'' line from 2015 to 2016 was ''[[Combiner Wars (franchise)|Combiner Wars]]'', hence IDW's tie-in comic had to introduce a heapload of combiners in a universe that regarded combination as a lost art with unpredictable side-effects. (Devastator, Menasor, Superion, and Monstructor were around, but they had each been introduced separately, and each with their own unique explanations, over the course of ''ten years''.) Enter the [[Enigma of Combination]], an artifact of Nexus Prime with the power to merge any Transformers into a combiner. Not only is this artifact used on Superion, Menasor, and Defensor, it is also used on Optimus Prime and other selected Autobots to create [[Optimus Maximus (G1)|Optimus Maximus]]. The fact that Optimus had two Combiner Wars toys (one released, one upcoming at the time of the story's publication) might have influenced this decision.
*Also, the big toy of 2015 was a Titan Class Devastator... in his classic configuration instead of IDW's newly introduced 'Prowlastator' form. Unfortunately, Scrapper had been long dead and hence was unable to take his spot as the combiner's leg. However, IDW had another bulldozer-bot conveniently lying around - [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]]. Naturally, he was merged with the other Constructicons by the aforementioned Enigma, restoring Devastator's classic silhouette.
*A long-running plot thread of ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'', starting all the way back in [[How Ratchet Got His Hands Back|issue 5]], was [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] preparing [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] to succeed him as the ''[[Lost Light]]'''s Chief Medical Officer. [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|Issue 40]] ''finally'' sees Ratchet stepping down and leaving the ship (so he could participate in the events of ''[[The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone|Drift - Empire of Stone]]''), officially declaring First Aid "the new Chief Medical Officer"… but after only two issues in his new position, [[The One Where They Go to Earth|issue 43]] sees First Aid himself leave the ''Lost Light'' under a flimsy in-story pretense so he could participate in the events of ''Combiner Wars'', appointing [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] as his own successor (although he would later return to the ''Lost Light'' following the conclusion of ''Combiner Wars'').
*In a follow-up story, Galvatron creates two combiners out of random soldiers and foes. To plug the new merch, these are called [[Galvatronus (CW)|Galvatronus]] and [[Sky Reign]] but most of the characters that made them up in toy form were either on Cybertron, the ''[[Lost Light]]'', or dead at the time. Unusually for this page, Hasbro allowed IDW to use random limbs as long as the names were right but this leads to the comic pimping a toy you can't buy (though you could make it with others), and in Galvatronus' case a toy that doesn't even have the same face as in the comic.
{{-}}

===Awkward continuity===
[[File:Earthforce.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|This happened... er.... look just buy the toys, ok?!]]
Sometimes the requirement to feature new toys can be so strong that continuity takes a major backseat and stories are produced that feature combinations of characters that make the story very difficult to slot into the main continuity. The Marvel UK comic was especially prone to this as it could not always foresee where, when and how characters would be introduced:

*The ''[[Transformers Annual 1985]]'' contains many stories featuring toys from the 1985 release long before they were formally introduced in the regular comic, often interacting with other characters who would be out of action by then. As a result, few of the stories easily fit the continuity of the weekly comic.
*The demands of Hasbro UK for the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] and [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]] to be featured heavily even before the US ''[[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]]'' mini-series was available meant that both the ''[[Transformers Annual 1987]]'' and the regular strip "[[Worlds Apart!]]" contain a slightly different set of events that are at odds with the mini-series.
*The requirement to give prominence to the rereleased toys in the [[Classics (Europe)|Classics]] range resulted in one of the biggest continuity trainwrecks of all, [[Earthforce]]. Over three decades later fans are still uncertain where it fits in continuity, and even [[Simon Furman]] admits to being unsure.<ref>"Looking back, as I try my hardest not to do, it's very hard to tie the Earthforce stories into a specific time frame (in terms of the US continuity), because (if I'm brutally honest) I didn't try too hard to make it work in the first place. By that point, I was just trying to tell a bunch of fun UK stories that didn't necessarily impact on the larger (US) storyline. How was I to know 15 or so years later people would be trying to reconcile it all?" [http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_furman.php TransFans.net - Interviews: Simon Furman - Part 1 'The Past'].</ref>
*Germany's ''[[Transformers Comic-Magazin]]'' started in 1989 and reprinted older Marvel US and UK strips. Since, of course, these would rarely show the current toys, Comic-Magazin ran text stories from #2 that showcased ''completely different'' Transformers that were on Earth at the same time, and just happened not to be seen in the strips.
*Trapped between the need to pimp toys and the problem of not knowing what the plot of ''Revenge of the Fallen'' would be, Titan just threw up their hands and unambiguously set their lead strip in [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)#Alternate universe|an alternate universe]]. Similarly, the [[Dark of the Moon (video games)|video games]] for ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (franchise)|Dark of the Moon]]'' were all prequels so that the games would not directly contradict the then-upcoming movie's plot while still using some of the characters and settings who would be featured (some minor plot contradicitons ''did'' occur, but few fans have ever accepted the video games to be in perfect continuity with the films anyway).
*Based on evidence from various sources, it's been speculated that the episode "[[Starscream's Ghost]]" was originally meant to star [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], who at the time had been exiled from the Decepticons and was on somewhat friendly terms with the Autobots. Instead, his role was taken over by new toy [[Octane]]. The only other episode to prominently feature Octane, "[[Thief in the Night]]", which was aired ''after'' "Starscream's Ghost", kinda sorta explains his falling out with the Decepticons—except it doesn't: While said episode ''does'' have him go rogue, not only is he ''still'' a bad guy—by the end of that episode, ''Galvatron is no longer on bad terms with Octane''! Likewise, the episode "[[The God Gambit]]" starred [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], Starscream and Thrust, with Astrotrain (a new toy at the time) taking on a leadership role more akin to Megatron rather than the bus he's reduced to in almost every other episode.
*The Japanese broadcast of ''Animated'' outright skipped "[[Rise of the Constructicons]]" and "[[Sari, No One's Home]]", as they largely revolve around the toy-less [[Mixmaster (Animated)|Mixmaster]] and [[Scrapper (Animated)|Scrapper]]. Meanwhile, "[[Sound and Fury]]" was moved up to be the first episode to air after the pilot to promote Soundwave's toys, which is at odds with continuity since Megatron only came back online during "[[Home Is Where the Spark Is]]", which was pushed to air ''after'' "Sound and Fury".
{{-}}

===Power levels===
In order to make new characters seem more ''totally awesome'', they're often depicted as ultra-powerful in their initial appearances. Once they become old news, they frequently seem to lose their super-charged abilities.

*The original ''Transformers'' cartoon introduced [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] as the ultimate threat. Once newer combiner teams came along, however, he was less of a threat, easily defeated at various times by [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] and even [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]].
[[File:Buzzsawyikes4.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Buzzsaw reminds Omega Supreme he's not a new toy any more.]]
*The Marvel comics feature [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] as nigh-invulnerable and ultimately powerful in [[Command Performances!|his debut issue]], slaughtering all but two of the Decepticon forces sent to attack him. Just [[Dark Star|two years later]], he's getting his butt handed to him by the likes of [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]], one of his original victims. He was also drawn as [[Scale|truly colossal]] in his first appearance, before becoming just a head taller than [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] by the time of his death.
*[[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], in a weird case of this, actually seemingly ''[[Scale|shrank]]'' between the third season of the G1 toon and [[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|''The Headmasters'']], going from being drawn as a genuine giant to barely bigger than the average combiner. Even in official [[scale charts]], he dropped from being shown as 800 meters tall to about 45. This was likely to avoid upstaging new-kid-on-the-block [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus.]]
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] was, amazingly, something of a threat in early episodes; he holds his own against [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] in his debut. He only became significantly weaker than the other Predacons during the second season.
*In her first appearance on the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon, [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] effortlessly blasts [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] to pieces. She never displays such a level of power again.
*Similarly, [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] was presented as a huge threat when he first appeared, but just a few episodes later, he seems just slightly tougher than the average Predacon (save for a few notable occasions).
*[[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] was actually a credible threat for his first couple of episodes.
*The [[Commando (RID)|Commandos]] were far more powerful and competent than the Predacons, who were made even ''less'' powerful and competent as episodes went on. Remarkably, this was actually used in the plot, with Megatron focusing on the new toys while the Predacons became underdogs trying to get their old status back and one-up the new guys.
[[File:ArmTVTidalWave.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Before he shrank in the wash.]]
*''Any'' new toy character in the Unicron Trilogy cartoons is almost guaranteed to win the day's battle.
*[[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] was a staggering behemoth as big as the sky in his introduction, and his ability to combine with Megatron gave the battle advantage to the Decepticons until his equally powerful counterpart [[Overload (Armada)|Overload]] was introduced. By the time of the ''Energon'' cartoon, Tidal Wave is just this tall guy (but not as tall as he used to be) and is treated as just another Decepticon, even after he gets a body upgrade in the form of "Mirage".
*When the newly redecoed Jetfire and [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus]] combine in Dreamwave's Armada comic, they are so powerful ''they can hurt Unicron himself''.
*[[Jungle Planet (colony)|Jungle Planet]] ruler [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]] was incredibly powerful when he was first introduced, but later on, he's getting slaps on the wrist by [[Lori Jiménez|Lori]] and [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]], and schooled by [[Bud Hansen|Bud]], ultimately becoming more of a sympathetic comedic bumbler than a credible threat.
*The Decepticons in ''Animated'' started off as being so horrifically powerful that the entire Autobot team had to take on a ''single'' one. By Season 3, this no longer happens. Uniquely, this was ''deliberate'' by the writers: they wanted to show the Decepticons as supreme threats, and have the Autobots gradually being better at dealing with them.
*The [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] in ''Prime'' started off pretty tough; easily wearing down [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]] in a group, then just two giving [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] a tough time. In the next episode, they've got Stormtrooper aim, and basically exist to give the Autobots someone to kill while saving the named Decepticons from the scrapheap. It gets to the point where in the third season, [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] actually ''counts'' on the Vehicons failing to execute [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]], and Wheeljack makes several amusing comments about the Vehicons' incompetence.
*Additionally, the [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticons]] started off as nightmarishly strong monsters. One wears ''[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]]'' to the point of exhaustion before dying (admittedly, Megs was deprived of his main asset when Airachnid webbed his fusion cannon). However, for the remainder of the series, the Insecticons are just as weak as the Vehicons, being blasted down in one shot, despite a return to form in "[[Tunnel Vision]]" and "[[Toxicity]]" (the latter of which saw the debut of notorious Autobot killer [[Hardshell]]).
{{-}}

===New bodies===
There's rarely a compelling reason for a Transformer to get a brand-new body in fiction; it's simply to promote a new toy. It has become a default way to keep a popular character on shelves, rather than having to kill them off and introduce a new character to keep moving toys. Sometimes fiction writers are able to work these alterations in elegantly... sometimes not.

[[File:Bumblebeeskindeep.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Ratchet pulls a Kitty Pryde on Bumblebee.]]
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] was rebuilt into Goldbug following his near-destruction... and was later re-rebuilt back into Bumblebee to sell the [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Pretender|new Classic Pretender toy]]. The reason given in [[Skin Deep|the comic storyline]] was that [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] reverted him without his consent because Ratchet liked his old form better, something Bumblebee is strangely fine with.
*Season 2 of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' introduced the new [[Transmetal]] toys in short order, requiring some strange sci-fi waffling to explain why members of both teams suddenly got special new bodies. The writers had originally planned to introduce these changes gradually, across the length of Season 2, but Hasbro ordered them to be brought in immediately. (The slow-and-gradual notion would eventually appear during Season 3.)
[[File:Retailbuyer decisiontree.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
*The [[Unicron Trilogy]] cartoons feature [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]] getting recolored and renamed "Galvatron" ''three times''; at the start of each subsequent series, he's given a different body but called Megatron ''again'', because the name "Megatron" just sells more toys. (This also means Hasbro gets to keep the [[trademark]] "Galvatron".) The Japanese versions handled this differently (with Megatron known as Megatron throughout Armada even after his upgrade, and being known as Galvatron throughout all of Energon) due to different trademark laws. Galaxy Force (the Japanese version of Cybertron) played it straight with Master Megatron being upgraded into Master Galvatron.
*Several times during the Unicron Trilogy, characters get new paint jobs as part of some magical power-up enhancement. These new color schemes exist solely to promote redecorated toys like "[[Ironhide (Energon)|Energon Ironhide]]" or "[[Hot Shot (Armada)/toys|Powerlinx Hot Shot]]". Even the comics got in on the action, introducing the redecorated versions of Jetfire and Optimus during the Unicron arc.
*The three future members of the [[Cybertron Defense Team (Cybertron)|Cybertron Defense Team]] get shot up by Megatron, then transmogrify through the power of [[Burning justice|BLAZING HEART OF JUSTICE]] into new forms. These new forms, of course, were just hitting shelves at a toy store near you.
*In the course of the [[Transformers (film)|live-action movie]], [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] gets irritated at a slight against his alternate mode, and scans a new form. Voilà, suddenly he's got ''two'' toys on the shelf! He later pulls the ''exact same thing'' in ''[[Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction]]'', but by now, he's been established as having a fragile ego, explaining the constant desire to switch alternate modes.
*When [[IDW Publishing|IDW]]'s ''Transformers'' comic originally came out, there were no Generation 1-themed toys to flog, and many characters were given altered designs for the series. Then along came ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'', featuring new toys of Generation 1 characters, and suddenly multiple characters get new, toy-accurate bodies in ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'', for no apparent in-story reason. Later, [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] even gets a namechange to ''Silver''streak to fit his toy.
*Sometimes, IDW's comics don't even bother with a reason: you just get the latest issue and a character suddenly resembles the latest toy. This can sometimes be explained as artist interpretation, but at other times...
*[[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] was originally grey, but when he was reunited with the ''Animated'' Decepticons, he changed his colours to purple while referring to it as his proper look. Why he changed colouration to go undercover was not explained, but it may have something to do with a purple-coloured Shockwave toy being out when that episode aired.
*In ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]] start out as an old ice cream truck combiner but after a disastrous mission [[NEST]] decides to upgrade them to new individual [[General Motors]] vehicles. New toys ''and'' product placement!
*[[Starscream (Armada)#Generations|''Armada'' Starscream]] got a new toy in 2014. There wasn't an ''Armada'' comic but there ''was'' a Generation 1 comic with a Starscream, which was then [[pack-in material|packed in]] with the toy series including Armada Starscream. And lo and behold, for ''[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]]'' Starscream got a new body! A year later, he swapped to ''another'' body for "[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]", which was his then-new Leader Class toy, and several issues were devoted to him choosing it and then flaunting it. Then again, this ''is'' Starscream we're talking about...
*[[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] finally got a new toy as well. Problem is, his comic body didn't look much like the toy. Then, in ''[[Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Dark Cybertron Chapter 11]]'', he revealed his new invention: reactive armor that changed his body to look like his opponent's. Who did he use this armor to battle? Why, it's Starscream, the guy his toy was retooled from!
*2015's "[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]" comic series brought back almost all of the combiner characters that have appeared in the IDW continuity thus far. However, [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] was apparently killed by [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] quit the Stunticons... so that [[Alpha Bravo]] and [[Offroad (CW)|Offroad]] can replace them! Meanwhile, Starscream rebuilds Devastator; not only does Devastator suddenly resemble his toy counterpart, but [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] is no longer a required member of the combiner team, leaving him free to combine with Optimus Prime and company to become the brand-new combiner [[Optimus Maximus (G1)|Optimus Maximus]]. Superion and Menasor, who had made previous appearances in IDW fiction, are both rebuilt by the [[Enigma of Combination]], causing their bodies to more closely resemble their toy counterparts.

===Character pimping===
Characters with toys may get more attention than those without:

*"[[Matrix Quest]]" has four separate teams on a mission. You could use any three Transformers in one of these teams, right? Nope, Furman has toys to promote: out go nine new Autobot characters and three existing ones with new toys.
*[[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge's]] presence in all three of his first three ''Beast Wars'' episodes: one for his origin, another for him joining the Maximals after all, and then an abrupt appearance at the very end of "[[Cutting Edge]]" where he turns up and single-handedly drives off a Predacon force.
*When ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)#Japanese release|Animated]]'' was released in Japan, episodes focusing on the [[Constructicon (Animated)|Constructicon]]s were never broadcast on television (instead being reduced to bonus content on the DVDs), as the Constructicons did not have toys. The episode order was also rearranged (and thus the internal narrative of the series, as well) so that episodes introducing new toys could air earlier than those that didn't.
*IDW's ''[[The Transformers: Spotlight|Spotlight]]'' came back in 2013 in order to promote six of the upcoming ''Generations'' toys. Even [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], a little-used character who would never have been given a ''Spotlight'' otherwise! (Initially published through Diamond and Comixology as per IDW's usual practice, these comics were subsequently packed-in with the toys they were based on, aiming to use the higher sales of the toys to boost comic sales in a "I'll scratch your back, you scratch mine" scenario.) Likewise, Waspinator, having a new toy out in late 2013, began making appearances and took on increased importance in the IDW universe. An upcoming [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] toy brought forth a Tankor appearance in Dark Cybertron. The opening arcs of the second seasons of ''More Than Meets The Eye'' and ''Robots in Disguise'' (as well as ''Windblade'' vol. 1) in 2014 also heavily feature casts of characters with new toys, such as Nightbeat, Rattrap, Arcee, and Jetfire.
* When [[Steeljaw (RID)|Steeljaw]] frees some Decepticons in the second season of ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'', the freed 'Cons include his former minions [[Clampdown (RID)|Clampdown]] and [[Thunderhoof (RID)|Thunderhoof]], yet not the other two members of the Pack, [[Fracture (RID)|Fracture]] and [[Underbite]]. He instead frees [[Bisk (RID)|Bisk]], [[Groundpounder (RID)|Groundpounder]], [[Overload (RID)|Overload]], [[Quillfire (RID)|Quillfire]] and [[Springload (RID)|Springload]]. There's no reason to neglect those who have already proven to be able to work together in the Pack (and thus Steeljaw should know would help in his eventual coup), except for the fact that the toys of both Fracture and Underbite had already sold, and the newly freed Decepticons have new figures on the shelves.

===Abrupt conclusions===
[[File:MarvelUSG2-12.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|It's the end of the road for Transformers Generation 2! That can't bode well for the toyline.]]
Just as ''Transformers'' fiction lives at Hasbro's pleasure, so too does it die. Falling sales, a change of plans, and standard [[rebranding]] can all cause a storyline to come to a sudden end when Hasbro decides to pull the plug.

*The American Generation 1 cartoon got a somewhat rushed conclusion in the form of "[[The Rebirth]]", rather than a full fourth season.
*The Generation 1 comics were nearly canceled at [[On the Edge of Extinction!|issue #75]], but granted a reprieve. The stay of execution was only temporary, however; with the Generation 1 toyline ending, the comic was terminated a mere five issues later, resulting in a rather hasty concluding plotline.
*Hasbro was only willing to support the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|''Generation 2'' comic]] for twelve issues, unless it proved an unqualified (perhaps phenomenal) success. Aware of this from the start, writer Simon Furman was able to plot a story arc that reached its finale as the series ended (and poked fun at it with a character whose name is a pun on "[[Jhiaxus (G2)|Gee, axe us]]".)
*The writers of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon reportedly never had any idea if they'd be back for another season. When the axe fell with Season 3, they had only three episodes left to wrap up the whole series.
*Hasbro nearly killed off the just-begun comic series ''[[Transformers: The Wreckers|The Wreckers]]'' in 2003, wishing instead for [[3H Productions|3H]] to focus on a ''[[Transformers: Universe (comic)|Universe]]'' comic advertising its current toyline.
*Even though ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' wasn't abruptly canceled, Kids WB ended the series on the [[cliffhanger]] of the episode "[[Revelation (episode)|Revelation]]", leaving millions of kids tuning in next time only to get a re-run of ''Xiaolin Showdown''. The reason? The Cybertron Defense Team toys hadn't hit stores yet.
*With ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' coming out in June, Titan had to end their alternate universe storyline in May so they could tie in early—an issue earlier than planned. The main strip handled this, with the notable exception of [[Jazz (Movie)#Titan Magazines Transformers movie comics|the Jazz plot arc]] going completely unresolved, but it played havoc with working out the IDW reprints!
*According to [[Rik Alvarez]], IDW was asked to drop their G1 continuity and move to the brand-spanking new [[Aligned continuity family|Aligned]] one. (They said "nah".)
{{-}}

==Death==
===Killing off old product===
[[File:Tftm1986a.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Guess who's no longer in the Mini Vehicles case assortment?]]
[[File:Newyorkunderbase.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Publisher's clearing house.]]
[[File:BW Scorponok Terrorsaur deaths.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Scorponok, Terrorsaur, we're condemning you to a fiery death 'cause Waspinator has a bigger fan club.]]
The most obvious To Sell Toys effect comes from the temporary nature of retail sales. Even in the 1980s, toys rarely stayed on the shelves past two years; today that timespan is much smaller. Once a toy is no longer selling, Hasbro has no interest in supporting fiction about that character—especially when there are newer toys to promote. Therefore, writers are often compelled to remove characters from the story by killing them off. Sometimes this happens through carefully developed story arcs, but it's easier to do it with huge, apocalyptic battles with massive numbers of casualties.

*Right before the introduction of most of the 1985 cast, the Marvel comic saw eleven of the original Autobots taken offline within a single issue in "[[Prime Time!]]". A few issues later, six of the original Decepticons met [[Command Performances!|a similar fate]] at the hands of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (which doubled as character pimping for the big guy). Though it was suggested they could be repaired, the vast majority of casualties wouldn't reappear in the US until they popped up in crowd shots [[Totaled!|thirty issues later]], and a number had their next appearance being a ''second'' death in the Underbase Saga.
*In ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', numerous main characters are killed or changed in the movie's first 30 minutes, including [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], and [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]]. They are replaced by a slew of new characters; in fact, the poster for the movie shows ''only'' new characters.
*Numerous characters are killed in the Marvel UK comics saga "[[Time Wars]]". The Grim Reaper seemed to spare either popular characters (Megatron and [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]) or newer characters ([[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]], [[Catilla (G1)|Catilla]] and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], for example.)
*The [[Underbase Saga]] features a super-powerful [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] killing literally ''dozens'' of characters; some place the count over fifty. The survivors were mostly from the [[Pretender]], [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]], and [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] ranks, those being the then-current toy lines. However, the explanation ([[Underbase]] power didn't affect those TFs with organic components) meant that even the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]], new toys at the time and introduced three issues before, met their end.
*The climactic [[On the Edge of Extinction!|battle with Unicron]] 25 issues later killed off many of the Underbase survivors, whose shelf run had ended.
*With its enormously expensive CGI animation, ''Beast Wars'' was particularly vulnerable to toy-based interference. The expense of creating and animating a CGI body model meant that the character roster had to remain fairly constant; the introduction of all-new characters usually required the removal of an equal number of existing characters. And so, [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] and [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] die just in time for the arrival of [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] and [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)|Silverbolt]]. (Frustrated with the situation, the writers carefully planned out<ref>http://www.builtstlouis.net/tf/manic/m-botcon.html</ref> the demise of [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]], anticipating that someone would have to be removed to make way for [[Rampage (BW)|newer characters]].) [[Tigerhawk]] was introduced and then killed off within three episodes, due to corporate uncertainty about whether the toy would actually be produced.
*''[[Transformers: The Reign of Starscream|The Reign of Starscream]]'' would end up killing a large number of Autobots in [[The Reign of Starscream issue 5|issue #5]], after their toys had been around for a while; as they'd not made an appearance in the comics until this mini, this is both an example of Huge Cast ''and'' Product Clearing. It would then go on to bump off some Decepticons, while its sequel ''[[Transformers: Alliance|Alliance]]'' slaughtered ''hordes'' of Decepticons with old toys. Mowry is the new Furman...
*An odd case of this is in the [[live-action film series]], which, as well as advertising toys, also serve as advertising for [[General Motors]] vehicles. Hence, Autobots whose cars are no longer in demand have an uncanny tendency to either lose prominence or perish. The most prominent example would be [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] - the GMC Topkick had been discontinued for two years by ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (franchise)|Dark of the Moon]]'', and so, despite a fifty-dollar toy on the shelves, Ironhide dies halfway in. Similarly, [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] is the major Autobot casualty of ''[[Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction]]'' due to his Hummer H2 vehicle mode being a thing of the past by the time the film hit theaters (though unlike Ironhide, Ratchet had next to no representation in the toyline).
*IDW's [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|''Robots in Disguise'']] ongoing has to promote a [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]... with [[Alpha Bravo|a new helicopter]] instead of [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]]. Hence, Slingshot is the one to suffer most and die from the injuries caused when [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] conveniently tore him in half several issues ago. This becomes horrifically redundant when one considers that Devastator tore through Superion from the ''right'', and Slingshot was Superion's ''left'' arm at the time. Not to mention that Silverbolt, the torso, was explicitly ripped in half... The series would go on to have [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] leave the Stunticons over a humiliating defeat... one he suffered years ago, in [[The Question|Spotlight: Bumblebee]]. Naturally, the empty position was filled by new toy [[Offroad (CW)|Offroad]]. Then Hasbro decided to release Quickslinger and Brake-Neck (Slingshot and Wildrider renamed for trademark issues) ''much'' later after the others' release, part of a strategy that effectively forced fans to buy toys ''both'' of the "replacement" characters ''and'' the original characters.

This has become less common in recent years, as Hasbro has come to realize that their target audiences can actually get attached to certain [[character]]s, and might not enjoy seeing them die random, brutal, meaningless [[death]]s.
{{-}}

===Hi-and-die===
[[File:Chuffer cof.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Likely dialog: "SHEEEAAGH!!"]]
Kids don't want to buy a toy of a character who's dead. So if the plot calls for someone to die, smart money bets on the character who has a toy as the survivor. The guy without a toy, who you've never heard of before? Toast. This is the ''Transformers'' version of ''[[Star Trek]]'''s infamous {{w|redshirt syndrome}}. The stereotypical hi-and-die character is killed off in the same episode/issue that introduces him, if not the very same scene.

*This approach was particularly common in the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#UK comics|UK comics]]. Characters created specifically so they could be killed off include Wrecker leader [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]], Autobot/zombie food [[Chuffer]], Tailgate's Autobot trainee buddies/mutant fodder [[Subsea]] and [[Flattop (Autobot)|Flattop]], and the sixth member of the "Magnificent Six", [[Stampede]].
*The U.S. comics also used this approach on occasion, as with [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]'s poignantly adorable buddy [[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]].
*[[Transmutate (BW)|Transmutate]] showed up and died in [[Transmutate (episode)|that episode]], of course Hasbro doesn't make [[Transmutate (BW)#Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|a toy]] [[Action Master|that don't transform]], right?
*The ''Energon'' cartoon introduced [[Padlock (Energon)|Padlock]], whose purpose was to die at [[Shockblast]]'s hands, providing motivation for toy-character [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]].
*''Animated'' chucked in [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]] so Ratchet could have a tragic past where he failed to save someone. (And ''then'' she got a toy!)
*The [[Transformers Animated (Titan)|''Animated'' comic]] wants to do a story arc about an Autobot who's really a spy and then have him killed. Quick, [[Afterburn|make someone up]]!
*''[[Transformers: Exodus|Exodus]]'' invents hordes of characters solely to populate the story with casualties while preserving the classic characters: [[Chromatron]], [[Gauntlet (WFC)|Gauntlet]], [[Halogen (WFC)|Halogen]], [[Drixco]], [[Revo]], [[Catalycon]], and dozens of other unnamed Autobots, Decepticons and [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]].
*[[James Roberts]] elevated hi-and-die to an artform; though his run on ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' is crammed with minor non-toy characters who wind up dead, many still received some backstory, history, or distinctive characterization before - or even after - being killed off. Examples from ''MtMtE'''s first "season" include [[Polaris]], [[Hyperion (G1)|Hyperion]], [[Shock (G1)|Shock]], [[Ore]], [[Animus]], [[Dent]], [[Sonic (IDW)|Sonic]], [[Boom]], [[Piston (Wrecker)|Piston]], [[Crest]], [[Torque (G1)|Torque]], [[Sherma]], [[Momus]], "[[Fallout (G1)|Fallout]]", "[[Streaker]]", [[Heavies|Hammer and Anvil]], [[Trepan]], [[Frak]], [[Rushcut]], [[Rossum]], [[Tripodeca]], [[Pivot]], [[Scattergun]], [[Blockus]], [[Datum]], [[Ramp]], and [[Suture (G1)|Suture]]. Similarly, ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' introduced us to [[Squadron X]], comprising just about every Decepticon hi-and-die character from the Marvel continuity, who were then all slaughtered by Impactor.
{{-}}

===Resurrection===
Killing off a character isn't always toy-motivated; sometimes it's a dramatic plot development. But it can also be a problem if Hasbro decides to make a new toy of that character.

[[File:Inferno dies agenda2.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Only a flesh wound!]]
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] has been resurrected [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|so many times]] that it's practically a defining character trait. His original revival in the cartoon didn't correspond to any actual toy release, but the Marvel comic brought him back specifically to advertise his [[Powermaster]] form. A second death-and-revival introduced his [[Action Master]] body. And a ''third'' death-and-revival in ''Generation 2'' brought him into his [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#G2Hero|Hero]] toy form.
*The Japanese killed off Optimus (or "Convoy" as they called him) in [[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|''The Headmasters'']]. A few years later, they not only brought him back with a new toy, the ''entire franchise'' for that year was called ''[[Transformers: Return of Convoy (franchise)|Return of Convoy]]''.
*Numerous "dead" characters were brought back into the Marvel comic series when their Classics and/or Action Master versions were released. Many were "deactivated" rather than outright dead; however, very few ''non'' Action Master characters showed up alongside them.
*The series writers for ''Beast Wars'' considered [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] dead and gone at the end of Season 1. Hasbro, however, had a [[Transmetal]] Optimus Primal toy to promote, and so he was returned to life in Season 2. Hasbro wanted him brought back in the first minutes of the season premiere, but the writers managed to convince them that it would be better to do so at the ''end'' of the two-episode story following the premiere.
*At the end of Season 2 of ''Beast Wars'', [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] was pretty clearly shown being killed—being ''disintegrated''—but in the next season appeared to have just been bruised and cracked, because Hasbro was not ready to have a Mega-scaled toy removed from the series.
*Pretty much ''nobody'' could successfully die in the [[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|''Energon'' cartoon]]. [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]], [[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Starscream]], [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]], [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]], [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Dagger]], and [[Inferno (Energon)|Inferno]] all die and/or are resurrected from the dead during the course of the show.
*[[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] still had toys out in 2008. The [[bio]] for AllSpark-Enhanced Autobot Jazz states he was brought back from near-death by the AllSpark and is "more powerful than ever". Voilà, Jazz comes back from the dead thanks to the AllSpark in [[Transformers Comic issue 16|Titan's tie-in comic]]! Optimus even uses the ''term'' "Autobot Jazz" in [[Transformers Comic issue 21|a later issue]]...
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] was shot in the head and abandoned on [[Gorlam Prime]] back in "[[Spotlight: Hardhead]]". Six years later, Hasbro were releasing a new Nightbeat toy and back he comes into ''Dark Cybertron'', a chatty undead from the [[Dead Universe]]. He proceeds to survive the destruction of the Dead Universe and wound up on the ''Lost Light'' before seemingly dying again.
*[[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]'s IDW incarnation first appeared in the ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]'' limited series, set millions of years in the past. The final issue originally left his exact fate following his final confrontation with Megatron ambiguous; according to artist [[Alex Milne]], Sentinel was ''not'' dead ''yet'' as far as he was concerned, and the script had called for him to look like he could go either way.<ref name="milne">[https://web.archive.org/web/20110822003501/http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=37411 Post by Alex Milne on the IDW Publishing Forums]</ref> However, ''[[Spotlight: Optimus Prime]]'', published around the same time, at least ''implied'' that he was dead in the present day just like in other continuities, given how Optimus Prime had succeeded him. Subsequently, ''[[Spotlight: Blurr]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy]]'', among others, presented [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]] as the Prime who chronologically succeeded Sentinel, before being himself killed by Megatron and succeeded by Optimus. Fast forward to several years later, when Hasbro's [[Titans Return (toyline)|''Titans Return'' toy line]] introduced a new Sentinel Prime toy that was also a [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] with a [[Titan Master]] named [[Infinitus]], and lo and behold, the IDW version of Sentinel, having been presumed dead for four million years, suddenly makes an unexpected return in a ''[[The Last Autobot|Titans Return]]'' one-shot, with absolutely no buildup beforehand, and is revealed to actually ''be'' a smaller robot named Infinitus who survived the destruction of his larger body. After menacing everyone a little for a few issues, he gets dropped down a very big hole, never to be spoken of again.
{{-}}

===Untouchables===
[[File:Armorhide drawhisfire.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Really, they could just stand there making rude noises at Starscream.]]
Obviously, if a character ''does'' have a current toy (or soon will), they're ([[Cliffjumper (WFC)|usually]]) not going to die, even if the plot or common sense indicates they should. This is sometimes because Hasbro itself declares a character unkillable, and so comics and TV writers must follow suit.
*In "[[Optimal Situation]]", [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] had betrayed [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] to the Maximals, ruining his greatest shot at victory. As he declared, "There will be no more betrayals!", she would pay the price: being knocked into stasis lock so the Maximals could fix her and she could stay on their team.
*Megatron himself was in a prime position to be terminated, as were the Maximals later on, in "[[The Weak Component]]". Since this was only episode 6 and everyone had toys out, the cast politely agreed not to take this opportunity to end a brutal war for the planet.
*Titan's Movie strip was moved to an alternate universe, where you'd [[Rhythms of Darkness!|expect nobody to be safe from death]]. However, most of the cast had toys out, so whether it was a desperate guerrilla fight against Decepticon occupation, the rise of [[Unicron]], a [[Decepticon Civil War]], or the final battle, very few characters bought it. The big exception was [[Divebomb (Movie)|Divebomb]], dying in his first battle.
*In ''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' (mentioned earlier), James Roberts observed that Impactor was the only character who was guaranteed not to be killed. However, Hasbro shot down the idea of Perceptor or Springer dying, and so most of the fatalities were less well-known characters like Pyro, Ironfist, and eternally unlucky Wreckers Twin Twist and Topspin.
*Similar to his Beast Era counterpart, ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Prime]]'' [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] was worn down to the point of exhaustion, and was at [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]]'s mercy. Optimus, now [[One Shall Fall|sworn to outright kill Megatron when he gets the chance]], is about to pull the trigger, but ends up backing down when he's threatened by Decepticon reinforcements... in this case, the laughing stock redshirt Vehicons. It doesn't help that the ''[[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|Prime]]'' toyline had ''just'' gotten on shelves, but seriously? Optimus felt threatened by ''Vehicons''?
*If a Decepticon with a current toy is about to be captured in ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'', they can pull off the most miraculous of escapes, sometimes [[Bee Cool|disappearing under our heroes' noses]].
*Starscream, the end.

==Notable exceptions==
There are, however, a few notable exceptions to the To Sell Toys effect, such as fictional characters without a toy counterpart, and other anomalies:

===Toys not released in the relevant market===
[[File:Swoopg1marvelukfirst.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|YOU CAN'T HAVE ME.]]
Occasionally the ''Transformers'' fiction released in a particular country features characters whose toys were not released in that country. The Marvel UK comic featured two variations of this phenomenon:

*Characters inherited from the U.S. strips. Some, such as [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]], [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] and the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]], were given fairly prominent roles in the U.S. stories reprinted in the UK comic and so it was hard to ignore them completely in the UK originated material despite their toys not being around to need advertising. However the decision to develop the Predacons (even before their US appearances were reprinted), to have entire storylines focusing on Swoop, and also to keep Shockwave in continuity even after he'd been (supposedly) killed off in the US comic goes beyond this.
*Characters not featured in the U.S. strips. Bizarrely the UK comic also made use of some characters such as [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]], [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], [[Chop Shop (G1)|Chop Shop]], and [[Venom (G1)|Venom]], despite their toys not being available on UK toy shelves. None of these characters were inherited from the US material.

Writer [[Simon Furman]] has since stated that when writing the stories he was generally unaware of which toys were unavailable in the UK: "We largely took our cue from what characters were being introduced into the US storyline. If there was a release schedule for the toys in the UK, we rarely saw it... But in the case of Swoop and the Predacons, I don't think I was consciously aware (at the time) that we were dealing with toys not generally available in the UK. They were just extant characters, and therefore fair game." <ref>[http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_furman.php TransFans.net - Interviews: Simon Furman - Part 1 'The Past'].</ref>

This would happen again with Titan, as foreign exclusives such as [[Bludgeon (ROTF)|Bludgeon]] and [[Slap Dash (ROTF)|Slap Dash]] palled around with UK-available toys.

Another example would be the original text stores published by [[Condor Verlag]] in their ''[[Transformers Comic-Magazin]]'': The text story from [[Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 11|issue 11]] features the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]], even though catalogs from the era, backed up by German fans' recollections, suggest that the German release of the ''[[Classics (Europe)|Classics]]'' line-up omitted the Classic Combaticons, possibly due to their "war" theme.
{{-}}

===Post-Marvel, pre-2013 G1 comics===
[[File:Infiltration 1b.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"Hey, Runamuck, it's our first appearance on a comic book cover in twenty years!" "Heh heh, now if only we could appear on toy store shelves..."]]
Both [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] and [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] comics, the two recent holders of the license to publish ''Transformers'' comic books, sometimes produce comics using whichever toy line is current (e.g., Dreamwave's ''[[Transformers: Armada (Dreamwave)|Armada]]'' comic or IDW's [[Transformers (film)|2007 movie]] tie-ins), and sometimes publish comics using whatever characters they please (e.g., ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]''). The characters in their "discretionary" comics are often not currently available in toy form ([[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]], a character appearing in numerous stories from IDW's G1 continuity during their early years, only had [[Hardhead (G1)#Universe (2008)|another toy]] on shelves at around 2009, a good twenty-two years since [[Hardhead (G1)#Generation 1|his last toy]]), sometimes are drawn with bodies that have ''never'' been toys (most of the ''War Within'' characters), and sometimes are toys that were never available outside of specific countries ([[Lio Convoy]] in IDW's ''Beast Wars'').

[[Chris Ryall]], IDW Editor-in-Chief and writer of the miniseries adapting the 2007 movie to comics, had stated on IDW's forums that Hasbro does not dictate what comics IDW must make ("Nope, no dictates at all from Hasbro. We put the plan together, send to them for approval.").<ref>http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=69377</ref> By the time of ''All Hail Megatron'', however, the ''Universe'' line came out and Hasbro asked IDW to start using some of those designs.<ref>[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=102461#102461 Guido reveals the Hasbro request]</ref> Though this practice did not influence the subsequent [[The Transformers (IDW)|ongoing series]], it did raise its head again in 2013, as Hasbro and IDW began working together to create new toys based on character designs from the comics, to promote upcoming toys with New Bodies and to include the [[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]] event (including various preludes) with the toys.

===New toys, same basic design===
In more recent times (mostly in the case of the [[live-action film series]]), Hasbro has used a combination of minor [[redeco]]s, [[retool]]s and sculpts based on the same basic designs to create new toys, instead of giving recurring characters a major design overhaul for the next installment. The fiction then rarely, if ever, acknowledges any of those minor design changes. According to screenwriter [[Roberto Orci]], some people at Hasbro even argued against changing the designs of some returning characters in ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen]]'', so that parents would '''not''' have to buy the same toy twice for their children just because of a minor change or modification to the characters' designs.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/showpost.php?p=2186879&postcount=171 Roberto Orci posting at TFW2005.com]</ref> (Hasbro still released new, or modified, toys of those characters, prompting [[completist]]s to buy them as well, and the film gave some of the characters slight tweaks in their [[alternate mode]]s, based on changes in the real-life vehicle designs, which the toys had to incorporate.)

===Killing off characters with new toys===
Even characters with new or expensive toys can get the axe early on if the plot calls for it... or when poor timing caused by unplanned executive decisions resulted in bad coordination between in-fiction developments and toy release schedules.
*Despite being killed off in the middle of ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]'', [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] got a lot of new toys, including a Leader Class figure, a Voyager Class figure, and a Halloween costume for children!
*''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Prime]]'' [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]] was hyped up as a major character in the lead-up to the show's premiere, and got several toys like the other members of the main cast. He dies within the first five minutes of the [[Darkness Rising, Part 1|premiere episode]]. However, later he gets his fair share of screentime by [[Out of the Past|flashbacks]] and the like.
*Due to behind the scenes budget issues and the ''Prime'' [[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|toyline]] getting pushed back thanks to the ''Dark of the Moon'' [[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (toyline)|toyline]], [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]] is quickly shut away inside a stasis pod in "[[Armada (episode)|Armada]]" for much of the remainder of the series at the ''same time'' as the mass release of her toy; [[Breakdown (WFC)|Breakdown]] also suffered a grimmer fate as he was killed off just a few episodes earlier (by Airachnid herself, no less). On a similar beat, poor [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] died in "[[Masters & Students]]", but his toys weren't released until well over a year later, making them posthumous toy releases.
*IDW [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]] gets a new ''Titans Return'' toy in mid late 2016, but was killed off at about the same time his toy was hitting shelves in the [[All Hail Optimus Part 6: No Fair Fights|final issue]] of the second season of ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]''.

===New toys with minimal fictional appearances===
Sometimes, characters that have a new or expensive toy barely see use in fiction.
*Generation 1 Whirl and Roadbuster were larger and more expensive than many of the other Autobots, but never appeared in the original cartoon. They were featured in the comics as members of the Wreckers.
*Sixshot's only appearance in the original cartoon is a quick sequence where he transforms into each of his alt modes to defeat the Aerialbots. He is never seen again.
*In ''Transformers Armada'', Optimus Prime is the only character to not receive an upgrade after being defeated by Nemesis Prime, despite having an expensive $40 redeco on store shelves. Optimus does receive the redeco colors in the final episode of the series, but he returns to his old colors by the episode's conclusion.
*[[Optimus Prime (Movie)|"Silver Knight" Optimus Prime]] had an entire thematic segment of the [[Transformers: Age of Extinction (toyline)|''Age of Extinction'' toyline]] dedicated to him that was exclusive to [[Target]] stores. However, the planned upgrade of Optimus Prime was cut from the theatrical release of ''Age of Extinction''.
*''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]'' Quickslinger and Brake-Neck, meant to be [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] and [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]], did not get any focus in the accompanying IDW fiction: Slingshot is dead and Wildrider's whereabouts are unknown after his leaving the Stunticons. Instead, their selling point is giving fans the chance to complete G1-accurate [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] and [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] toys. Meanwhile, the Autobot [[Rook (CW)|Rook]] made only a background appearance in the event, and was so overlooked he had to be digitally added ''to'' those backgrounds; [[Alpha Bravo]], his [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] counterpart, gets a bit more but nothing you'd miss. (When Rook ''did'' get some work later, he was promptly killed off!)
*''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' introduced a massive amount of new toys and a ''massive'' amount of Headmasters, including many familiar G1 characters redone as Headmasters. However, very few of these new toys were given focus in IDW's [[Titans Return (comic)|tie-in comic arc]], including prominent characters such as [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]. ([[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] is a notable exception, returning after a long absence.) Also, despite the heavy emphasis on [[Titan Master]]s in the toyline, only one character, [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]], displayed actual Headmaster ability. [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] is briefly decapitated and turned into a lifeless body for [[Infinitus]] to take control of, for no real reason other than to show off the head-swapping gimmick inherent in all ''Titans Return'' figures. And, with a colossal new [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/toys#Generations|Titan-class]] toy for [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Fortress Maximus]] as the centerpiece of the line, you'd expect some significant toy-shilling action. Instead, Fortress Maximus's brand-new Titan body gets smacked around a bit before utterly failing in its one job of defending [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]]'s [[space bridge]] from the [[zombie]] Titans.
*Most likely caused by the complaints from fans about the small amount of Decepticons in the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 toyline)|RID 2015 Toyline]], [[Steeljaw (RID)|Steeljaw]] breaks out many monsters of the week from the first season. Each one gets a figure, yet they all get one or two episodes to shine. [[Bisk (RID)|Bisk]] is the greatest example, appearing very briefly in Episode 4 of Season 1, getting captured, going free, and getting captured again in the next Episode.
**Every major 'Con from or affiliated with Decepticon Island gets Mini-Cons, who do very little but appear anyway only because they had toys. Ratchet gets one as well.
[[File:TF-TLK-Berserker.jpg|right|upright=1.7|thumb|'''DELUXE ROOK''' with Amazing ''STANDING AROUND ACTION!''']]
* After having a Deluxe-sized figure despite being the largest [[Dinobot (AOE)|Dinobot]] in ''[[Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction]]'', [[Scorn]] got a larger, more movie-accurate Voyager class figure for the toyline of ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (toyline)|The Last Knight]]''. Unfortunately, Scorn didn't even appear in the [[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|actual film]]!
* A more egregious ''The Last Knight'' example occurs in the case of [[Berserker]]. Despite being on-screen for about 15 seconds, tops (in which he's a prisoner of war and not even released from incarceration), and having only one line, Berserker got several toys to himself, one of which was an entirely new Deluxe class figure. This is in stark contrast to more prominent Decepticons [[Onslaught (ROTF)|Onslaught]], [[Dreadbot]], and [[Mohawk]], none of whom received toys. Set photos seem to indicate that Berserker was going to have a larger role than he did, explaining why he was given such a prominent role in the toyline.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Toys]]

Ralph Macchio

2021-11-17T11:43:00Z

Timrollpickering: Macchio eventually retired

{{mainpic}}
Somewhere, on a wiki floating in the infinite void of the computer-driven system known as the ''[[Internet]]''... a profile exists! But this is no ordinary profile — it is the profile of a man who worked at [[Marvel Comics]] from the era known as the ''1970s'' until the 2010s! It is the profile of a writer and editor; it is the profile of... '''Ralph Macchio'''!

Ralph Macchio (b. [[December 28]], ???) was invited to tour Marvel as a result of his many fan letters to different publications. This led to a job interview, which in turn led to Macchio's ultimately being hired. By 1983, Macchio - having been an assistant editor to the likes of Dennis J. O'Neil - became an editor in his own right, with [[Bob Harras]] as his assistant.

Macchio has, over the years, worked on a diverse number of titles, including ''[[Rom]]'', ''[[Micronauts]]'', ''[[Spider-Man]]'', ''[[Avengers|The Avengers]]'', ''[[Thor]]'', and ''[[Captain America]]''.

Most important to this Wiki is the fact that he is the famed and revered scribe whose pen gave ''birth'' to [[The Transformers (issue)|the very first issue]] of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel G1 comic]]! This self-same pen-wielder would soon go on to compose another contribution to the many worlds of the Transformers, for it was ''he'' that wrote the [[Transformers: The Movie (Marvel comic)|''Transformers: The Movie'']] comic adaptation!

No, he is ''not'' {{w|Ralph Macchio|the Karate Kid}}.

==External Links==
*{{w|Ralph Macchio (comics)|Wikipedia entry}}
*[http://comicbookdb.com/creator.php?ID=50 Comic Book Database entry]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Macchio, Ralph}}
[[Category:Marvel Comics]]
[[Category:Writers]]

Misconceptions and urban legends about Transformers

2021-09-21T12:30:49Z

Timrollpickering: /* Europe (all generations) */ restore; letter at end of G1 was an apparent confirmation of the myth and did contribute to the misconception continuing

{{picsneeded}}
{{cleanup|March 2018|Generally poorly organised}}
Over the years, many '''misconceptions and urban legends''' have sprung up within ''Transformers'' [[fandom]], often resulting from such factors as fuzzy childhood memories, inaccurate catalog illustrations, and mistranslations of foreign material.

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
*'''Transformers is (only) a cartoon from the Eighties that was brought back into vogue with the 2007 movie.'''
: A misconception usually held by casual fans or nostalgic adults is that Transformers went away some time around 1986 (or 1987, or 1988—pick your year). People who stumbled across a newer incarnation of the Transformers franchise before 2007 commonly assumed that it had only recently popped back up as an attempt to cash in on '80s nostalgia. From 2007 onwards, people who were (obviously) aware of the [[live-action film series]] commonly believed that it was the [[Transformers (film)|2007 movie]] that brought the franchise back from limbo. Neither assumption is correct.
:In fact, the [[Transformers brand]] has been continuous since 1984 (there was a brief gap between 1990 and 1993 as far as the United States market was concerned, but the brand still continued with new products in other markets). It includes many [[Franchise|lines of toys, cartoons and comics]] that span over three decades, with no sign of stopping, as Hasbro considers it a core brand. Each line has experienced varying degrees of success, rebooting when its target audience gets too old or uninterested in the toyline and fiction.
:Some of this misconception is based on the fact that most of the original audience stopped watching and following the franchise long before its initial US cancellation (as it wasn't "cool" to be kiddy once puberty hit). Without any exposure to the market, the toyline and the new cartoons, they simply assume that ''Transformers'' has sunk in popularity, quality and/or sales, since it's not what they remember.
:It ''is'' true that Transformers hit a low point of popularity in the early 1990s, with the cancelation of Generation 1 and the unremarkable sales of ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]''. But the successor ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' line re-established the brand for a new generation beginning in 1996, and Transformers has been a dominant toy franchise ever since. While it's true that the live-action movies caused a major hike in popularity for the brand, they didn't revive a long-forgotten franchise; rather, they merely turned a steadily successful toy series into a major worldwide multimedia phenomenon.
{{-}}
*'''Generation 1 obviously has the best toys, cartoons and characters.'''
:Casual fans likewise tend to assume automatically that the original 1980s iteration of Transformers is the best and most successful line to date, with all other successors being unpopular and/or unsuccessful ventures.
:While it's hard to measure the overall success of every line in all its aspects, the original line has been surpassed in both quality and sales multiple times over (if not for warm-fuzzy nostalgia-feels in 80s kids). In factors such as realistic alternate forms, durability, articulation, action features, and complexity, various later toylines have all exceeded Generation 1. And while fiction can't be measured objectively, many fans will swear up and down by some of the later incarnations of ''Transformers''.
:Arguably, Transformers is in an endless cycle of creating [[true fan|new fans who share new opinions on what is "teh greatest"]].
{{-}}
*'''Powermaster Optimus Prime was the first, ''original'' Optimus Prime toy.'''
[[File:G1 OptimusPrime toy.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|1984—the original.]]
[[File:PowermasterOptimusPrime toy.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|1988—the Powermaster version.]]

:This one claims that the [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]] toy, originally released in 1988, is the ''original'', first Optimus Prime toy ever released, rather than the ''earlier'', non-Powermaster toy, which is an entirely different mold and was originally available in 1984. This phenomenon is particularly common in [[eBay]] auctions, where Powermaster Optimus Prime toys are frequently advertised as "ORIGINAL Optimus Prime".
:The reasons for this misconception are obvious: Numerous people arrived late to the party—that is, became fans of the original ''Transformers'' line after the ''real'' original Optimus Prime toy had vanished off the shelves in 1986 (the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|cartoon]] was still shown in reruns on TV). Any of them looking for a toy of the iconic [[Autobot]] leader would only find the Powermaster toy on store shelves starting in 1988. Fast-forward to 20 years later, and people who weren't really paying a lot of attention to the brand for the past few years, now looking to sell off their childhood toys, would naturally conclude that the toy they got as a kid was the ''original'' Optimus Prime toy.
:The phenomenon is even more widespread in countries such as Germany, where the cartoon wasn't officially shown on TV until 1989(!). By that point, the ''original'' toy, which had originally been released by [[Milton Bradley]] in the European market in 1985, was long gone off the shelves. Thus, the only Optimus Prime toy available to kids who had only just become fans because of the cartoon was the Powermaster version. Admittedly, [[parallel import|gray import]]s of the Mexican version of the ''original'' toy by [[IGA]] were also available in European stores around this time, and Hasbro themselves would release the original toy again two years later as part of their European-exclusive [[Classics (Europe)|Classics]] line of reissues. However, the Powermaster Optimus Prime toy was still a lot more widespread.

*'''20th Anniversary Optimus Prime was the Optimus Prime toy available in the 1980s/Alternators are the same toys that were available in the 1980s.'''

[[File:TF-Masterpiece-MP-1-Convoy.jpg|125px|thumb|Sadly, this didn't exist until 2003.]]
:This misconception usually comes from people who, upon seeing the 20th Anniversary [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]] toy (which was originally released in 2003/2004), honest-to-god swear it's the toy they had when they were a kid. Similarly, there are also people who believe that the toys from the ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'' line are the same toys they had as kids, when they're most likely confusing them with the original Autobot Cars, which are about half the size.
:The reasons for this aren't too hard to guess: People were a lot smaller when they were kids, so obviously the original Transformers toys seemed a lot larger to them. Since these fans didn't repeatedly hold or play with their Transformers while growing up, they weren't constantly adjusting to the toys' size in relation to their own. This resulted in blurred memories of outright ''gargantuan'' Transformers toys available in the 1980s. (One might wonder how tall those people would remember [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] being.)
:When confronted with the original toys—now relatively small because the fans have grown up—these people often reject them, insisting the "original" toys were ''larger'' (occasionally even accusing the ''real'' original toys of being downsized [[knockoff]]s). Showing them the Alternators or 20th Anniversary Optimus Prime, on the other hand, will bring back warm (albeit incorrect) memories.

{{-}}
*'''"Bumblejumper" is just a yellow Cliffjumper'''
[[File:G1-toy Bumper.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"Bumblejumper", who later would be known as "Bumper".]]
:In 1984, Hasbro released three different similar-form toys as part of the [[Mini Vehicle|Minicar]] assortment: [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|Bumblebee]], [[Cliffjumper (G1)/toys|Cliffjumper]], and a [[Bumper (G1)|third unnamed toy]] that was not advertised in any capacity, sold ''only'' on Cliffjumper cards (at least, no samples on a Bumblebee card have ever surfaced). This third mold was a "leftover" from the ''[[Micro Change]]'' line, based on a Mazda Familia 1500XG sedan, and was very quickly phased out (resulting in him becoming the first of the "holy grail" super-costly Transformers on the secondary market). The exact nature of how and why this toy got released is still a mystery. Fans took to calling this third mystery mold portmanteau names such as "Bumblejumper", "Cliffbee", and "Bumper"; that last one eventually becoming his official name when he appeared in the ongoing [[Transformers: Generation 1 (Dreamwave)|''Generation One'' Volume 1]] comic series by [[Dreamwave Productions]].
:Adding to the confusion is that both Bumblebee and Cliffjumper were available in two color schemes: their fiction-supported colors (Bee in yellow, Cliff in red) and in reversed colors (Bee in red, Cliff in yellow) up through 1985. And since Cliffjumper and Bumper are both similarly boxy in vehicle form, and Bumper was only available in yellow, and only on Cliffjumper cards for a very short time, and was not in any catalogs and had no name and didn't appear in any cartoons or comics....
:Further adding to the mistaken memory pile is [[Hubcap (G1)#toys|Hubcap]], a yellow [[retool]] of Cliffjumper released in 1986. Fun!

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*'''A super-rare blue variant of Bluestreak was available during Generation 1.'''
[[File:G1 Bluestreak boxart.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|You had this as a kid. The picture, that is. Not the toy.]]
:The very earliest [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]] toy [[catalog]]s used a photo of a blue-sided ''[[Diaclone]]'' Fairlady Z to represent [[Bluestreak (G1)/toys|Bluestreak]]; photographs of the same toy were used for Bluestreak's own [[Instructions|instruction booklet]]. The same blue-sided color scheme was also used on his [[Package art|box art]]; which was in turn shown on ''every'' 1984 instruction booklet as a sample tech spec.
:All this gave rise to a long-standing myth that a blue Bluestreak toy was sold under the ''Transformers'' brand during Generation 1, with some people going so far as to "remember" owning blue Bluestreaks as children, or at least knowing someone else who did. Adding to the confusion, ''{{w|ToyFare}}'' magazine had a long history of listing the supposed blue Bluestreak as a "foreign [[variant]]" in its monthly price guide.
:However, actual samples of a blue-sided Bluestreak in a sealed ''Transformers'' box have ''never'' appeared, and the [[Karl Hartman|collectors who have been at it since the very beginning]] and [[Jon Hartman|amassed ''insane'' numbers of rare Transformers]] have never seen one.
: Oddly enough, numerous other Transformers toys from that era were depicted in both catalogues and packaging art with colors they were never released in —[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]], for example— yet Bluestreak is the only one to be (mis)remembered in this manner, perhaps because his name is ''Blue''streak, so he had to have been blue, right?

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*'''A show-accurate Skyfire toy was available during Generation 1.'''
[[File:Jetfire-SkyfireModels.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Patience. You just have to wait 22 years.]]
:Due to some legal entanglements, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] was renamed "Skyfire" for the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original ''The Transformers'' cartoon]], with a [[character model]] that bore only a vague resemblance to the toy. Some confused viewers seem to have come away assuming that there had to be a [[Show-accuracy|show-accurate]] Generation 1 toy by the name of Skyfire. (The ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' Jetfire toy is actually designed as a mix between the original toy and the cartoon character model, and many later toys have aspects of the cartoon model too.)

*'''Some Generation 1 toy molds were in use as long ago as 1974.'''
:Some ''[[Micro Change|Microchange]]''-derived toys have the text "©1974 TAKARA" stamped on them, and as a result are occasionally sold on eBay with descriptions such as "original 1974 [[Ravage (G1)/toys|Ravage]]". However, the date 1974 refers to the introduction of the original ''[[Microman]]'' franchise due to the way Japanese IP law worked at the time; the first ''Microchange'' toys weren't even designed until the early 1980s.

:{{-}}
*'''A Unicron toy was available during Generation 1.'''
[[File:Unicron Proto.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Seriously, aren't you glad your poor parents didn't have to waste like a hundred bucks on this back in '86?]]
:No toys of [[Unicron/toys|Unicron]] were available (or even produced beyond [[prototype]]) until 2003. In fact, the mere ''existence'' of those prototypes wasn't actually officially confirmed until many years later. The first [[Unicron/toys|official Unicron toy]] to be released came out as part of the ''[[Transformers: Armada (toyline)|Armada]]'' line in 2003 and was a brand new mold, not based on an old, unused prototype.
:The fictional existence of a ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' Unicron toy is likely based on schoolground one-upmanship: if one kid had a larger toy such as [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] or [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], a rival kid would claim to have a Unicron toy in order to appear cooler, but would most likely retire to his bed a sobbing mess, knowing in his heart that one day God would punish him for being a HUGE FIBBER.
:What could also have attributed to this misconception was the voice actor for Unicron himself, Orson Welles. He died before the movie's release and the part in the 1986 movie was his last before his death in 1985. He loathed the part and could not even remember his character's name; he was quoted as saying, "I play a big toy who attacks a bunch of smaller toys," mistakenly assuming there was a toy for him.

*'''The reissue Soundwave toys released by Takara are reverse-engineered from Soundblaster because the original molds are lost.'''
:Both the ''[[The Transformers Collection]]'' and ''[[Transformers Encore|Encore]]'' [[Soundwave (G1)/toys|Soundwave]] releases have different tape buttons and hinges than the ones found on the vintage Hasbro release. While the vintage Hasbro Soundwave had inset controls and an internal tape deck hinge, the Takara reissues have a large button block that serves as a pivot point for an external tape deck hinge. The supposed reason for this is the mold for the original versions of the buttons and door are lost or worn out, so a new single tape door was made to work with the Soundblaster mold.
:In fact, the buttons and hinge used on the reissue Soundwaves were originally a [[retool]]ed running change [[variant]] of Takara's original 1985 release of Soundwave. The further Soundblaster retool was based on the later Japanese version of Soundwave, as were the reissues. Presumably, the original mold in its original condition ''is'' lost - but this happened ''long'' before Takara retooled Soundwave into Soundblaster.

*'''A few years ago, a crazy old man claimed he had created the original ''Transformers'' toys.'''
:In 2005, the ''Transformers'' [[fandom]] learned, by way of a newspaper article posted by an internet fan site, of the existence of [[Henry Orenstein]], a former toymaker. Although the main focus of the article was Orenstein's then-current achievements in the field of poker, it also implied that Orenstein had "created" the original ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Transformers]]'' toys, and even featured a photo that depicted a somewhat confused-looking Orenstein holding [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#20th Anniversary/Masterpiece|20th Anniversary Optimus Prime]]. Many fans subsequently assumed that this was a deluded old man who believed he had created the concept of ''Transformers'' toys, even though the fandom knew full well by this point that the original toys were originally created in Japan. His status as the "creator" of the ''Transformers'' toy line was subsequently repeated in several other articles about the man, possibly directly based on its mention in the original 2005 article.
:The ''fact'' is that Orenstein had worked for [[Hasbro]] during the 1980s, and was the person who had convinced [[George Dunsay]], then Hasbro's Vice President of R&D, to acquire the rights to a (more or less) innovative type of Japanese toys, which would eventually become known as the original ''Transformers'' toys. Aside from that and the original patent for the [[rubsign]]s, which he shares with Dunsay, Orenstein has made no known contribution to the [[Transformers brand|''Transformers'' brand]]. Obviously, the writer of said newspaper article had only marginal knowledge of the history of the ''Transformers'' brand, was told what was most likely nothing more than an anecdote by Orenstein (his biography is full of fascinating episodes, by the way), and subsequently inflated it massively with hyperbole, possibly in an attempt to gain more attention to his article due to the popularity of the brand, even before the [[Transformers (film)|2007 movie]]. The only question is, where did the photographer get the 20th Anniversary Optimus Prime toy from?

===Generation 2===
*'''"Generation 2" means "after ''The Transformers: The Movie''."'''
:This common but explicitly false idea probably stems from the many casual fans who grew up with the original ''Transformers'' line but stopped paying much attention around 1986, when the animated ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' debuted and the ''Transformers'' craze began to die down. Many such fans regained some interest in ''Transformers'' many years later, particularly with hype surrounding the [[Transformers (film)|2007 live-action movie]]. Seeing the phrase "Generation 2" batted around in fandom, it might seem natural to assume it refers to the big changeover that happened with the animated film. It certainly didn't help that, early in the life of [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]], [[Pat Lee]] shared in this misconception, leading other new arrivals to the fandom to ape his use of the term.
:While the original animated movie certainly marked a change from one "generation" of toys to another, along with some new design trends, the phrase "Generation 2" refers to [[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|a very specific franchise]], marketed from 1992 to 1995—years after the animated film had come and gone. Its relative obscurity probably contributes to the mis-attribution of the term, as ''Generation 2'' marks a low point in popularity for ''Transformers'' as a whole.

*'''The ''Generation 2'' Autobot and Decepticon insignias were originally created by Hasbro UK, whose license for using the original faction insignias owned by Hasbro US had expired.'''
:The first half is ''maybe'' true, the second half certainly isn't. Long story short: While the new Autobot and Decepticon faction [[insignia]]s were popularized by the ''Generation 2'' line, said line didn't start in Europe until 1994, a year later than in the US. Instead, the ''Transformers'' brand had continued in Europe even after its cancellation in the United States in 1990 (see the page for the [[The Transformers (European toyline)|European toyline]] for more details), and new European-"exclusive" figures were still being released in 1993, many of which were later re-released in [[rebranding|rebranded]] ''Generation 2'' packaging in Europe in 1994, while some of them were also made available (including some color, name and faction changes) under the ''Generation 2'' line in the United States in 1993. It was those designed-for-Europe 1993 pre-''Generation 2'' figures that had first featured the new Autobot and Decepticon insignias on their packaging, and a popular myth claims that they had become a necessity for the European market due to Hasbro UK and Hasbro US being legally considered distinct entities under international law, and Hasbro UK alternatively didn't want to continue paying their parent company the fee for being allowed to use these symbols, or the license for using them had expired.<ref name="euhist">[https://tfarchive.com/fandom/features/thirtieth-anniversary/?s=countdown-04-european-history "European History"] at The Transformers Archive.</ref>

:The holes in this theory are legion: First of all, considering the trademark for the name "The Transformers" was registered with the UK Patent Office by Hasbro UK back in 1986, shouldn't the same also apply to the faction insignias? Therefore, how could Hasbro US, assuming it was indeed a distinct entity, enforce trademarks it hadn't registered in the UK? Why exactly would the UK Patent Office be enforcing the trademarks of a (supposedly) foreign company that didn't do business in the UK? In fact, why would ''anyone'' be enforcing trademark claims against Hasbro UK on behalf of Hasbro US? And why would this affect only the faction insignias? Wouldn't the names "Transformers", "Autobot" and "Decepticon" be equally subject to those alleged licensing fees?

:A much more likely explanation is that the faction insignias were changed for the same reason the "Transformers" title logo was changed to a new version (both in the US and Europe) in 1989, along with a major redesign of the toys' packaging, and why there had been another change to the packaging design and "Transformers" title logo for the European releases in 1992: To "refresh" the overall presentation of the brand, making everyhing look "new" and different for marketing reasons. Now whether the new insignias were originally created by Hasbro US for the ''Generation 2'' line and were simply applied to the European 1993 toys first for the sake of consistency, or whether they had indeed been created by Hasbro UK and Hasbro US just liked them so much they decided to adopt them for the ''Generation 2'' line is up for debate.

===Beast Wars===
*'''Beast Wars didn't originally have the Transformers branding.'''
:While the early design of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' toy packaging had the ''Transformers'' brand name in a smaller typeface than the main ''Beast Wars'' logo, the toy range was ''always'' officially titled ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' in the United States from day one. Later on, with the release of the [[Transmetal]]s and [[Fuzor]]s subranges, the ''Transformers'' name was increased in size and prominence on the packaging, eventually reversing the order of the two parts of the title to ''Transformers: Beast Wars''.

:In Europe, things were a little less cut-and-dry: Various types of [[multilingual packaging]] that saw use in different markets further reduced the prominence (and in some cases, also the visibility) of the ''Transformers'' branding, initially relegating it to an entirely different section of the packaging far away from the ''Beast Wars'' title. Lastly, when British commercial broadcaster ITV aired the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|''Beast Wars'' television series]] on their morning show (GMTV), the ''Transformers'' name was edited out of the title sequence entirely.

===2001 ''Robots in Disguise''===
*'''The ''Robots in Disguise'' toyline was known as "Transformers 2000" in Japan.'''
:As information about the then-new [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)|''Car Robots'' toyline]] began to trickle out of Japan in 2000, early rumors purportedly from Japanese sources indicated that it was officially named "Transformers 2000".<ref name="Transformers 2000">http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_frm/thread/e6436b92178f0c0a</ref> It's possible those Japanese sources were also going by early, inaccurate rumors or perhaps a soon-to-be-discarded working title for the line. The idea persisted with many Western fans well after the true name of the show was revealed, encouraged by online import retailers (who were equally misinformed) using the title to promote pre-orders on their sites.

*'''''Robots in Disguise'' Side Burn was so complex, the toy's designer later apologized.'''
:Basically. [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)|''Car Robots'']] [[Side Burn (RID)|Speedbreaker]] was the first ''Transformers'' toy designed by [[Hironori Kobayashi]], and it kind of shows. In a later interview, he admitted that the development process was a "painful experience" and an "admonition" to do better in the future.<ref name="Translated interview at ToyboxDX">http://toyboxdx.com/phorum/read.php?3,97799,97800</ref>

===Alternators===
*'''A yellow version of Alternators Tracks was released to North American stores (but then recalled by Hasbro).'''

[[File:YellowTracks.jpg|upright=0.6|thumb|Only in Japan, baby.]]
:When [[Hasbro]] (and [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) originally announced the ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'' version of [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] in 2004, the toy's [[Alternate mode|vehicle mode's]] primary color was yellow. This caused the ire of a significant portion of the fandom, which insisted that the toy had to be ''blue'', like its [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]] predecessor.
:Hasbro eventually confirmed at [[OTFCC 2004]] that the initial idea had been to release the toy in yellow first, and then later as a running change [[variant]] in blue, like Takara would ultimately do. However, Hasbro had encountered problems at the test shot stage, where it became evident that some of the toy's innards were shining through the yellow plastic. As a result, plans for a release of the yellow version were scrapped, and it was decided to release the blue version from the get-go.
:Rumors started circulating that some stores (usually [[Walmart]]) had indeed received a shipment of the toy, but were then asked by Hasbro to send back the entire batch. Naturally, no substantial evidence has ever surfaced to back up these claims. And while toys may occasionally be recalled [[for safety reasons]], it's highly doubtful that "aesthetics" would be enough of a reason to warrant an expensive product recall.
:The only "packaged" versions of a yellow ''Alternators'' Tracks we ever got to see were internet pranks of the "yellow ''Binaltech'' Tracks in photoshopped Hasbro box" variety. Which, of course, didn't help matters at all.

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[[File:WindchargerOverdrive.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Castrated at the request of Honda.]]
*'''Hasbro omitted ''Alternators'' Windcharger's gun barrel for safety reasons.'''

: When the first stolen [[Prototype|test shots]] of ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'' [[Windcharger (G1)#Alternators|Windcharger]] surfaced in 2004, the toy sported an extraordinarily long gun barrel (which doubled as the [[Alternate mode|vehicle mode]]'s drive shaft). The toy was ultimately released without the barrel, which was not shown or mentioned anywhere on the packaging or in the instructions. Indeed, Windcharger's weapon accessory was officially identified as a "shield" on the back of the packaging (in addition to the actual, ragtop roof shield). [[TakaraTomy|Takara]], on the other hand, later released their own ''Binaltech'' version of the toy (named [[Overdrive]]) with the full barrel, prominently shown in the official promotional photos.

:The initial fan theory upon seeing the barrel-less toy was that Hasbro had gutted it for safety reasons, under the notion that the long barrel might pose a choking hazard. Even though this was refuted by actual experts on toy safety standards, the rumor still persisted. An official response from Hasbro's customer service department to an e-mail inquiry (published on a fan site's message board) confirmed that the reason for the barrel's omission was "so the accessory would not look like a weapon".<ref name="Windcharger gun barrel">"http://forums.tformers.com/talk/index.php?showtopic=13088 Response from Hasbro's customer service department regarding the lack of Alternators Windcharger's gun barrel.</ref> Eventually, Hasbro (in the presence of Takara representatives) would confirm the full story at [[BotCon 2005]]: It had indeed been Honda, specifically their North American branch, that had asked to remove the gun barrel and all references to "weapons" from the toy, its packaging and included paperwork. Honda's Japanese department, on the other hand, had no such concerns, which is why Takara were able to release the ''Binaltech'' version with the barrel intact.

===Masterpiece===
*'''Masterpiece Convoy has more diecast parts than 20th Anniversary Optimus Prime/Masterpiece Convoy is made almost entirely out of diecast/20th Anniversary Optimus Prime is made entirely out of plastic.'''
:This misconception was started by now defunct Hong Kong-based online retailer Action-HQ<ref name="plasticahq">[http://tformers.com/transformers-20th-anniversary-optimus-prime-plastic/2150/news.html "20th Anniversary Optimus Prime Plastic?"], November 2003.</ref> and ''might'' have been extrapolated from the ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'' toys, which are made entirely out of plastic (except for the rubber tires) for their Hasbro releases, whereas their Japanese ''Binaltech'' counterparts feature a few parts made out of [[die-cast|die-cast metal]].
:In fact, however, the amount of die-cast metal parts versus injection-[[mold]]ed plastic parts is the same between 20th Anniversary [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]] and his Japanese ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' Convoy counterpart. The only differences between the two toys (not counting the packaging) are the shortened smokestacks for Hasbro's 20th Prime and the addition of painted battle damage that is missing from the Takara version.

===Transformers Collection===
[[File:G1 Vol.1 Issue2 1.jpg|thumb|upright=0.55|A solicitation of then upcoming Takara reissues? Not really.]]
*'''Takara's ''Transformers Collection'' had something to do with Dreamwave.'''
:In 2002, Takara launched their series of [[Generation 1 reissues]] named ''[[The Transformers Collection|Transformers Collection]]'', also commonly referred to as "bookbox reissues" or even "Dreamwave reissues" among fans. The reason for that is simple: The [[package art]], especially for early releases such as [[Jazz (G1)/toys|Meister]] or [[Prowl (G1)/toys|Prowl]], was directly taken from the covers of and promotional posters for [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave's]] first ''[[Prime Directive|Generation One]]'' mini-series drawn by [[Pat Lee]]. A common misconception among fans at that time was that Takara was coordinating their reissues with Dreamwave. Some even tried to predict upcoming reissues based on the existing Dreamwave covers. Yet [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)/toys|Sunstreaker]] never materialized.

:In fact, probably the main reason why Takara recycled Pat's Dreamwave artwork of those characters for the [[packaging]] of their reissues was its coincidental availability: The artwork had already been created and paid for, so why commission new art when they could just use what already exists? Furthermore, only about half of the TFC reissues actually sported "Dreamwave" package art, whereas the rest ''did'' use newly-commissioned art drawn by Japanese artist [[Hirofumi Ichikawa]], who has never in his life worked for Dreamwave and had been drawing in this style long before Pat Lee rose to his brief "superstar artist" fame.
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===Prime===
*'''''Transformers: Prime'' was not initially planned to have any toys.'''
:The [[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|toy line]] for ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Transformers: Prime]]'' was ''very'' delayed, debuting roughly a year after the associated cartoon had premiered. Previously, at a [[BotCon 2010]] panel about the then-upcoming ''Prime'' cartoon, a Hasbro representative had made a statement that they weren't talking about toys just then. ''Transformers'' fandom being [[Red Alert (G1)|what]] [[Breakdown (G1)|it is]], a widespread belief developed that Hasbro was never going to make ''Prime'' toys ''at all.'' As additional information gradually surfaced, this evolved into a rumor that ''Prime'' would only have a small number of toys, with some further speculating that they would also be limited to the Deluxe [[size class]] (since initially only Deluxes had been seen). The eventual revelation of a full ''Prime'' toyline caused the belief to evolve once more, with the new theory being that there wasn't ''originally'' going to be a ''Prime'' toyline, but Hasbro changed their minds due to demand.
:The reality, as usual, was much less apocalyptic. The statement from the Hasbro Studios panel was never intended to refer to anything except the panel itself—the people ''in that room'' weren't going to be discussing toys ''at that panel''. (In fact, [[Eric Siebenaler]] expressed excitement about [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]]'s toy at the very same panel.) As for the delay in the line's launch, put simply, this was for appearance's sake. Hasbro wanted to establish ''Prime'' as a strong ''fictional'' franchise, rather than merely [[To sell toys|a glorified toy commercial]], and reasonably concluded that launching a toyline immediately would detract from that goal. There ''was'' a point when a few ''Prime'' toys were planned to be released under the ''[[Transformers: Generations]]'' banner, but since ''Generations'' was at that time exclusively Deluxes, the aforementioned Bulkhead (a Voyager) indicates that this idea had already been abandoned when the rumors started.
:In short, this is just a matter of fans jumping to conclusions based on misinterpreted statements.

===Europe (all generations)===
[[File:Jetfire-Dutch.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Oddly enough, Optimus Prime can still be seen in the background.]]
*'''Optimus Prime's toy was originally not released in Europe due to a trademark conflict.'''

:When Hasbro subsidiary [[Milton Bradley]] launched the [[The Transformers (European toyline)|''Transformers'' line]] on the European continent in 1985, many prominent characters were missing, among them [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Generation 1|Optimus Prime]]. Bizarrely, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] was branded as the Autobot leader, and depicted as such in [[In the Transformers|a pack-in mini-comic]]. Furthermore, Dutch publisher [[Junior Press]] initially renamed Optimus Prime into "Jetfire" for all his appearances in their translated versions of the [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|comic]]. Optimus Prime's toy was eventually released with the second wave of MB-branded ''Transformers'', and the Junior Press comics subsequently referred to him by his correct name.

:The reason for Optimus Prime's initial omission from the MB line-up was claimed to be due to a [[trademark]] conflict with Swedish kitchen utensil manufacturer "[http://www.optimusstoves.com/ Optimus]". Though initially accepted by the fandom, this claim doesn't hold up under scrutiny. A manufacturer of kitchen utensils ''usually'' does not operate in the "toys" field, thus making a trademark conflict unlikely to begin with. An editor's note in the Junior Press comic trying to explain the "Optimus"/"Jetfire" name situation claimed that the ''Transformers'' were originally ''two'' toy lines by different manufacturers in the United States, and MB had only released ''one'' of them in the Netherlands, while the "[[copyright]]" to the name "Optimus Prime" belonged to the other manufacturer. Which is of course horsehockey. Many years later, this editor's note (including the incorrect use of the term "copyright" rather than "trademark") was cited by a Dutch fan who added his own speculation (without marking it as such), thus spawning the urban myth that was subsequently accepted by the fandom.<ref name="optimusdutch">[http://www.fredsworkshop.com/veuro2.html The origin (?) of the "Optimus trademark conflict in Europe" rumor?] at The Complete Transformers Variants Page</ref>

:A much more likely explanation lies in that French company [[Joustra]] released their own version of the ''[[Diaclone]]'' line in many of the same markets as Milton Bradley's ''Transformers''. The theory suggests that because of Joustra's exclusive contract with [[TakaraTomy|Takara]], any toys from their ''Diaclone'' line-up were initially off-limits for Milton Bradley's ''Transformers'' line-up.<ref name="mijofive">[http://20thcenturytoycollector.com/mb-transformers-part-5/ Mijo's "MB Transformers: Part 5" article] at 20th Century Toy Collector</ref> A related theory suggests that Joustra's parent company, Ceji, got into financial trouble at the time, prompting them to sign a deal with Milton Bradley allowing them to use their existing (but still unsold) ''Diaclone'' stock released in ''Transformers'' packaging, which could explain why the second wave of MB-branded ''Transformers'' matches up almost perfectly with Joustra's ''Diaclone'' line-up.<ref name="mijofour">[http://20thcenturytoycollector.com/mb-transformers-part-4/ Mijo's "MB Transformers: Part 4" article] at 20th Century Toy Collector</ref>

*'''The Generation 1 Seacon Overbite was released under the name "Jawbreaker" in some European markets.'''
[[File:JawbreakerComic.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|UK comic exclusive name variant!]]
:In [[Enemy Action!|issue 152]] of the Marvel UK comics, the first appearance of the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]], [[Overbite (G1)|Overbite]] is called "Jawbreaker", a name repeated in his appearance in [[Salvage!|issue 160]] and in an "A to Z" profile in "[[Transformers Annual 1989]]". In the early days of online fandom, American fans concluded that this must mean that the toy had been released under a different name in Europe—which is not ''entirely'' unfounded, as Transformers often got renamed in Canada and Italy, and many European-market toys from the post-US-cancellation line had multiple names, dependent on what country they were released in.
:However, European fans claimed the toy was called "Overbite" when released in their respective countries (except for Italy, where [[GiG]] actually didn't release the Seacons ''at all''). Furthermore, the [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|letters page]] in [[City of Fear!|issue #164]] of the UK comic features a question by a confused (British) reader about the "Jawbreaker" name, since the UK-release toy was apparently indeed called "Overbite" (resulting in a made-up-on-the-spot explanation from the Marvel staff to reconcile both names). But to add to the confusion a much later letters page in [[A Savage Circle|issue #327]] in late 1991 instead stated that Jawbreaker was his British name and Overbite his American name. By this time the toy was no longer on sale and the character had long disappeared from the comic. It would appear the letters page in this era was compiled by someone who did not have a full in-depth knowledge of the franchise.
:So, why ''did'' the story identify the character as "Jawbreaker"? The answer was unknown until 2016, when a couple of early internal [[character model|model sheets]] were offered on [[eBay]]: Overbite's model sheet has his name crossed out, with "Jawbreaker" written below it.<ref name="modelsheets">[http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/93711-more-unseen-tftm-designs-plus-some-early-colors-and-some-show-design/?p=3191211 Early model sheets] at The Allspark.</ref> Since the same batch of model sheets also refers to the [[Sparkabot]]s as "Sparkler Minibots", another naming anomaly for the Marvel UK comics (and some translations thereof), Marvel UK writer [[Simon Furman]] may have used these model sheets (or similar reference materials) with the non-final names on them. The Overbite toy's instructions still refer to his ''weapon'' as a "Jawbreaker cannon", and his weapon mode for Piranacon is called a "Jawbreaker weapon" in the assembly instructions.

*'''Some toys were exclusively (or predominantly) available only in the United Kingdom/Netherlands.'''
:During the early days of the Transformers online fandom, most of the active European fans in English-language forums were based in the UK and Netherlands. So when information about non-US toys (or toy variants) was spread, there simply were no fans from Germany or France around to confirm that the toys in question had also been officially available in their respective countries. (Although to be fair, it's quite possible that some toys, such as the [[Milton Bradley]]-branded Generation 1 toys, were indeed released in bigger quantities in the Netherlands than in Germany or France.)<ref name="mbpart6">[http://20thcenturytoycollector.com/mb-transformers-part-6/ "MB Transformers: Part 6"] at 20th Century Toy Collector.</ref>
:As a result, numerous toys like the red [[Tracks (G1)#Toys|Tracks]] and [[IGA]] Mexican-market Transformers (imported under dubious circumstances) got labeled as "Netherlands-only", when they actually saw release in at least a half-dozen countries. Meanwhile, post-US-cancellation Transformers like the [[Action Master Elite]]s, "[[Classics (Europe)|Classics]]" reissues, [[Turbomaster]]s, [[Obliterator]]s, etc, were (and sometimes still are) often referred to as "UK exclusives", even though all of them were available in multiple countries, including Canada and Australia!
:In reality, there are ''very'' few toys actually exclusive to a single European country. The first ''genuine'' "UK exclusives" were a set of multi-packs from the 2007 [[Transformers (film)|''Transformers'' live action movie]] [[Transformers (2007 toyline)|toyline]], but the toys themselves were identical to the US releases. Meanwhile, other multi-packs or minor variants of toys from the 2007 movie toyline that were available in the UK but not the US were also available in other places, such as Japan, Hong Kong, Australia or other European countries again.

*'''A green variant of Trailbreaker was available in some European countries.'''
:This belief seems to stem from the fact that [[IGA]]'s Mexican version of [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (which, like most Mexican Transformers, was widely available on the European gray market circa 1989, as mentioned above) used the same head sculpt as [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]. But like the "Blue" Bluestreak, no samples of an actual green version of the Trailbreaker mold actually sold ''as'' "Trailbreaker" have been found.

===Takara vs. Hasbro===
[[File:Cybertrontoy hasbro and takara vector primes.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Vector Prime]] features different color applications dependent on whether it was released in [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] or [[Hasbro]]'s market.]]
*'''Takara (alternatively, Hasbro) are ''solely'' responsible for designing, developing and manufacturing (all, or certain specific) ''Transformers'' toys.'''
: This was true only for the original [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1 toys]], and possibly also the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|''Generation 2'' toys]]. Most of the toys from 1984 to 1986 were imported (and, occasionally, slightly altered) versions of already-existing Japanese toys originally designed and released by [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]. Following that, Takara developed new toys both for the Japanese and the Western market, now specifically with ''Transformers'' in mind. The primary exceptions are a handful of toys licensed from other Japanese companies (Jetfire, Whirl, and Roadbuster, for example), and the 1986 toys for the [[The Transformers: The Movie|animated movie]], which were mostly based on designs by [[Floro Dery]].
: However, ever since 1988,<ref name="dunsay">[http://obscuretf.com/hhk/images/full/BC04Dunsay.jpg BotCon 2004 program guide interview with George Dunsay]</ref> most "main" line toys released both in Japan and the Western hemisphere (such as the [[Unicron Trilogy]], ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'', the [[Transformers (2007 toyline)|2007 Movie line]] and ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]/[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)|Henkei! Henkei!]]'') have been designed and developed in cooperation between [[Hasbro]] (or its subsidiary [[Kenner]]) and [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] (now TakaraTomy). (For the specifics of this joint venture development process, see the article about [[toy]]s.)
: Still, numerous reasons have led some people to assume incorrectly that ''all'' ''Transformers'' toy lines were ''solely'' developed by only one of the two companies:
:*The Western public and mainstream media, naturally, tend to be unaware of the existence of Takara (TakaraTomy these days). It's therefore logical to assume that Hasbro, the company responsible for distributing Transformers toys outside Japan, is also solely responsible for developing and manufacturing the toys. The fact that Hasbro regularly chooses not to mention their Japanese business partner in official press releases and interviews hasn't exactly helped matters, either.
:*On the other hand, Western anime fans are used to Japanese companies being solely responsible for designing robot toys, which are then imported and sold by Western companies. For lack of better knowledge, those people then simply assume the same also applies to ''Transformers'' toys — namely, that Takara does ''all'' the design and engineering work on their own, and Hasbro is merely the Western ''distributor'' of those toys. The fact that the back of Hasbro's packaging for ''Transformers'' toys sports a small note saying "Manufactured under license from Takara Co., Ltd." (changed to "TOMY Company, Ltd." on more recent toys) is occasionally cited as "proof" that Takara is the sole manufacturer of ''Transformers'' toys as well. A long paper trail of evidence to the contrary<ref name="Hasbro Tour">[http://www.seibertron.com/events/gallery.php?event_id=70&size=0&start=272 Exemplary rundown] of the development process of ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' Leader Class [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys|Optimus Prime]], shown during the Hasbro tour at [[BotCon 2007]]. Of course, Hasbro just replaced the name "Takara" in some of the steps with "Hasbro" in order to convince fans that... yeah, riiiight.</ref> has not been able to convince those people of the flaws in their conspiracy theory — rather, some of them have even postulated the existence of a so-called "Hasbro PR machine", whose sole purpose is to convince ''Transformers'' fans that Hasbro has a larger part in the development of ''Transformers'' toys than is actually the case.<ref name="Propaganda">[http://toyboxdx.com/phorum/read.php?1,88668 ToyBoxDX thread with anime fanboys arguing that "Takara is an enormous toy '''manufacturing''' company. Hasbro doesn't manufacturer anything. The sole reason for its existence is for marketing the products of their partners and wholly-owned subs. Just to be clear here - Takara is bigger than Hasbro."] They wouldn't even believe that [[Joe Kyde]] actually worked at Hasbro. No kidding.</ref>

: That being said, there ''are'' indeed a few toys originally developed by either Hasbro or Takara without the other one's involvement, and then later picked up by the other company, but they're fewer than usually assumed: For Takara, those include the new molds for ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars (Japanese toyline)#1998 (Beast Wars II)|Beast Wars II]]'', ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars (Japanese toyline)#1999 (Beast Wars Neo)|Beast Wars Neo]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)|Car Robots]]'', plus various mostly short-lived, collector-aimed, niche market lines (such as the new ''[[Robotmasters (franchise)|Robotmasters]]'' molds, the ''[[Smallest Transforming Transformers]]'', the ''[[Hybrid Style]]'' toys etc.); for Hasbro, those are mostly either toys originally based on fiction-based franchises that did not originate with Hasbro (such as ''[[Animorphs]]'' or the ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars Transformers]]'' and their later successor, ''[[Transformers: Crossovers]]''), cross-brand lines ''within'' Hasbro where the Transformers toys only make up one part of the overall lineup (such as the [[Titanium Series]] and the [[Robot Heroes (toyline)|Robot Heroes]] figures) and a few very rare "main" line Transformers toys such as the ''Generation 2'' [[Power Master]]s and [[Grimlock (Energon)|Grimlock]], [[Swoop (Energon)|Swoop]], [[Alpha Quintesson]], [[Kicker Jones#Toys|Energon Kicker]] and [[High Wire (Armada)|High Wire]] from ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]''.

*'''Takara's Japanese-market releases are always of intrinsically better quality than their U.S. counterparts. (E.g., they have sweeter exclusives, and are always more show-accurate, have more accessories, and have tighter quality control.)'''
: This one depends a bit on the speaker, as it can either be a genuine misconception, a matter of opinion, or at worst, [[Personal canon|willful]] [[True fan|snobbery]]. But, like any broad generalization, it does have some basis.
:*"Better quality" can refer to the fact that Japanese versions of individual toys sometimes have clear plastic instead of painted-on windows like [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys|Movie Bumblebee]], or have vac-metallized parts where the equivalent U.S. release doesn't, like [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys|''Energon'' Optimus Prime/Grand Convoy]]. Or, "better" quality can refer to the fact that Japan is a less litigious society, with different toy safety laws, and Takara can thus give [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Prime]] toys old-school long smokestacks, which are now shortened in the U.S. [[for safety reasons]]. These laws also mean that [[Megatron (G1)/toys|Masterpiece Megatron]] is freely available in Japan, but hard to get in the U.S. (the exact opposite of ''real'' handguns, ironically). In the various forms of [[CHUG]], Takara releases also consistently boast more paint applications (for example, many ''[[Unite Warriors]]'' figures had painted hubcaps while their ''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]'' counterparts went without), something that was ironically reversed in their version of the [[Transformers: Prime (toyline)#Takara Prime toyline|''Prime'' toyline]].
:*"More [[Show-accuracy|show-accurate]] decos" does have some basis, as Takara frequently releases its toys later than Hasbro does Stateside, and thus they are better able to reflect discrepancies between late-run changes to a character's coloration in a show (such as with the original [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] or [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|''Armada'''s Tidal Wave]]). The most extreme example of this was ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (toyline)#2005 (Beast Wars Returns)|Beast Wars Returns]]'', the Japanese release of ''Beast Machines'', which was ''years'' later than in the U.S., allowing Takara to add a lot of the deco that was added to the characters by [[Mainframe Entertainment]] that was not accurate to the original toys.
:*"More accessories" mostly comes from the fact that ''some'' of Takara's releases have some extra accessories, but the only cases of this before the reissues were [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]'s two [[sword]]s, Megatron's sword and bullets (even though the Japanese release lacked the barrel, scope and stock extensions) and clear cases from the various cassettes. Japanese reissues have included additional accessories from the cartoon (the axe, chain mace, Energon cubes and gun mode Megatron in the ''[[The Transformers Collection|Transformers Collection]]'' reissues of Optimus and Megatron, Insecticons and Starscream, respectively, the Matrix from New Year's Convoy). Some ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Super Link]]'' releases came with [[redeco]]ed [[Energon weapon]]s as well. ''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)|Henkei! Henkei!]]'' [[Hot Shot (G1)|Hot Rod]] came with two missile launchers and missiles not included with ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[Hot Shot (Armada)/toys#Universe .282008.29|Hot Shot]] due to budget constraints, and featured the original tooling for the rear bumper for their inclusion. In contrast, ''Henkei! Henkei!'' [[Sideswipe (G1)/toys#Henkei! Henkei!|Lambor]] was ''lacking'' the supercharger engine accessory ''Universe'' Sideswipe came with—TakaraTomy officially confirmed that they had ''deliberately omitted the optional piece of accessory'' to make the toy more "G1-accurate".<ref name="generations2009">Interview with Hisashi Yuki in [[Transformers Generations 2009|''Transformers Generations 2009'' vol. 1]], [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/223379-takaratomy-staff-interview-generations-2009-vol-1-translation.html English translation] at TFW2005.</ref>
:*"Sweeter exclusives" is really a matter of taste. If endless redecos of Generation 1 toys as completely unprecedented Generation 1 characters, buying $40 worth of toys you got a month ago for a single [[Mini-Con]], and shelling out half your mortgage for [[Lucky Draw figure|Lucky Draw]] gold chrome figures is what floats your boat, then yeah, Japan has better exclusives.
:*"Tighter [[quality control]]" is a total myth. Takara products are manufactured under much the same production conditions as Hasbro's: Pretty much everything for both markets is made in China—in fact, according to Hasbro [[Australia]] representatives and Hasbro designer [[Eric Siebenaler]], ''all'' of the Transformers toys jointly developed between Hasbro and Takara/TakaraTomy are manufactured at factories contracted to the Japanese toy company. This means Takara is (at least indirectly) responsible for whatever quality control problems occur with Hasbro-released toys. Takara's standards of quality control for their domestically-released toys are just as likely to let mistakes creep through. Just ask any buyer of ''Henkei! Henkei!'' [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#Henkei! Henkei!|Thundercracker]] how well his weapons stay attached to the arms. And let's not even get started on ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|Rodimus Convoy's]] first production run.
:*The fields in which Takara genuinely excels Hasbro are comparably minor: Takara's [[stock photography]] generally tends to be more impressive than Hasbro's, without obvious mistransformations and awkward poses, and at the same time looks more representative of the actual toy due to less reliance on blatant digital touch-ups. Likewise, Takara's [[instructions]] tend to be more detailed and useful than Hasbro's.

===Other===
[[File:SteamhammerEnergonUniverse.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Not literally a waste of packaging material.]]
*'''"Repackaged" toys are ''literally'' unsold toys sent back to Hasbro, taken out of the old packaging, put into new packaging and then sent back to stores.'''

:Every so often, a ''Transformers'' toy line features seemingly identical toys in multiple different [[packaging]] versions, such as multi-packs containing toys that were previously available separately. In addition, some toy lines also feature [[rebranding|rebranded]] items, namely toys that were originally released under one line, but are later re-released as part of another line with virtually no changes to the toy itself, only the packaging it is available in. The final stages of the original ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' line took the concept of "rebranding" to a new level, featuring numerous straight re-releases of toys from the since-ended ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' lines, among many others. Since then, it has been repeated with the 2006 ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' line, the 2008 ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' line, the 2010 ''[[Transformers (2010 toyline)|Transformers]]'' line and many others. Because a common [[fandom]] term for those releases is "repackages", a popular misconception claims that those toys are ''literally'' "repackages": namely, unsold toys sent back to Hasbro, taken out of their old packaging, put into new packaging and then sent back to (different) stores. (The same train of thought also—very rarely—suggests that "repaints", another common fan term for [[redeco]]s, are ''literally'' "[[repaint]]s", i.e. existing toys painted over in new colors, rather than new production runs from the same toolings using new plastic colors.)

:Needless to say, this theory is dubious for various reasons. Generally, old unsold toys are ''not'' sent back to Hasbro. They either [[Shelfwarmer|remain in the store]] until someone finally decides to buy them, or the store somehow dumps them, such as by selling them off to closeout chains. And even ''if'' Hasbro did regularly get sent back huge shipments of unsold toys, they'd be highly unlikely to go through the effort (and additional cost) of literally repackaging them. Hasbro confirmed this in January of 2009, stating that due to the toys being manufactured in Asia, it would be a waste of time and money to repackage them only to sell them at the same price-point.<ref>[http://www.sirstevesguide.com/index.php?categoryid=13&p2_articleid=1934 SirStevesGuide.com, Tri-Weekly Hasbro Q&A - January 30th]</ref> Thus, they are ''not'' repackaged old product, but new production runs of previous product. These days, this misconception should be much easier to dispel: Every toy now features a manufacturing date stamp etched into the figure, as well as a product code [[tampograph]]ed onto the figure, thus proving that a figure was manufactured more recently than its superficially identical predecessor.

{{-}}
[[File:SmokesniperStarscream.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|The similarities are astounding. Especially those that aren't there.]]
*'''A new toy that is vaguely reminiscent of an older toy is a retool of said toy.'''

:Hasbro likes to [[redeco]] toys a lot (usually to recoup the R&D costs for developing the original [[mold]]). They also like to release redecos of toys from older lines in newer lines. In some instances, Hasbro also don't just redeco a toy, they [[retool]] it (or create new toolings for new parts that replace parts of the old version of the toy)—sometimes to improve a feature or fix an error, but sometimes also to give the toy new features or [[gimmick]]s, or simply to make it different enough from the original version so owners of the original version would be interested in buying the "retool" as well.

:Some of those retools are comparably minor (such as [[Jazz (Movie)|Final Battle Jazz]] from the [[Transformers (2007 toyline)|2007 Movie line]]), whereas others can be pretty elaborate. Sometimes the retools are so elaborate that the line between "retool" and "new [[mold]]" gets blurred. The most drastic instances in this regard would be [[K-9]] from ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' (based on [[Wolfang (Maximal)|Wolfang]] from the same line) and [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Dark Crumplezone]] from ''Cybertron'' (based on the original ''Cybertron'' Crumplezone toy), both of which have most, if not ''all'' of their parts entirely retooled. Another borderline case would be the ''[[Transformers: Armada (toyline)|Armada]]'' [[Mini-Con]]s [[Mirage (Armada)|Mirage]] and [[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]], which were released around the same time and are based on the same basic design, share a similar body structure and have very similar [[alternate mode]]s.

:However, sometimes fans ''definitely'' get too far decrying a new toy a "retool" (or "remold"). Toys that share some superficial design similarities, coupled with similar transformation schemes, are often mistaken for retools even though they're simply that: Similar toys based on the same general design, maybe even directly influenced by the older toy, but nothing more. For more examples, see: [[retool#Not actually a retool|retool]].

{{-}}
*'''Hasbro lost the rights to a lot of G1 Transformers names. That is why you see toys named "Autobot Jazz" or "Decepticon Brawl" these days. Takara is more competent than Hasbro and doesn't need to change their toys' names.'''

:That's not quite how name rights —aka [[trademark]]— work. There are indeed instances where another company has snatched a trademark, making it unavailable for Hasbro's use. The reason is because trademarks need to be consistently used in commerce (roughly once every year or so), or it could be considered "abandoned", making it open for grabs should another company try to claim it. "[[Hot Rod (G1)/toys|Hot Rod]]" was unavailable to [[Hasbro]] because Mattel held several similar trademarks, "[[Bluestreak (G1)/toys|Bluestreak]]" was too similar to Gendron's "Toledo 'Blue Streak'" trademark, and a company named Lanard held the trademark "Shockwave" until a few years ago. This prompted Hasbro to use substitute names for toys based on these characters, such as "Rodimus Major" and "Rodimus" for Hot Rod, "Silverstreak" for Bluestreak and "Shockblast" for Shockwave (Hasbro has since managed to reacquire all three aforemented trademarks).

:Meanwhile, the names with prefixes such as "Autobot" or "Decepticon"? Those are usually non-compound single real words from the English language. Hasbro's legal department considers them too "generic" to be easily defensible as trademarks, hence the addition of prefixes such as "Autobot Jazz", "Decepticon Brawl "or "Constructicon Devastator" for better protection. This does ''not'' work with names already trademarked by another company–otherwise, [[Bandai]] could release a toy named "Gunpla Optimus Prime" tomorrow, and Hasbro couldn't do anything about it.

:For a while, it seemed like these trademark quibbles were limited to Hasbro, and [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] was somehow exempt due to a different market situation. However, the ''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)|Henkei! Henkei!]]'' line saw the emergence of quite a few "Cybertron", "Destron" and "[[Stunticon (G1)|Stuntron]]" prefixes, implying that the trademark situation on the Japanese market was changing, and starting with the [[Transformers (2007 toyline)|''Movie'' line]], TakaraTomy (now adopting Hasbro names instead of their established Japanese-market names) began to use "Autobot" and "Decepticon" prefixes. With ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' and ''[[Transformers United|United]]'', TakaraTomy even used prefixes for names Hasbro has been able to use ''without'' prefixes.

{{-}}
*'''Hasbro is responsible for your local store not having the newest toys right now.'''

: Hasbro actually has almost nothing to do with distribution (when Product A arrives in Store B) beyond making sure the manufactured product leaves the factories and shipyards of China at the desired time. Once the items arrive on US shores, they are almost immediately sent from the ships to the distribution centers for the retail chains that ordered them. From there, it's more truck rides to various regional warehouses, which is all controlled by the retailers, not Hasbro. After that, the schedule for taking product from those warehouses and putting it on shelves is dictated by each chain's inventory system.

: It's ''conceivable'' that Hasbro could take more control of the situation, but that would require chains like Wal-Mart to release the vise-like death grip they have on manufacturers' nuts that lets them dictate how the system works—and they're sooooooo not doing that.

{{-}}

{{anchor|Older collectors}}
*'''Hasbro should totally cater to the wishes of older collectors, as they purchase the most Transformers product.'''

: Fans would like to think they've got some sway over the direction of the [[Transformers brand|''Transformers'' brand]]. After all, they've been buying toys for many years (as opposed to the limited purchasing span of most children), and they buy many ''more'' toys than any individual child. And in truth, Hasbro does pay attention to the desires and discussions of its older buyers, even designing certain line segments like ''Alternators'' or ''Classics'' and its successors with collectors as the primary target audience.

: Collectors, however, simply can't compare to the vast numbers of children out there whose parents buy Transformers for them. The bulk of Transformers product is purchased for and/or by young children, and if a company like Hasbro wants to stay in business and keep making money (and by extension, more toys), it must design and market its products accordingly. No accurate figures exist on the collector/children ratio, but estimates mentioned at BotCon panels range from around 10% to 20% of all purchases coming from older collectors—enough to be worth listening to, but not at all the driving force behind the brand. Past toylines have shown that betting ''too much'' on sales from adult collectors can be disastrous.

: Furthermore, it's not as though the [[fandom|fans]] speak with a unified voice. More often, for every fan pushing for one particular idea, there's another fan who thinks that same idea is boring or [[Ruined FOREVER|awful]].

==Fiction==
===Generation 1===
====General====
*'''Transformers were meant as a "genderless" race. Arcee and the other female Transformers were added to the brand because feminists complained about the Transformers all being male.'''
: When [[Bob Budiansky]] was assigned to work out the character details for the toys, he initially intended some of them to represent female characters, like [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]. However, he was not given permission by [[Hasbro]] to include females because the company feared it would have a negative impact on the sales of those toys.<ref>[http://rustingcarcass.yuku.com/topic/954 Rusting Carcass interview]</ref> Budiansky complied, and in later years, would even pen [[Recipe for Disaster!|a story]] for the Marvel comic in which the Transformer race was stated to have no concept of gender.

:[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The cartoon]] was a different story. Since television requires a bigger investment than comics, but also offers the potential for a much better payoff, it is of interest for a TV network to broadcast material that reaches the highest possible demographic. To this end, very early in its development, writer [[Jeffrey Scott]] penned a [[production bible]] which included original female Transformer characters as part of an effort to sell the series to TV Network CBS. When it was decided to produce the series for syndication rather than for a network, new story editors [[Bryce Malek]] and [[Dick Robbins]] dropped this idea, and the series went on to star an exclusively-male cast of robots. However, in late 1984, while working on the early story development for ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', writer [[Ron Friedman]] argued for the inclusion of a female Autobot in the story, on the basis that he "had a daughter who love[d] this stuff." Friedman won his argument, Arcee was added to the movie, and in 1985, female Autobots were incorporated into the series in advance of the film's release, with the introduction of [[Elita One]] and her [[Female Autobots]] in the episode "[[The Search for Alpha Trion]]."
:In other Transformers cartoons, [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari Sumdac]] and the English dub gender flip of [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] have also been added to their respective series because of network demands, whereas [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]], [[Strika (BM)|Strika]] and [[Botanica (BM)|Botanica]] were a request from the writers to Hasbro.
: Despite persistent stories, there is no documented instance of feminists demanding the inclusion of female Transformers (and likely, they've got something better to do than complain about another generic boys show like there are hundreds of). There is, however, a comic story called "[[Prime's Rib!]]" which presents Arcee's introduction to the Autobot ranks as an attempt by Optimus Prime to appease [[Feminist mob|human feminists]]. While the story is obviously satire, through hearsay it has become believed by some that it is what actually happened.

====The original cartoon====
*'''The original ''The Transformers'' series was redubbed anime which originated in Japan, just like ''Battle of the Planets'', ''Voltron'', ''Robotech'' and other such shows screened in the '80s.'''
: Although most moderate-to-hardcore fans are well aware that this is a fallacy, there are those more casual fans (or those who have not rewatched the original ''Transformers'' cartoon since childhood) who are under the misconception that [[The Transformers (cartoon)|''The Transformers'']] was an anime.
: Although the original toyline and thus the characters' basic visual designs were taken from Japanese-originated products, the original characters, names, factions and entire story premise of the whole ''Transformers'' franchise were developed in the United States by [[Hasbro]], [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] and eventually [[Sunbow Productions|Sunbow]]. Although the animation was farmed out to [[Toei|Japanese]] (and later also [[AKOM|Korean]]) [[TMS Entertainment|studios]], the writing and original voice recording of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|all four seasons of the original series]] plus ''[[The Transformers: The Movie|The Movie]]'' was entirely done in America.
: This misconception probably stems from distant childhood memories of the cartoon, the fact that shows like the aforementioned ''Robotech'' were redubbed anime and the ''Transformers''' obvious Japanese influences. This ''may'' also be due to passing exposure to [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 cartoon)|the 2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon]] and the [[Unicron Trilogy]] shows which, viewed as an adult, are ''very'' obviously redubbed anime.
: This is in part related to the misconception that '''all''' ''Transformers'' toys are ''solely'' designed, developed and manufactured by [[TakaraTomy|Takara]], and all [[Hasbro]] ever does is to put them in new packaging and distribute them in the Western market (see above). Because this is true for other Japanese robot toylines, and therefore it must also apply to ''Transformers''.
: However, there's actually a ''little'' bit of truth to this misconception; since the G1 cartoon is an animated series made by Japanese studios, one could feasibly call it an anime; as "anime" is only a word to describe any form of animation in Japan, much like the word "cartoon" is here in the West, and ''not'' a term for a specific genre.

*'''Jazz was written out of the series due to the death of his voice actor.'''
: [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] conspicuously survives the events of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', yet went on to make no speaking appearances in the third season of the cartoon. As his voice actor, [[Scatman Crothers]], passed away of lung cancer in 1986, it is common for fans to assume that the latter caused the former. This isn't hurt by the fact that fellow Autobot and film survivor [[Cliffjumper (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cliffjumper]] also vanished due to issues involving [[Casey Kasem|his own voice actor,]] nor by the fact that one of Jazz's only appearances involved him seemingly being referred to as "[[Munka Spanka]]."
: However, the dates simply don't match up: Crothers's death happened on November 22, long after the third season had begun airing. In fact, by that point, the only remaining episodes were the two parts of "[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|The Return of Optimus Prime]]", both of which aired months after the rest of the season. Add in the fact that any dialogue for the episodes would have been recorded months in advance, and the idea that Crothers dying affected the writing process becomes borderline impossible. The more likely answer is that Jazz stopped appearing, like much of the Season 1 and 2 cast, because his toy was no longer on shelves.

*'''''The Headmasters'' was going to be dubbed into English and shown in America.'''
: In America, "Season 4" consisted of "The Rebirth", a 3-episode mini-series. In Japan, "The Rebirth" was ignored, and a full-fledged series titled ''The Headmasters'' continued the story instead. Rumors once swirled in the fandom of an American-led dub of ''The Headmasters'' series; the dub was largely finished, goes the story, till the materials were lost in a warehouse fire.
: Given the meandering pace of the series (common for Japanese shows but anathema to American sensibilities), the presence of numerous characters who had no toy equivalent on US shelves, the incompatibility with the "[[Nebulan]]" head characters, the number of Japanese cultural references, and the very existence of "[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Rebirth]]", this rumor seems unlikely on the surface.
: More to the point, no official confirmation or other evidence has ever surfaced to back it up. In all likelihood the rumor was probably a {{w|Chinese whispers|Chinese Whisper}} from the fact that the laughably-bad English language [[Omni Productions]] dub was screened on UK satellite TV during the 1990s.

====''The Transformers: The Movie''====
[[File:TFTM dead gray Prime.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Traumatizing enough as it is, frankly.]]
*'''There exists an "uncut version" of ''The Transformers: The Movie'' containing all sorts of non-kid-friendly content.'''

: These stories stem mainly from the fact that many home-video releases of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' omit two relatively minor instances of characters using profanity, which during the 1990s resulted in some [[alt.toys.transformers]] posters advertising "uncut" VHS copies of the movie for sale, thus either intentionally or unintentionally creating the myth of a really foul-mouthed and ultra-violent alternate version of ''The Transformers: The Movie''. At least one poster claimed to have uncut reels of the original film showing a number of violent scenes,<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_thread/thread/07464cbfbb5d0cc9/8aee0b30765b2b4a?hl=en#8aee0b30765b2b4a THE UNCUT JAPANESE TRANSFORMERS MOVIE]</ref> but, unsurprisingly, was unwilling to provide any form of proof.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_thread/thread/799fec40c1aa285e/6af42e4099affa04?hl=en# Doth the Canadian protesteth too much?]</ref> So have ended all claims of uncut footage from the film.

:A much stranger rumor, whose origins are unclear, claims that the original theatrical cut of ''The Transformers: The Movie'' depicted [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] crumbling into dust after dying, and that that scene was cut by the distributor in mid-release because children were traumatized by the imagery. Interestingly, the "[[Death of Optimus Prime]]" track on the original soundtrack album does contain ten extra seconds of music. At the end, just before the song's final low-octave percussion sequence, there is a very distinct series of notes that appears nowhere else in the song and is not in the onscreen version. However, no other evidence of this "lost" animation sequence exists among the many storyboards, preliminary animations, interviews, varying formats, etc., that have come to light. The myth could be related to the death of Starscream, a few scenes later, where Starscream '''does''' indeed crumble to dust after being shot by Galvatron; time and distance could lead fans to confuse the two scenes.

:These claims should not be confused with the extra storyboarded scenes and early script revisions which have come to light over the years, which do in fact contain a lot more violence. But no evidence exists that any of these sequences, even those that made it to storyboard, were ever animated. Especially given the expense of producing full animation.

::''See also: [[The Transformers: The Movie#Edits]].''

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*'''Some portions of Unicron's dialogue were recorded by an actor other than Orson Welles.'''

: A common rumor in the Western fandom claimed that Unicron's final lines ("Destiny... you cannot destroy my.. destiny!") were recorded by [[Leonard Nimoy]], based on claims that those lines sounded "different" from the rest of [[Orson Welles]]' lines.<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092106/trivia IMDB.com reference to the Leonard Nimoy-as-Unicron rumor.]</ref> Compounding the rumor is the fact that Welles died shortly after recording his ''TF:TM'' lines<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/This-Orson-Welles/dp/030680834X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-6174389-3113623?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1182349938&sr=8-1 According to one biography, Welles recorded his ''TF:TM'' lines on October 5, 1985 and died five days later.]</ref> (and indeed, one version of the rumor has Welles actually dying ''before'' completing his lines). Despite being debunked repeatedly (including by [[Susan Blu]] and [[Wally Burr]], both of whom should know), this one still pops up from time to time.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/387399-leonard-nimoy-officially-announced-voice-sentinel-prime-13.html#post5858748 Nimoy-as-Unicron rumor repeated by TFW2005 user "RedAlert Rescue".]</ref><ref>[http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2007/07/when_orson_welles_was_a_transformer.single.html Slate.com discusses the Unicron rumor.]</ref>

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*'''''The Transformers: The Movie''/Scatman Crothers coined the term "ginormous", which has since been added to several dictionaries.'''

: In ''The Transformers: The Movie'', [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], voiced by [[Scatman Crothers]], described [[Unicron]] as "a ginormous, weird-looking planet". The word "ginormous", a portmanteau of "gigantic" and "enormous", was officially added by the Merriam-Webster Online dictionary in 2007.<ref name="webster">[http://www.merriam-webster.com/info/newwords07.htm Merriam-Webster adding the word "ginormous]</ref>

: Some fans believe that Crothers had coined the term, which is incorrect for several reasons. Even putting aside the notion that under this theory, Crothers is assumed to have ad-libbed the line (rather than simply reading it from [[Ron Friedman]]'s script), the term has actually been around for much longer, being listed in the Oxford English Dictionary as a "British informal" word that has existed since at least the 1940s, and was originally military slang.<ref name="oxford">[http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/ginormous Oxford dictionary entry for "ginormous"]</ref>

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*'''''The Transformers: The Movie'' was never released in Japan.'''

: It is true that ''The Transformers: The Movie'' was not released in Japan at the same time it was released in [[Hasbro]]'s markets, with Japanese fans instead getting the ''[[Scramble City: Mobilization]]'' OVA prior to the release of the third season of the show (second for Japan). But ''The Movie'' ultimately made it to Japanese theaters in August 1989. The various discrepancies between it and subsequent Japan-only Generation 1 fiction (such as who [[Prowl (G1)#The Headmasters cartoon|didn't]] [[Wheeljack (G1)#Victory cartoon|survive]] the movie) are largely a matter of the Japanese animators and writers being unaware of the precise details of the film. This also led to a similar rumor that ''Scramble City'' was an out-and-out ''replacement'' for the film, similar to how ''The Headmasters'' replaced "The Rebirth." Actually viewing the OVA reveals that it has nothing to do with the events of ''The Movie'', other than that both feature [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and take place between the second and third seasons; at no point does it significantly contradict the film, and pretty much the only third-season change the film explains is where [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] came from. There were indeed attempts to summarize what had happened in the movie, including a narration added to "Five Faces of Darkness" and scans in ''Terebi Magazine'', but ''Scramble City'' served much more as an advertisement for its subline than a major turning point of the continuity.<ref>http://tfarchive.com/community/showthread.php?s=&postid=216153#post216153</ref><ref>http://tfarchive.com/community/showthread.php?s=&postid=216478#post216478</ref><ref>http://tfarchive.com/community/showthread.php?threadid=30800</ref>

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*'''''The Transformers: The Movie'' was released in Japan under the title "Matrix Forever".'''

: "[[The Transformers: The Movie - Apocalypse: Be Eternal, Matrix|Matrix Forever]]" is actually the shortened and slightly mistranslated title of a 20-minute video created to promote the Japanese release of ''The Transformers: The Movie'', but some Western fans have been confused into thinking that ''The Transformers: The Movie'' itself was renamed "Matrix Forever".<ref>http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/a5d29844863d2c29</ref>

====Japanese Generation 1 fiction====
*'''In Japanese continuity, Megatron and Galvatron are two separate characters.'''
:There are a few instances of Japanese fiction (and advertising) that would seem to support this notion, all of which can be attributed to a lack of communication between [[Hasbro]] and [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] prior to the release of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. All of them were ultimately ignored by the "primary" fiction, namely the (dubbed) third season of the cartoon (named ''Transformers: 2010'' in Japan) and the accompanying manga, which followed the Western story concept of Galvatron being a reformatted [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]].
:The [[The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 2|second issue]] of ''[[The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers]]'' [[manga]] depicts [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] commanding [[Megatron Corps|a legion of automatons]] created in [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s image, which some non-Japanese-speaking fans misinterpreted as depicting Galvatron and Megatron co-existing. This even extended into ''[[The Battlestars]]'', where the appearance of Super Megatron solidified the idea to those fans; after all, surely if he were upgraded from Galvatron, he would be named Super Galvatron, right? One particularly sturdy rumor claimed that he was trying to hunt Galvatron down (possibly conflating him with [[Gilthor]]).<ref>http://tfarchive.com/creative/showentry.php?s=179</ref>

*'''In Japanese continuity, the Destrons (Decepticons) were invaders from a planet called Destron.'''
:The [[Autobot]]s were renamed "Cybertrons" in the Japanese translation, resulting in a misconception that the Destrons ([[Decepticon]]s) must hail from somewhere other than the planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. However, the Japanese translation also used slightly different spellings for the faction, "Cybertron" (literally: サイバトロン, "Sa-i-ba-to-ro-n"), and the planet, (literally: セイバートロン, "Se-i-baa-to-ro-n"), commonly interpreted as "Seibertron" by Western fans, in order to avoid confusion, even though both words originally started out based on the English name "Cybertron".<ref name="tfa522">[http://tfarchive.com/creative/showentry.php?s=522 The Transformers Archive essay about various urban legends surrounding the Transformers franchise]</ref>
:This rumor presumably originates from an article a Thomas Wheeler had written for ''Attic's Collectible Toys and Values Monthly'' during the hiatus between the [[The Transformers (toyline)|G1]] and [[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|G2]] toylines. According to that article, Hasbro chose not to follow this element of the story because of the similarity between the term "Destron" and ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'''s "[[Destro]]" character. Of course, seeing as the story originated in America to begin with and was only dubbed into Japanese later on, this doesn't make a lot of sense. In later years, Wheeler wrote toy reviews for Master Collector's website, which occasionally also display a certain lack of knowledge about various toys and the ''Transformers'' brand's overall history, so it doesn't seem entirely out of place for him.

*'''Black Shadow and Blue Bacchus are both members of a "Space Mafia".'''
:[[Black Shadow (G1)|Black Shadow]] of ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (franchise)|Victory]]'' has his function listed as "Space Gangster". An early fan translation of his on-package [[bio]] misinterpreted the Japanese word for "gangster" to mean "Mafia", hence the belief that a "Space Mafia" exists in the Japanese Generation 1 universe. This was naturally extended to his partner, [[Blue Bacchus]], whose function is "Space Gunman."

*'''Metrotitan is a zombie version of Metroplex.'''
: [[Metrotitan (G1)|Metrotitan]] was a Destron [[redeco]] of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] from the ''[[Transformers: Zone (franchise)|Zone]]'' portion of Japanese Generation 1 continuity. For unclear reasons, Western fans believe that Metrotitan was a "zombified" version of Metroplex, and a stranger variation on this rumor holds that Metrotitan was somehow "regrown" from one of Metroplex's legs.<ref name="tfa522" />

====European Generation 1 fiction====
*'''Starscream and Shrapnel are female characters in the French dub of Generation 1.'''
: This rumor is only partly true. The [[The Transformers (cartoon)|''Transformers'' cartoon]] used three different dub teams for the French version: one for the TV show's dub broadcast in Quebec, one for the TV show's dub broadcast in France and one for the [[The Transformers: The Movie|1986 movie]] used in both countries. Neither of the TV show's dubs depict [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] as a female as he uses a distinctively male voice;<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhOCYZRxypM YouTube: Doublage de France: Combaticons et Égo]</ref><ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMXCeXw5Vdo Doublage Québécois: Égo et Dr. Croc-en-ville]</ref> however, the movie's dubbing team used a female voice for Starscream, and at one point [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] calls Starscream "une imbécile" (articles in French are gender-specific), clearly cementing Starscream's movie status as a female.<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20080612225831/http://www.bigbot.com/mp3/transformers_mp3.shtml#Femmes</ref> All the same is also true for [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]], who is even referred to as "Mademoiselle Shrapnel" by [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] in the movie.

*'''The German version of ''The Transformers: The Movie'' was edited and didn't depict Starscream's death scene.'''
: German TV didn't air a dubbed version of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original ''The Transformers'' cartoon]] until 1989. ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' was aired for the first time on German TV in 1994, with only one repeat. For unknown reasons, a rumor was circulating for several years claiming that [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream's]] death was considered too "violent" for German TV standards for children's programs and had therefore been edited out.<ref>[http://www.ofdb.de/view.php?page=fassung&fid=7489&vid=38680 German movie database ''still'' listing the rumor about Starscream's "edited death" in TF:TM]</ref> However, recordings of the TV airing still exist, which don't feature any obvious edits other than [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike's]] infamous "swear" line. Furthermore, a German DVD edition of the movie released in 2004 that features an entirely different dub also depicts Starscream's death in all its glory.

*'''An Earthforce story was written to promote the non-combining Constructicon toys.'''
:The comic story "[[Desert Island Risks!]]" from issue 264 of the [[Marvel Comics|Marvel UK]] [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|G1 comic]] reveals that the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] have somehow lost their ability to combine into [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. As a result, they try to build another Devastator as a new robot.

:Some fans mistakenly believe that this is somehow related to a re-release of the Constructicons (now in yellow) that were available in [[The Transformers (European toyline)|Europe]] after the ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' toyline had ended in the USA. Those Constructicons omitted the extra parts necessary to form Devastator; and furthermore, [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] and [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (neither of them officially named in this version; all six toys came on multi-purpose cardbacks simply named "Constructicon") were [[retool]]ed to omit the tabs that were necessary for combining them (and [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]]) when forming Devastator. Since the toys couldn't combine into Devastator anymore, fans believe that the [[Earthforce]] comic story was intended to serve as an "explanation" for this.

:The problem with this theory, however, is that the yellow "Euro" Constructicon toys were released in 1992; the comic story, however, had already come out in early 1990. If anything, "Desert Island Risks!" was based on the [[Action Master]] version of Devastator, which no longer consisted of six individual Constructicons. (Also, the individual Constructicons don't even appear in the story.)

===Beast Era===
====Japanese ''Beast Wars''====
*'''Preface'''
:To give a better idea of how the following misconceptions came about, many of them stem from how little access the Western fandom had to understandable forms of the Japanese ''Beast Wars'' media at the time. After all, when the series were first released, the internet was still a relatively "new" thing, where [[alt.toys.transformers|USENET forums]] were still a major outlet for fan information and websites were... rudimentary. For about two decades since that time, the most that the West had access to were a small number of fan-subtitled episodes of ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars II]]'' and ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (cartoon)|Beast Wars Neo]]'', a fansubbed version of the theatrical feature segment ''[[Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger!]]'', a translation of the first ''Beast Wars II'' [[Catalog#Beast Wars II|toy catalog]], and second-hand accounts from those who had seen the untranslated episodes of either series or had read each's respective [[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (manga)|manga]] [[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (manga)|series]]. Over time, those who lacked an understanding of the Japanese language would misinterpret much of these series' specifics. The following are a few of the most well known misunderstandings.

[[File:Optimusx2.JPG|thumb|Well, that's just Prime.]]
*'''In Japanese ''Beast Wars'' continuity, Optimus Primal and Megatron were the same characters as their Generation 1 namesakes.'''
:Initially, both ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] and [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]] were identified in early packaging as new incarnations of Generation 1 [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], respectively, in the Western release of the toyline. This was most evident in the bios of the Basic class bat Optimus Primal and alligator Megatron toys, the very first toys of the two. But, the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|''Beast Wars'' cartoon]] would do away with this by firmly establishing that the two were instead separate individuals from their Generation 1 namesakes.
:When ''Beast Wars'' was first brought over to Japan, Takara evidently thought that the original notion was still the case: Optimus Primal was renamed "Convoy", the same Japanese name as Optimus Prime, and the [[Maximal]] and [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] factions were given the same Japanese names as those of the Autobot and Decepticon factions—"Cybertron" and "Destron", respectively. Optimus and Megatron's Ultra and Basic class toys were each given Japanese bios loosely based on the English bios of their respective Basic class toys; their Ultra class toy bios even gave them the same functions as their Generation 1 namesakes ([[Supreme Commander]] and [[Emperor of Destruction]], respectively) and the one for Optimus even implied that he was the very same Optimus of old. Both of their Basic class toys were even given special redecos with new bios that ''explicitly'' claimed the two had previously been a tractor trailer and a Walther P-38, the very altmodes of the Generation 1 Optimus Prime and Megatron.
:When the first season of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon began airing in Japan, it was initially ambiguous on the matter, never actually saying one way or the other if Optimus and Megatron were meant to be new characters like their English counterparts, or the same characters as their Generation 1 namesakes. More unhelpful to this confusion was Optimus Primal's later big-screen guest appearance in ''Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger!'', in which the cast of ''Beast Wars II'' revered him as a "legendary Supreme Commander", in contrast to his depiction in the American cartoon as merely the captain of a lowly science vessel. Likewise, the Predacon leader [[Galvatron (BW)|Galvatron]] referred to a "Megatron" as "the greatest and most vicious legendary Transformer in history." But, it was never clarified if this grandiose description was in reference to Generation 1 or ''Beast Wars'' Megatron... likely because, at the time, the movie treated the two as the same person, just as it seemed to do for Optimus.
:Clarity would finally come in ''Beast Wars Metals'', the Japanese dub of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon's second and third seasons, which had been held back from airing on Japanese television until after both seasons had been completed by [[Mainframe Entertainment|Mainframe]], and thus did not reach Japanese audiences until after ''Beast Wars II'' and ''Beast Wars Neo'' were over. In short, ''Metals'' remained consistent with the original English-language version in keeping the Generation 1 and ''Beast Wars'' namesakes as separate characters. In the Japanese dub of "[[The Agenda (Part 2)]]", ''Beast Wars'' Megatron even refers to Generation 1 Megatron as "My ancestor Megatron"<ref>我先祖のメガトロン, ''Waga senzo no Megatron''</ref> when relating the history of the Golden Disk to Ravage.
:As for the "legendary" status of ''Beast Wars'' Optimus and Megatron in the movie, that was (and still is) merely an aspect of long-running Japanese children's series that have multiple shows (e.g. – ''Kamen Rider'', ''Super Sentai'', etc.), in that the main hero of a previous series is treated with awe and reverence by the cast of the next series in any crossover team-ups. Optimus Primal was the leader of the good guys from the series preceding ''Beast Wars II'', so the cast of that series viewed him with due respect. Later, the cast of ''Beast Wars Neo'' did the same for Lio Convoy of ''Beast Wars II'', calling him a "legendary warrior" in [[Illusion? Lio Convoy|Episode 29]]. Heck, even [[Big Convoy]] was called a "legendary warrior" multiple times in ''Neo'', even as early as the [[Big Convoy, Move Out|first episode]]. To put it simply, being "legendary" in Japanese ''Beast Wars'' fiction is not as special as it sounds.
:Incidentally, it would later be confirmed that the ''Beast Wars II'' cartoon actually took place eons ''after'' the later-made ''Beast Wars'' sequel series ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' (see below for more). This meant that ''Beast Wars'' Optimus Primal and Megatron actually ''were'' figures of the distant past from the ''Beast Wars II'' cast's perspective. In hindsight, this legendary status of the two in the movie fits rather well with how, in ''Beast Machines'', Megatron singlehandedly conquered all of Cybertron and "viciously" captured the sparks of its entire population, while Optimus saved the whole planet from Megatron at the cost of his own life. As Japan would not receive that series until [[2004]]—six years after the movie's release—this all proved rather fortuitous in the end.

*'''Optimus Primal was sent to Planet Gaia in the ''Beast Wars II'' movie when he flew into the alien machine at the end of "Other Voices, Part 2".'''
:The ''Beast Wars II'' feature film, ''[[Beast Wars Special Super Lifeform Transformers]]'', was initially released in Japanese theaters before the second season of the American ''Beast Wars'' cartoon first aired in Japan. During the ''Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger!'' segment of this film, Optimus Primal made a guest appearance to team up with the cast of ''Beast Wars II''. At the end of the segment, he declares that he must "return to Energoa"; this was the name given to prehistoric Earth in the Japanese dub of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon, before its true identity as Earth was revealed. This meant that he had been transported to Planet [[Gaia]]—future Earth—from prehistoric Earth during the time of the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]].
:The final episode of the first season of ''Beast Wars'', "[[Other Voices, Part 2]]", ends with Optimus Primal flying up into the [[Vok]]'s [[Planet Buster|planet-destroying weapon]], sacrificing himself to save the planet. [[Aftermath|Three]] [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)|episodes]] [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)|later]], he is restored to life after a difficult resurrection process. Since Primal's appearance in the movie was screened in Japan between the Japanese airings of Seasons 1 and 2 of ''Beast Wars'', some took this release order as a literal chronology for Optimus Primal's Japanese cartoon appearances, thinking that his final moment in "Other Voices, Part 2" was the exact moment he was pulled into the future and brought to Gaia. A statement given in the ''[[Beast Wars Theatrical Special Film Book]]'' even seemed to confirm this theory.<ref>Page 7: エイリアンマシンに激突した際、時空を超えて惑星ガイアにやってきた。("When he crashed into the [[Planet Buster|Alien Machine]], he crossed space-time and came to the planet Gaia.")</ref>
:Some even took his presence in the movie as an explanation for why the Maximal [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] had great difficulty locating Primal's [[spark]] within "the other side of the [[Transformer afterlife|Matrix]]" in "[[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)]]", as if to mean that it ''wasn't'' there at the time. ''Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger!'' is even bookended by sequences that recap the events of Primal's death and rebirth in ''Beast Wars''. And most of all, when Optimus is brought to Gaia, he initially appears in a glowing, yellow, ghost-like form, which ''wasn't'' the case for the story's main antagonist, [[Majin Zarak]], who had arrived on Gaia through the exact same means as Optimus. He even returns to this glowing, yellow, spectral form upon his departure near the end of the movie.
:However, despite the longevity of this theory, the opening narration of the very next part of the movie—the Japanese dub of the ''Beast Wars'' season 2 episode "[[Bad Spark]]"—actually seems to debunk it by essentially reiterating what was true of Primal's fate in the English version of ''Beast Wars''. In this narration, Rhinox and [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] claim that Optimus Primal did indeed die in the [[unspace|transwarp]] explosion at the end of "Other Voices, Part 2", and that Rhinox had brought his spark back from the dead in "Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)".
:While this apparently renders the ''Film Book''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s statement in error, it does seem like there was originally ''some'' intention for it to be true, given Primal's arrival and departure in the movie depicting him in his aforementioned ghostly form. But, while a neat idea, it raises too many questions and relies on too many assumptions in order for it to sensibly fit with Primal's onscreen resurrection. And since Rhinox and Rattrap claim otherwise, this would mean that Optimus was brought to the future from a different point during the Beast Wars, ''before'' the end of Season 1 due to Primal having his Season 1 body in the movie. Exactly when during Season 1, however, has never been disclosed.

{{anchor|JBWchronology}}
[[File:PrimalLioConvoyCatalog01.jpg|thumb|Everything you know is a lie!]]
*'''The characters of the ''Beast Wars II'' and ''Beast Wars Neo'' cartoons hail from the same time-period as the cast of ''Beast Wars'', at a point set prior to ''Beast Machines''.'''
:It's almost not fair to call this one a misconception: By all appearances, this ''was'' the original intent for the Japanese-original ''Beast Wars'' shows. Both the first catalog packed in with ''Beast Wars II'' toys, and the ''Beast Wars II'' manga present Lio Convoy and Galvatron as contemporaries of ''Beast Wars'' Optimus Primal and Megatron, and the ''Beast Wars II'' cartoon initially gave no reason to doubt this applied to its story. But then, months into its run, the show's [[Emissary of the Fourth Planet|thirty-sixth episode]] stated that humanity hadn't lived on Gaia for "tens of thousands of years." As the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon [[Dark Designs|established]] that its cast hailed from only three centuries after the era of Generation 1 era, when Earth was still populated by humans, this meant that it was impossible for the 'bots of ''Beast Wars II'' (and ''Neo'', by extension) to be from the same time period, and that the two Japanese series were, in fact, set ''long'' after the home time of the ''Beast Wars'' cast. Of course, as it would be nearly twenty years before the series was translated in full, western fans never ''learned'' about this at the time and, with only the catalog to go on, continued to assume that its story held true for the cartoon. It was only in the 2006, when TakaraTomy published a massive Generation 1/Beast Era timeline, which adhered to the ''Beast Wars II'' cartoon's dating for the series, that English-speaking fans at large first learned of this fact.
:Now, to be honest, ''Beast Wars II'' probably didn't ''intentionally'' deviate from ''Beast Wars'' cartoon, but rather, just kinda goofed on the continuity, and history had to roll with it. That said, this did fix a discrepancy: By coincidence, both ''Beast Wars Neo'' and ''Beast Machines'' (both produced around the same time) had featured the mega-computer [[Vector Sigma]], but depicted it in two very different, very contradictory ways. ''Beast Wars Neo'' had presented the computer as the ruler of Cybertron, while ''Beast Machines'' depicted it as a long-lost legend, unheard of for years until it was reactivated in [[The Reformatting|the first episode of the series]]. If ''Beast Wars Neo'' was meant to occur before ''Beast Machines'' (as was probably the intent), this didn't make any sense, but the timeline shuffle caused by ''Beast Wars II'' now helped these two different portrayals fit together.
:It did create a ''new'' discrepancy, though: In ''Beast Wars Neo'', Cybertron was depicted with its traditional appearance as a metallic planet, when, at the end of ''Beast Machines'', it was converted into a [[technorganic]] form. In [[2019]], a ''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Transformers Legends]]'' [[Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Blue Big Convoy)|pack-in comic]] fixed this last gap in the timeline, explaining how and why Cybertron was turned back into a metallic world eons after its [[Great Transformation|technorganic reformatting]].
:While these retcons have tidied things up, the fans' original understanding of the timeline has influenced several pieces of American Beast Era media over the years. The Hasbro toy bio for [[Transmetal 2|Transmetals 2]] [[Cybershark]] referred to "a rogue band of Cybertronian space pirates" (an allusion to ''Beast Wars II'''s [[Seacon (BW)|Seacon Space Pirates]]) as his contemporaries, while the bio for ''[[Dinobot (BM)|Dinobots]]'' [[Magmatron]] all but explicitly pegged him as the same Magmatron from ''Neo'', mentioning his "[[Emperor of Destruction|emperor of destruction]]" title and his involvement in "an interplanetary quest for [[Angolmois Energy|energy capsules]]", the latter of which was also placed, by the bio, before the events of ''Beast Machines''.<ref>The full first sentence of ''Dinobots'' Magmatron's bio: "Following an interplanetary quest for energy capsules, Magmatron returned to Cybertron to find an alarmingly growing population of Vehicon drones."</ref> In both the ''[[Transformers: Universe (comic)|Universe]]'' comic series and the prose story "[[Wreckers: Finale Part II]]", characters from the two Japanese series appeared on Cybertron as contemporaries of the ''Beast Machines'' cast, at points set within a year after the planet's technorganic reformatting. The latter even referred to [[Combatron (BW)|some of them]] as "pre-reformatting". [[IDW Publishing]]'s ''[[Transformers, Beast Wars: The Gathering|The Gathering]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars: The Ascending|The Ascending]]'' comic series likewise chose to depict the ''Beast Wars II'' and ''Neo'' casts as contemporaries of the ''Beast Wars'' characters (though these series played faster and looser with the timeline, depicting events similar to ''Beast Wars II'' and ''Neo'' as having happened ''before'' the home time-period of the ''Beast Wars'' instead of during or after), while the ''Beast Wars II'' Predacons [[Dirge (BW)|Dirge]] and [[BB|Max-B]] made appearances in the ''Beast Wars'' prequels "[[Theft of the Golden Disk]]" and "[[Intimidation Game]]", respectively.
:Even after the release of the Japanese Generation 1/Beast Era timeline, new media set in other continuities have chosen to continue depicting characters from ''Beast Wars II'' and ''Neo'' (and even ''Car Robots'') existing side-by-side with the ''Beast Wars'' cast, with such series as ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]'' and the ''[[Transformers Legends (comic)|Transformers Legends]]'' comics set in the "[[Legends World]]" presenting all of them living together in societies and scenarios unique to those series.

*'''The characters in ''Beast Wars II'' travel forward in time to Future Earth just like how the characters of ''Beast Wars'' travel back in time to Prehistoric Earth.'''
:Seemingly an offshoot of the above misconception, this appears to have been born out of a misinterpretation of a scene in the [[The New Forces Arrive!|first episode]]. When the Maximal starship ''[[Yukikaze (BW)|Yukikaze]]'' takes off into space, there is a shot where it vanishes in a flash of light and reappears elsewhere within the vicinity of Gaia. Some have mistaken this flash of light to mean that the ''Yukikaze'' traveled through [[unspace|transwarp space]] forward in time to arrive in the future, as if to echo the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s own time-jump to the past in ''Beast Wars''.
:This feels like an attempt to hold on to the belief of the ''Beast Wars II'' cast originating from the same home-time of the ''Beast Wars'' cast, while also aligning with the revelation of Gaia being Earth several tens of millennia after humanity left planet.
:In truth, however, what really happens during the scene in question is that the ''Yukikaze'' simply travels to Gaia with no time travel involved. The ship's disappearance and reappearance in a flash of light was merely the ship going to warp speed, just like many other spacecraft of science fiction.

*'''In ''Beast Wars II'', Apache is a drunkard as part of a Native American stereotype.'''
:[[Apache]] did indeed get drunk in the first episode of the ''Beast Wars II'' cartoon, but only in grief, believing (erroneously) that his earlier actions had caused the death of [[Lio Convoy]] (which didn't happen). He did not get drunk again for the duration of the cartoon, nor did he ever do so in the manga. Outside of that, the Native American stereotype "common" to Japanese fictions is a stoic, silent, and often mystical warrior—none of which could be used to accurately describe Apache at all.
:Amusingly enough, in the sixth installment of the ''Beast Wars II'' manga, ''Lio Convoy'' gets drunk for no apparent reason and ends up trashing Apache's room.

[[File:BWNeo Unicron.JPG|thumb|Looks can be deceiving.]]
*'''In ''Beast Wars Neo'', Unicron was resurrected by possessing the corpse of Galvatron.'''
:This misunderstanding is pretty understandable. In [[Illusion? Lio Convoy|Episode 29]], the coveted [[Angolmois Energy]] is revealed to be the life energy of [[Unicron]], who is successfully resurrected in [[Unicron Revived!?|the very next episode]]. Yet, when he makes his debut, he appears in the form of Galvatron, who had seemingly perished in the [[Farewell! Lio Convoy|final episode]] of ''Beast Wars II''. At first glance, it looks as though Galvatron's corpse had been recovered and used as a vessel to house Unicron's Angolmois Energy, and those who did not understand the Japanese dialogue simply assumed this to be the case.
:However, the Japanese dialogue actually states otherwise. Unicron's resurrected form is not Galvatron's physical body, but is actually an energy body made of Angolmois Energy that Unicron has deliberately shaped into resembling the likeness of Galvatron. He takes this form in an initial attempt to trick Magmatron into thinking that he ''is'' Galvatron, impersonating the deceased Predacon leader before revealing his true identity. After which , he simply decided to continue using Galvatron's likewise as his energy body's default appearance, even using Galvatron's name when transforming between dragon and robot modes.
:Ironically, the misconception of Galvatron's body absorbing the Angolmois Energy as a resurrection vessel is almost exactly what Unicron wanted Magmatron to think, with the difference being that Unicron wanted Magmatron to think that the absorption was for Galvatron's revival instead of Unicron's.

[[File:BWN Blentrons absorbed.jpg|thumb|Unicron absorbs the Blentrons for no reasons related Angolmois Energy]]
*'''The Blentrons are made of Angolmois Energy, and are later absorbed by Unicron to fully complete his resurrection.'''
:In [[End of the Maximals!?|Episode 33]] of ''Beast Wars Neo'', the resurrected Unicron reaches Planet Cybertron in his aim to posses [[Vector Sigma]] and turn Cybertron into his new physical body. However, before touching down on the planet, he battles his way through the entire Maximal space fleet, utterly annihilating it and exhausting much of his power in the process. In his weakened state, he is then nearly destroyed in a fight with Big Convoy. His loyal minions, the [[Blentron]]s, soon come to Unicron's aid and are promptly absorbed by their master.
:Since Angolmois Energy is Unicron's energy, fans who did not understand the Japanese dialogue simply misinterpreted the absorption of the Blentrons as if to say that they too were made up of Angolmois Energy, and that Unicron needed to absorb them to top off the last of his energy needed to complete his resurrection.
:In actuality, the three were absorbed because, in that moment, Unicron had been significantly weakened and needed to replenish his health. Otherwise, he would have been destroyed by Big Convoy's Mammoth Dynamite attack, which almost completely dissipated Unicron's energy body.
:The series didn't actually give any kind of backstory for the Blentrons. While they were creations of Unicron in the manga, no such origin was given in the show. Regardless, the idea of the three being made out of Angolmois Energy was certainly never stated or even suggested, having been born out of this misinterpretation of Unicron absorbing them to save his own life.

====''Beast Machines''====
*'''A ''Beast Machines'' writer said, "Real heroes don't use guns."'''
:''Beast Machines'' was the first (but not the last) ''Transformers'' series to explicitly avoid all hand-held projectile [[weapon]]ry. While the [[Vehicon (BM)|villains]] still had traditional "blasters" mounted on their bodies, some of the [[Maximal|heroes]]' weapons were more esoteric (such as [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]'s energy-web attack, activated by putting her hands on the ground, or [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]]'s gauntlets, powered by absorbing enemy fire). According to story editor [[Bob Skir]], this creative decision was agreed upon between the story editors, [[Fox Kids]], [[Mainframe Entertainment]], and [[Hasbro]],<ref name="Skir">[http://web.archive.org/web/20080222040119/http://bigbot.com/beast-machines-transformers-bob-skir/Beast-Machines-FAQ/Sat_06_Nov_1999.html Archived Q&A from Bob Skir's now-defunct website,] where Skir responds to the gun controversy (question 7).</ref> and it is indeed reflected in the toys as well.

:Note that many Maximals had weaponry that was functionally no different from a "gun"—compare [[Botanica (BM)|Botanica]]'s hip-mounted energy cannons, [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]]'s back-mounted sonic blaster, or Optimus Primal's chest-mounted energy disc launcher to [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]]'s shoulder-mounted ray guns or [[Strika (BM)|Strika]]'s wrist-mounted energy... tossing thingies.

:On his website, Skir also elaborated on his own position as a writer choosing if or how to portray gun use, including this statement: "Our heroes use their wiles and resourcefulness, plus a few cool weapons. Guns? I've never been a fan of them myself, and do not write heroes who need them."<ref>[http://members.aol.com/zobovor/guns.html Article on the fan Dave "Zobovor" Edwards' personal site,] quoting Bob Skir's original gun statement.</ref> Some fans interpreted Skir as condemning ''all'' gun use, even in the real world, no matter the circumstances. This led to the misquote, "Real heroes don't use guns,"<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_thread/thread/be5e55a90df944bb/b748601b997b3508#b748601b997b3508 Alt.toys.transformers thread] with the misquote and attendant assumptions right at the start.</ref> which remains a notoriously persistent error in the fandom. Skir, responding to the controversy, said on his site that "there '''are''' heroes who '''do''' need guns (such as the [[Punisher]]). Spider-Man doesn't need guns. Neither does the [[Hulk]]. And neither do Optimus, Cheetor, Black Arachnia{{sic}}, et al."<ref name="Skir" />
:Notably, the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 franchise)|series]] [[Unicron Trilogy|immediately]] [[Movie (franchise)|following]] ''Beast Machines'' did return to classic hand-held gun use among both heroes and villains. However, the later ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]'' series once again eschewed guns, probably because of its younger target audience.

====''Car Robots''====
*'''Unlike the English version, Gigatron (Megatron) has multiple personalities, a different one for each of his modes.'''
:This seems to have arisen from how, in the Japanese version, Gigatron's bat and dragon modes each have their own unique-sounding voice and way of speaking. The Gigabat voice is higher-pitched, a bit dim-sounding, and speaks like how older people used to speak during Japan's Edo period, ending most of its dialogue with "deansu" (であんす). For the Gigadragon mode, Gigatron speaks with a much deeper, angrier, and overall more aggressive-sounding voice. Both of these differ from his much calmer and more "normal" sounding voice in robot mode (which he also used in each of his other modes), and are most noticeable in the first episode, in which Gigatron makes heavy use of both his Gigabat and Gigadragon modes.
:By contrast, the English ''Robots in Disguise'' version gave Megatron one voice for all of his modes, and rewrote his personality to be much more theatrical and ill-tempered. This in turn made his English voice sound like a combination of the two unique Japanese voices, combining the over-the-top aspects of the Gigabat voice with the seething aggression of the Gigadragon voice.

===Live-action film series===
====''Transformers'' (2007)====
[[File:Japaneseflowchart.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Look! No 2007 movie!]]
*'''The movie series takes place in the Generation 1 timeline in Japan.'''
: This is another one of those instances where one TakaraTomy thing, very early in the life cycle of a new ''Transformers'' [[franchise]], will say one thing about said franchise, and then literally ''everything else ever'' will say another.

: When the live-action movie series was getting started, TakaraTomy went live with their "World of Transformers" website. The website timeline appeared to make the rather bizarre claim that the 2007 live-action movie also somehow took place in the Japanese Generation 1 continuity, between ''The Transformers: The Movie'' and ''Transformers 2010'' in the year 2007. However, this was ''not'' reflected by the site's accompanying flow-chart, and was established to not be the case by the [[Source:Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)|''Kiss Players'' timeline]] (which noted that the movie-verse Autobots and Decepticons came from another universe when they appeared in a ''Beast Wars'' crossover). And of course, nothing else ever attempted to make the connection.
{{-}}

*'''''Transformers'' was nearly rated R by the MPAA.'''
: In the spring of 2007, it was reported that ''{{w|Disturbia (film)|Disturbia}}'', a then-upcoming [[DreamWorks]] film starring [[Shia LaBeouf]] and produced by [[Steven Spielberg]], had received an R rating from the {{w|Motion Picture Association of America}}. That film's rating was eventually lowered to PG-13 on appeal, but in the meantime some ''Transformers'' fans became confused and believed that it was ''[[Transformers (film)|Transformers]]'' that had been rated R, leading to some heated discussion on ''Transformers'' message boards.

{{-}}
[[File:MovieCreditsNoBrawl.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Invisible credit.]]
*'''Brawl is named in the credits.'''

: The Decepticon tank, who was named "Devastator" in a subtitle in the movie, ended up being named "[[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]]" in [[Hasbro|Hasbro's]] [[Transformers (2007 toyline)|toy line]]. Both Hasbro and the screenwriters, [[Alex Kurtzman]] and [[Roberto Orci]], have expressly favored the toy's name, referring to the name in the movie as an "error".

: Since the character has a "speaking" line in the movie, some fans claim that the voice actor is named in the ending credits, and the character's name is stated as "Brawl" there. In fact, however, there's no credit ''at all'' for the character, under either name, as he has no voice actor, his "speaking role" being little more than echo-y electronic gibberish.

{{-}}
[[File:BanachekMustacheMan.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|One of these is not like the others.]]
*'''The Decepticons' hologram is Tom Banachek.'''

: Several Decepticons in the movie are seen using a holographic "pilot"/"driver" based on the same short-haired, mustache-clad human with an intense stare, only wearing different clothes to match their respective [[alternate mode]]s. Since [[Tom Banachek]], the head of [[Sector Seven]]'s Advanced Research Division, also sports a mustache, a short-cropped hairstyle and a pretty intense stare, many fans mistakenly believe that the Decepticons' hologram is meant to look like him.

: There are two problems with that. One, the Decepticons' hologram, dubbed "[[Moustache Man]]" in the credits, is played by real-life United States Air Force Major [[Brian Reece]], whereas Tom Banachek is portrayed by established actor [[Michael O'Neill]].

:Two... how would the Decepticons know who Banachek even was to model a hologram after him?

{{-}}

====''Revenge of the Fallen''====
*'''Barricade's return?'''
:A common misconception among fans is that [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade's]] Saleen Mustang alternate mode was spotted on the set of ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', possibly as part of the alleged "disinformation campaign" director [[Michael Bay]] repeatedly insisted he had initiated. In fact, however, a truck transporting three "Barricade" prop vehicles was spotted in Culver City, California, in March 2008, more than ''two months'' before principal shooting for ''Revenge of the Fallen'' started.<ref name="vehspotted">[http://www.superherohype.com/news/transformersnews.php?id=6980 Superhero Hype reporting on the spotting of Barricade vehicles in March 2008]</ref> There's been no indication that this had any significance other than moving the prop cars... someplace. Barricade would not make his reappearance until the ''next'' movie, ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]''.

====''Dark of the Moon''====
*'''Optimus Prime let the Decepticons take over Chicago.'''
:Given the comparatively darker tone—and a decidedly more ruthless interpretation of [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]]—of the first five live-action films when compared to the majority of the ''Transformers'' franchise, one common criticism of ''Dark of the Moon'' was Prime's apparent complacency in the face of the Decepticon attack on [[Chicago]] after the destruction of the ''[[Xantium (DOTM)|Xantium]]''—sometimes interpreted by some fans and critics as him "teaching Earth a lesson" after humanity unanimously agrees to exile Prime's Autobots in the hopes of appeasing [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]] and [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]. This reading of the film seems to misinterpret Prime's line of "now your leaders will understand" and "we needed them to believe that we had gone" as Prime having engineered the entire crisis for his own political gain; the second line assuredly refers to the ''Decepticons'', as Optimus and company faking their deaths allowed the heroes to sneak to Chicago and catch Megatron's forces by surprise. Even without the script, Cape Canaveral and Chicago are ''very'' far apart; if we assume that the Autobots hightailed it to Chicago seconds after splashing down in the Atlantic, it would ''still'' take them about eighteen hours to get there, a time discrepancy that more or less matches up with the way events play out onscreen.

====''Bumblebee''====
*'''Bumblebee is a reboot, and is separate from the rest of the "Bayverse"'''.
: ''[[Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee]]'' was initially conceived as a straight prequel to the ''Transformers'' films, chronologically falling between the [[World War II]] flashback sequences seen in ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight]]'' and the 2007 ''Transformers'' film. However, the movie was hastily retooled relatively late into production, tweaking the film's opening to show Bumblebee arriving on Earth in the 1980s, and, as a result, became more-or-less irreconcilable with both the information given by the ''The Last Knight'' and the various prequel comics that had gone before. Likely due to a combination of wishful thinking and resentment of the Bay films, members of the fandom and various mainstream nerd sites quickly jumped on the idea that ''Bumblebee'' was now a "reboot" of the film series as a whole, similar to the {{w|Marvel Cinematic Universe}}'s interpretation of [[Spider-Man]] vs. his prior two cinematic outings—though both [[Hasbro]] and [[Paramount Pictures]] have been fairly mum on just how ''Bumblebee'' and the five prior Bay films will fit together moving forward: the closest we've gotten to a conclusive answer is that the film represents the start of a "new storytelling universe," <ref>[https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2467064/looks-like-bumblebee-is-officially-the-start-of-a-new-transformers-movie-universe "Looks Like Bumblebee is Officially The Start Of A New Transformers Movie Universe]</ref> which is... a pretty ambiguous statement, to say the least. Other fiction, such as the ''[[Sector 7 Adventures: The Battle at Half Dome]]'' comic included with the home media release of the film, has continued to tie the events of ''Bumblebee'' to the rest of the live-action film series, suggesting Hasbro is at least maintaining its prequel status for now.

: This vaguery has only continued in the lead-up to ''[[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts]]'', with the only official statement being their desire to avoid the "timeline" of the first five films. This is almost certainly meant to refer to the time''frame'' of the preceding films' events, with Rise of the Beasts being yet another prequel story set before the 2007 film, rather than any kind of alternate timeline. Either way, for the moment, we're no closer to a definitive answer.

===''Animated''===
*'''The Japanese dub of ''Transformers Animated'' presents it as a prequel to the live-action movies.'''

: This appears to have ''some'' basis: back in March 2010, the then-recent edition of ''[[TV Magazine]]'' published some early pre-release information about the Japanese dub of the [[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|''Animated'' cartoon]]. Among the details announced was the name-change of [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] to "Ironhide", and changing his character to be closer in personality to [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] from the [[live-action film series|live-action movies]]. The article allegedly also claimed that because [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] was not Supreme Commander of the Autobots in ''Animated'', the cartoon would be "set chronologically before the live action movies".<ref name="tvmagani">[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/animated-8/latest-edition-of-tv-magazine-reveals-new-transformers-animated-japan-details-169265/ TFW2005 reporting on ''TV Magazine'' article about the Japanese dub of the ''Transformers Animated'' cartoon], March 2010.</ref>

: In actuality, however, not much of this has been reflected in the dub itself: aside from the aforementioned renaming of Bulkhead into "Ironhide", there's nothing in the Japanese dub that ties the ''Animated'' cartoon any closer to the live-action movies than its American counterpart.

: It is worth noting that TakaraTomy chose to use the movie-style branding for ''Animated'' products, rendering the "Transformers Animated" logo in the gray steel look used for the movies.

===Aligned===
*'''The High Moon Studios games are part of G1.'''
{{quote|We really did look very closely at Generation 1 stuff and tried to capture what for us was the essence of the characters.|[[Sean Miller]], Director Character and Animation|[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2009/12/21/transformers-art-video.aspx Gameinformer interview]}}
:With its designs aiming at a video gamer audience who grew up with [[The Transformers (franchise)|Generation 1]], the development team for ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|War for Cybertron]]'' took a great deal of inspiration from the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original cartoon]] for such things as characters and the design aesthetic for [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].<ref>[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2009/12/21/transformers-art-video.aspx Gameinformer interview]</ref> A [[Commercial#War for Cybertron|commercial]] even depicted Shockwave ordering Soundwave to play [[The Touch|a song]] made famous by the [[The Transformers: The Movie|original animated movie]]. Furthermore, War for Cybertron toys were sold as part of the ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' toyline that featured Generation 1-styled characters. These factors led many to believe the game was actually part of Generation 1.

:To be fair, there was and is virtually no information available to the average fan that ''War for Cybertron'' is not part of Generation 1. Hasbro has essentially been folding ''War for Cybertron'' into their modern continuity, and have been informing dedicated fans of this fact through [[Hasbro Q&A|question and answer sessions]].<ref>"The official story of the original 13 and specifically Alpha Trion has not been explored fully in the modern continuity that Transformers War for Cybertron, Exodus, and Prime are a part of." [[Hasbro Q&A/September 2010: Answers]]</ref> The [[Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic)|''War for Cybertron'' comic adaptation]] and [http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/play/details.cfm?guid=7fd5ecd9-19b9-f369-1041-a7635be83172 online timeline] actually are adaptations from ''[[Transformers: Exodus]]'', which is the basis for the new modern continuity fiction.

:Canonically, both WfC and its sequel ''Fall of Cybertron'' are in the Aligned continuity, but beyond suggestions and mandatory changes from Hasbro, High Moon Studios doesn't seem to care about Hasbro's declarations of canon. In the art book for the sequel to WfC, ''[[The Art of Transformers: Fall of Cybertron]]'', the only influences of the concept art and designs mentioned are G1 related. Dreamwave, the original cartoon, and other concepts and ideas from Generation 1 are cited, but the fact that Cliffjumper's head is based off of ''Prime'' Cliffjumper's is not mentioned, nor are the modifications to Optimus Prime's gun, Megatron's new body, [[Tox-En]], or the other assorted influences from Prime.

:[[High Moon Studios]] has often described the games as prequels to the G1 cartoon. More savvy fans would recognize that the game is generally irreconcilable with the cartoon (or any other Generation 1 continuity for that matter): the circumstances of [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]]'s rise to power would contradict "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]", and Optimus's [[Sentinel Zeta Prime|predecessor]] does not possess the Matrix, unlike his [[Sentinel Prime (G1)#The Transformers cartoon|cartoon counterpart]]. The Autobots left Cybertron because the [[Core]] shut down, not because energy sources were depleted, and characters like [[Jetfire (WFC)|Jetfire]], [[Breakdown (WFC)|Breakdown]], [[Cyclonus (WFC)|Cyclonus]], the [[Aerialbot (WFC)|Aerialbots]], and [[Trypticon (WFC)|Trypticon]] wouldn't be on Cybertron or even ''exist''. Additionally, the game draws inspiration from other continuities, including characters not from Generation 1 like [[Slipstream (WFC)|Slipstream]] and [[Demolishor (WFC)|Demolishor]]. The game does share a lot of similarities with Dreamwave's ''[[War Within (franchise)|War Within]]'' series (where Jetfire and Trypticon are present), but it cannot take place in that continuity either.

==Companies==
===Marvel Comics===
*'''John Romita designed the Generation 1 character models.'''
:The rumor here comes about through a misreading of the credits to ''[[The Transformers Universe]]''. Legendary Marvel Comics artist John Romita, Sr. was listed as "Art Director", leading readers to assume that he was in charge of designing or developing the various [[character model]]s used in the series (and reprinted in said comic). However, Romita was actually the Art Director for Marvel Comics as a whole at the time. The majority of the character models were in fact done by [[Floro Dery]], who went uncredited.<ref>See [http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/01/11/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-85/ Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed] for more information.</ref>

===TakaraTomy===
*'''Takara was taken over by Tomy.'''
:In 2005, it was announced that Takara, longtime Japanese manufacturer/distributor of Transformers toys, and former competitor Tomy would merge into a new company, named [[TakaraTomy]], as of [[March 1]], 2006. Some fans misinterpreted the media coverage, believing that Takara had been bought out by rival Tomy. This was not helped by official press releases declaring Tomy the "surviving company", Tomy having the majority of shares, and the merged company simply going by the name "Tomy" outside Japan.
:The name issue is easily explained, as it was done for purely pragmatic reasons. "Tomy" is an internationally established brand, since the company already had divisions in many other countries prior to the merger, and distributed their toys under their own name there. Takara, meanwhile, had mostly abandoned ventures into international markets years ago, and had its products distributed through other companies (such as [[Hasbro]]) instead. Therefore, the merged company decided to use the better-known name for its international business, while it would continue as "TakaraTomy" within Japan itself.
:Now, as for the specifics of the merger... Although the merger ratio was set at 0.356 of a Tomy share for each Takara share (including a split of Tomy's stock), and the companies announced a layoff of 15% of their combined workforce mostly on the Takara side, the term "merger" (as compared to "take-over") was prominently used in all the official announcements by the two companies, and twisting tiny details into a de facto "takeover" of Takara by Tomy is effectively splitting hairs.

*'''e-Hobby is owned by Takara (TakaraTomy).'''
:The [[e-HOBBY]] shop is owned by Part One, Ltd. Although the company has had close ties with Takara for decades, the online store also sells toys by other companies, primarily TakaraTomy's rival [[Bandai]].
:The online store ''directly'' owned by TakaraTomy, meanwhile, is [[TakaraTomy Mall]] (formerly Toy Hobby Market).

===IDW Publishing===
*'''Hasbro pays IDW to publish comics for them, and profit directly from the comics selling well.'''
:Presumably stemming from the fact that most Transformers ''cartoons'' are commissioned by Hasbro in order to advertise their toys, a lot of fans are under the impression that Hasbro pays IDW Publishing and other licensees to produce ''Transformers'' comics for them. This is the exact opposite of how licensed comics work; IDW pays Hasbro for the privilege of publishing ''Transformers'' comics, and IDW keeps all the profits outside of that licensing fee. As such, Hasbro doesn't have any particular investment in the comics selling well, other than their indirect effects on toy sales and potential negative press caused by "failing" comics; all that matters to Hasbro is that they sell well enough that IDW keep paying for the license.

*'''The [[Hasbro Universe]] was pushed on IDW by Hasbro.'''
:While Hasbro is mostly hands-off with IDW's comics, one of the terms of the license is that IDW needs to work with Hasbro to do [[To sell toys|occasional promotion]] for new and upcoming toys; this most obviously took place with events such as [[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]], [[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]] and [[Titans Return (comic)|Titans Return]] — and, if we're being honest, has resulted in some of the less popular arcs from "phase 2" of IDW.<ref>[[James Roberts]] has apologised on multiple occasions for Dark Cybertron, which says a lot.</ref> As such, when IDW announced that they were bringing [[G.I. Joe (franchise)|several]] [[Rom|other]] [[Action Man|Hasbro-]][[M.A.S.K. (franchise)|owned]] [[Micronauts|franchises]] into their [[2005 IDW continuity|acclaimed Transformers universe]], a lot of fans assumed that this was the result of another Hasbro mandate, especially given their stated desire to have a "Transformers {{w|Marvel Cinematic Universe|Cinematic Universe}}." It also bore a startling resemblance to the shuttered plans to use the [[Aligned continuity family]] to launch a shared universe, even sharing the name of [[Unit:E]]. However, the creative teams involved were open from the start about the decision being an internal one that IDW had to ask Hasbro for permission to do.
:Reportedly, the decision stemmed from IDW obtaining multiple additional Hasbro licenses, and [[Chris Ryall]] and [[Christos Gage]] suggesting that G.I. Joe appear in their ''ROM'' comic; this led to [[John Barber]] bringing up [[Andrew Griffith]]'s suggestion that IDW's ''G.I. Joe'' universe could fit "between" big ''Transformers'' events, which led to all of them suggesting to [[Cullen Bunn]] that the Earth that the [[Micronaut]]s visited be the ''ROM''/''Transformers''/''G.I. Joe'' one... and, well, it all spiralled from there. Hasbro were apparently very on board with the idea, but it was far from something that they pushed onto unwilling creators.

*'''The Hasbro Universe comics are responsible for the ending of the 2005 IDW continuity.'''
:Given that IDW announced that they were concluding their [[2005 IDW continuity|main continuity]] less than two years after the VERY controversial Hasbro Universe was first announced, a lot of fans were under the impression that the shared universe, and the relaunch of [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|''The Transformers'']] and [[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|''More than Meets the Eye'']] into ''[[Optimus Prime (comic)|Optimus Prime]]'' and [[The Transformers: Lost Light|''Lost Light'']], were responsible for tanking sales to the point that IDW decided that it would be more profitable to reboot.
:However, the reason that those titles were relaunched in the ''first'' place is that their sales were on an unsustainable downwards spiral; and, other than a brief sales spike for the [[Dissolution Part 1: Some Other Cybertron|first]] [[New Cybertron Part 1: To Walk Among the Chosen|issues]] of the relaunched series, the relaunch did pretty much nothing to the sales trends, which continued to decrease at the same level as they had from around the 51st issues to the relaunch.<ref>[https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/670-general-comics-discussion/page-60#entry3661883 Sales chart of the Phase 2 IDW ongoings]</ref> While the Hasbro Universe titles generally didn't sell ''great'', they didn't affect the sales of the ongoing ''Transformers'' series.

*'''Chris Ryall was kicked out of IDW because he conspired to break Hasbro mandates.'''
:He ''really'' wasn't, guys. In fact, he was [http://hasbrouniverse.libsyn.com/interview-chris-ryall outright surprised by the idea that this was a rumor going around].

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20121116134912/http://tfarchive.com/creative/showentry.php?s=522 Ten popular but incorrect rumors about Japanese Transformers, retrieved November 16, 2012] (archived)

[[Category:Fandom]]
[[Category:Lists]]

Misconceptions and urban legends about Transformers

2021-09-15T13:56:51Z

Timrollpickering: /* Europe (all generations) */ UK #327#'s letterspage added to the Jawbreaker confusion

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{{cleanup|March 2018|Generally poorly organised}}
Over the years, many '''misconceptions and urban legends''' have sprung up within ''Transformers'' [[fandom]], often resulting from such factors as fuzzy childhood memories, inaccurate catalog illustrations, and mistranslations of foreign material.

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
*'''Transformers is (only) a cartoon from the Eighties that was brought back into vogue with the 2007 movie.'''
: A misconception usually held by casual fans or nostalgic adults is that Transformers went away some time around 1986 (or 1987, or 1988—pick your year). People who stumbled across a newer incarnation of the Transformers franchise before 2007 commonly assumed that it had only recently popped back up as an attempt to cash in on '80s nostalgia. From 2007 onwards, people who were (obviously) aware of the [[live-action film series]] commonly believed that it was the [[Transformers (film)|2007 movie]] that brought the franchise back from limbo. Neither assumption is correct.
:In fact, the [[Transformers brand]] has been continuous since 1984 (there was a brief gap between 1990 and 1993 as far as the United States market was concerned, but the brand still continued with new products in other markets). It includes many [[Franchise|lines of toys, cartoons and comics]] that span over three decades, with no sign of stopping, as Hasbro considers it a core brand. Each line has experienced varying degrees of success, rebooting when its target audience gets too old or uninterested in the toyline and fiction.
:Some of this misconception is based on the fact that most of the original audience stopped watching and following the franchise long before its initial US cancellation (as it wasn't "cool" to be kiddy once puberty hit). Without any exposure to the market, the toyline and the new cartoons, they simply assume that ''Transformers'' has sunk in popularity, quality and/or sales, since it's not what they remember.
:It ''is'' true that Transformers hit a low point of popularity in the early 1990s, with the cancelation of Generation 1 and the unremarkable sales of ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]''. But the successor ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' line re-established the brand for a new generation beginning in 1996, and Transformers has been a dominant toy franchise ever since. While it's true that the live-action movies caused a major hike in popularity for the brand, they didn't revive a long-forgotten franchise; rather, they merely turned a steadily successful toy series into a major worldwide multimedia phenomenon.
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*'''Generation 1 obviously has the best toys, cartoons and characters.'''
:Casual fans likewise tend to assume automatically that the original 1980s iteration of Transformers is the best and most successful line to date, with all other successors being unpopular and/or unsuccessful ventures.
:While it's hard to measure the overall success of every line in all its aspects, the original line has been surpassed in both quality and sales multiple times over (if not for warm-fuzzy nostalgia-feels in 80s kids). In factors such as realistic alternate forms, durability, articulation, action features, and complexity, various later toylines have all exceeded Generation 1. And while fiction can't be measured objectively, many fans will swear up and down by some of the later incarnations of ''Transformers''.
:Arguably, Transformers is in an endless cycle of creating [[true fan|new fans who share new opinions on what is "teh greatest"]].
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*'''Powermaster Optimus Prime was the first, ''original'' Optimus Prime toy.'''
[[File:G1 OptimusPrime toy.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|1984—the original.]]
[[File:PowermasterOptimusPrime toy.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|1988—the Powermaster version.]]

:This one claims that the [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]] toy, originally released in 1988, is the ''original'', first Optimus Prime toy ever released, rather than the ''earlier'', non-Powermaster toy, which is an entirely different mold and was originally available in 1984. This phenomenon is particularly common in [[eBay]] auctions, where Powermaster Optimus Prime toys are frequently advertised as "ORIGINAL Optimus Prime".
:The reasons for this misconception are obvious: Numerous people arrived late to the party—that is, became fans of the original ''Transformers'' line after the ''real'' original Optimus Prime toy had vanished off the shelves in 1986 (the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|cartoon]] was still shown in reruns on TV). Any of them looking for a toy of the iconic [[Autobot]] leader would only find the Powermaster toy on store shelves starting in 1988. Fast-forward to 20 years later, and people who weren't really paying a lot of attention to the brand for the past few years, now looking to sell off their childhood toys, would naturally conclude that the toy they got as a kid was the ''original'' Optimus Prime toy.
:The phenomenon is even more widespread in countries such as Germany, where the cartoon wasn't officially shown on TV until 1989(!). By that point, the ''original'' toy, which had originally been released by [[Milton Bradley]] in the European market in 1985, was long gone off the shelves. Thus, the only Optimus Prime toy available to kids who had only just become fans because of the cartoon was the Powermaster version. Admittedly, [[parallel import|gray import]]s of the Mexican version of the ''original'' toy by [[IGA]] were also available in European stores around this time, and Hasbro themselves would release the original toy again two years later as part of their European-exclusive [[Classics (Europe)|Classics]] line of reissues. However, the Powermaster Optimus Prime toy was still a lot more widespread.

*'''20th Anniversary Optimus Prime was the Optimus Prime toy available in the 1980s/Alternators are the same toys that were available in the 1980s.'''

[[File:TF-Masterpiece-MP-1-Convoy.jpg|125px|thumb|Sadly, this didn't exist until 2003.]]
:This misconception usually comes from people who, upon seeing the 20th Anniversary [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]] toy (which was originally released in 2003/2004), honest-to-god swear it's the toy they had when they were a kid. Similarly, there are also people who believe that the toys from the ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'' line are the same toys they had as kids, when they're most likely confusing them with the original Autobot Cars, which are about half the size.
:The reasons for this aren't too hard to guess: People were a lot smaller when they were kids, so obviously the original Transformers toys seemed a lot larger to them. Since these fans didn't repeatedly hold or play with their Transformers while growing up, they weren't constantly adjusting to the toys' size in relation to their own. This resulted in blurred memories of outright ''gargantuan'' Transformers toys available in the 1980s. (One might wonder how tall those people would remember [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] being.)
:When confronted with the original toys—now relatively small because the fans have grown up—these people often reject them, insisting the "original" toys were ''larger'' (occasionally even accusing the ''real'' original toys of being downsized [[knockoff]]s). Showing them the Alternators or 20th Anniversary Optimus Prime, on the other hand, will bring back warm (albeit incorrect) memories.

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*'''"Bumblejumper" is just a yellow Cliffjumper'''
[[File:G1-toy Bumper.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"Bumblejumper", who later would be known as "Bumper".]]
:In 1984, Hasbro released three different similar-form toys as part of the [[Mini Vehicle|Minicar]] assortment: [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|Bumblebee]], [[Cliffjumper (G1)/toys|Cliffjumper]], and a [[Bumper (G1)|third unnamed toy]] that was not advertised in any capacity, sold ''only'' on Cliffjumper cards (at least, no samples on a Bumblebee card have ever surfaced). This third mold was a "leftover" from the ''[[Micro Change]]'' line, based on a Mazda Familia 1500XG sedan, and was very quickly phased out (resulting in him becoming the first of the "holy grail" super-costly Transformers on the secondary market). The exact nature of how and why this toy got released is still a mystery. Fans took to calling this third mystery mold portmanteau names such as "Bumblejumper", "Cliffbee", and "Bumper"; that last one eventually becoming his official name when he appeared in the ongoing [[Transformers: Generation 1 (Dreamwave)|''Generation One'' Volume 1]] comic series by [[Dreamwave Productions]].
:Adding to the confusion is that both Bumblebee and Cliffjumper were available in two color schemes: their fiction-supported colors (Bee in yellow, Cliff in red) and in reversed colors (Bee in red, Cliff in yellow) up through 1985. And since Cliffjumper and Bumper are both similarly boxy in vehicle form, and Bumper was only available in yellow, and only on Cliffjumper cards for a very short time, and was not in any catalogs and had no name and didn't appear in any cartoons or comics....
:Further adding to the mistaken memory pile is [[Hubcap (G1)#toys|Hubcap]], a yellow [[retool]] of Cliffjumper released in 1986. Fun!

{{-}}
*'''A super-rare blue variant of Bluestreak was available during Generation 1.'''
[[File:G1 Bluestreak boxart.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|You had this as a kid. The picture, that is. Not the toy.]]
:The very earliest [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]] toy [[catalog]]s used a photo of a blue-sided ''[[Diaclone]]'' Fairlady Z to represent [[Bluestreak (G1)/toys|Bluestreak]]; photographs of the same toy were used for Bluestreak's own [[Instructions|instruction booklet]]. The same blue-sided color scheme was also used on his [[Package art|box art]]; which was in turn shown on ''every'' 1984 instruction booklet as a sample tech spec.
:All this gave rise to a long-standing myth that a blue Bluestreak toy was sold under the ''Transformers'' brand during Generation 1, with some people going so far as to "remember" owning blue Bluestreaks as children, or at least knowing someone else who did. Adding to the confusion, ''{{w|ToyFare}}'' magazine had a long history of listing the supposed blue Bluestreak as a "foreign [[variant]]" in its monthly price guide.
:However, actual samples of a blue-sided Bluestreak in a sealed ''Transformers'' box have ''never'' appeared, and the [[Karl Hartman|collectors who have been at it since the very beginning]] and [[Jon Hartman|amassed ''insane'' numbers of rare Transformers]] have never seen one.
: Oddly enough, numerous other Transformers toys from that era were depicted in both catalogues and packaging art with colors they were never released in —[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]], for example— yet Bluestreak is the only one to be (mis)remembered in this manner, perhaps because his name is ''Blue''streak, so he had to have been blue, right?

{{-}}
*'''A show-accurate Skyfire toy was available during Generation 1.'''
[[File:Jetfire-SkyfireModels.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Patience. You just have to wait 22 years.]]
:Due to some legal entanglements, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] was renamed "Skyfire" for the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original ''The Transformers'' cartoon]], with a [[character model]] that bore only a vague resemblance to the toy. Some confused viewers seem to have come away assuming that there had to be a [[Show-accuracy|show-accurate]] Generation 1 toy by the name of Skyfire. (The ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' Jetfire toy is actually designed as a mix between the original toy and the cartoon character model, and many later toys have aspects of the cartoon model too.)

*'''Some Generation 1 toy molds were in use as long ago as 1974.'''
:Some ''[[Micro Change|Microchange]]''-derived toys have the text "©1974 TAKARA" stamped on them, and as a result are occasionally sold on eBay with descriptions such as "original 1974 [[Ravage (G1)/toys|Ravage]]". However, the date 1974 refers to the introduction of the original ''[[Microman]]'' franchise due to the way Japanese IP law worked at the time; the first ''Microchange'' toys weren't even designed until the early 1980s.

:{{-}}
*'''A Unicron toy was available during Generation 1.'''
[[File:Unicron Proto.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Seriously, aren't you glad your poor parents didn't have to waste like a hundred bucks on this back in '86?]]
:No toys of [[Unicron/toys|Unicron]] were available (or even produced beyond [[prototype]]) until 2003. In fact, the mere ''existence'' of those prototypes wasn't actually officially confirmed until many years later. The first [[Unicron/toys|official Unicron toy]] to be released came out as part of the ''[[Transformers: Armada (toyline)|Armada]]'' line in 2003 and was a brand new mold, not based on an old, unused prototype.
:The fictional existence of a ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' Unicron toy is likely based on schoolground one-upmanship: if one kid had a larger toy such as [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] or [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], a rival kid would claim to have a Unicron toy in order to appear cooler, but would most likely retire to his bed a sobbing mess, knowing in his heart that one day God would punish him for being a HUGE FIBBER.
:What could also have attributed to this misconception was the voice actor for Unicron himself, Orson Welles. He died before the movie's release and the part in the 1986 movie was his last before his death in 1985. He loathed the part and could not even remember his character's name; he was quoted as saying, "I play a big toy who attacks a bunch of smaller toys," mistakenly assuming there was a toy for him.

*'''The reissue Soundwave toys released by Takara are reverse-engineered from Soundblaster because the original molds are lost.'''
:Both the ''[[The Transformers Collection]]'' and ''[[Transformers Encore|Encore]]'' [[Soundwave (G1)/toys|Soundwave]] releases have different tape buttons and hinges than the ones found on the vintage Hasbro release. While the vintage Hasbro Soundwave had inset controls and an internal tape deck hinge, the Takara reissues have a large button block that serves as a pivot point for an external tape deck hinge. The supposed reason for this is the mold for the original versions of the buttons and door are lost or worn out, so a new single tape door was made to work with the Soundblaster mold.
:In fact, the buttons and hinge used on the reissue Soundwaves were originally a [[retool]]ed running change [[variant]] of Takara's original 1985 release of Soundwave. The further Soundblaster retool was based on the later Japanese version of Soundwave, as were the reissues. Presumably, the original mold in its original condition ''is'' lost - but this happened ''long'' before Takara retooled Soundwave into Soundblaster.

*'''A few years ago, a crazy old man claimed he had created the original ''Transformers'' toys.'''
:In 2005, the ''Transformers'' [[fandom]] learned, by way of a newspaper article posted by an internet fan site, of the existence of [[Henry Orenstein]], a former toymaker. Although the main focus of the article was Orenstein's then-current achievements in the field of poker, it also implied that Orenstein had "created" the original ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Transformers]]'' toys, and even featured a photo that depicted a somewhat confused-looking Orenstein holding [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#20th Anniversary/Masterpiece|20th Anniversary Optimus Prime]]. Many fans subsequently assumed that this was a deluded old man who believed he had created the concept of ''Transformers'' toys, even though the fandom knew full well by this point that the original toys were originally created in Japan. His status as the "creator" of the ''Transformers'' toy line was subsequently repeated in several other articles about the man, possibly directly based on its mention in the original 2005 article.
:The ''fact'' is that Orenstein had worked for [[Hasbro]] during the 1980s, and was the person who had convinced [[George Dunsay]], then Hasbro's Vice President of R&D, to acquire the rights to a (more or less) innovative type of Japanese toys, which would eventually become known as the original ''Transformers'' toys. Aside from that and the original patent for the [[rubsign]]s, which he shares with Dunsay, Orenstein has made no known contribution to the [[Transformers brand|''Transformers'' brand]]. Obviously, the writer of said newspaper article had only marginal knowledge of the history of the ''Transformers'' brand, was told what was most likely nothing more than an anecdote by Orenstein (his biography is full of fascinating episodes, by the way), and subsequently inflated it massively with hyperbole, possibly in an attempt to gain more attention to his article due to the popularity of the brand, even before the [[Transformers (film)|2007 movie]]. The only question is, where did the photographer get the 20th Anniversary Optimus Prime toy from?

===Generation 2===
*'''"Generation 2" means "after ''The Transformers: The Movie''."'''
:This common but explicitly false idea probably stems from the many casual fans who grew up with the original ''Transformers'' line but stopped paying much attention around 1986, when the animated ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' debuted and the ''Transformers'' craze began to die down. Many such fans regained some interest in ''Transformers'' many years later, particularly with hype surrounding the [[Transformers (film)|2007 live-action movie]]. Seeing the phrase "Generation 2" batted around in fandom, it might seem natural to assume it refers to the big changeover that happened with the animated film. It certainly didn't help that, early in the life of [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]], [[Pat Lee]] shared in this misconception, leading other new arrivals to the fandom to ape his use of the term.
:While the original animated movie certainly marked a change from one "generation" of toys to another, along with some new design trends, the phrase "Generation 2" refers to [[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|a very specific franchise]], marketed from 1992 to 1995—years after the animated film had come and gone. Its relative obscurity probably contributes to the mis-attribution of the term, as ''Generation 2'' marks a low point in popularity for ''Transformers'' as a whole.

*'''The ''Generation 2'' Autobot and Decepticon insignias were originally created by Hasbro UK, whose license for using the original faction insignias owned by Hasbro US had expired.'''
:The first half is ''maybe'' true, the second half certainly isn't. Long story short: While the new Autobot and Decepticon faction [[insignia]]s were popularized by the ''Generation 2'' line, said line didn't start in Europe until 1994, a year later than in the US. Instead, the ''Transformers'' brand had continued in Europe even after its cancellation in the United States in 1990 (see the page for the [[The Transformers (European toyline)|European toyline]] for more details), and new European-"exclusive" figures were still being released in 1993, many of which were later re-released in [[rebranding|rebranded]] ''Generation 2'' packaging in Europe in 1994, while some of them were also made available (including some color, name and faction changes) under the ''Generation 2'' line in the United States in 1993. It was those designed-for-Europe 1993 pre-''Generation 2'' figures that had first featured the new Autobot and Decepticon insignias on their packaging, and a popular myth claims that they had become a necessity for the European market due to Hasbro UK and Hasbro US being legally considered distinct entities under international law, and Hasbro UK alternatively didn't want to continue paying their parent company the fee for being allowed to use these symbols, or the license for using them had expired.<ref name="euhist">[https://tfarchive.com/fandom/features/thirtieth-anniversary/?s=countdown-04-european-history "European History"] at The Transformers Archive.</ref>

:The holes in this theory are legion: First of all, considering the trademark for the name "The Transformers" was registered with the UK Patent Office by Hasbro UK back in 1986, shouldn't the same also apply to the faction insignias? Therefore, how could Hasbro US, assuming it was indeed a distinct entity, enforce trademarks it hadn't registered in the UK? Why exactly would the UK Patent Office be enforcing the trademarks of a (supposedly) foreign company that didn't do business in the UK? In fact, why would ''anyone'' be enforcing trademark claims against Hasbro UK on behalf of Hasbro US? And why would this affect only the faction insignias? Wouldn't the names "Transformers", "Autobot" and "Decepticon" be equally subject to those alleged licensing fees?

:A much more likely explanation is that the faction insignias were changed for the same reason the "Transformers" title logo was changed to a new version (both in the US and Europe) in 1989, along with a major redesign of the toys' packaging, and why there had been another change to the packaging design and "Transformers" title logo for the European releases in 1992: To "refresh" the overall presentation of the brand, making everyhing look "new" and different for marketing reasons. Now whether the new insignias were originally created by Hasbro US for the ''Generation 2'' line and were simply applied to the European 1993 toys first for the sake of consistency, or whether they had indeed been created by Hasbro UK and Hasbro US just liked them so much they decided to adopt them for the ''Generation 2'' line is up for debate.

===Beast Wars===
*'''Beast Wars didn't originally have the Transformers branding.'''
:While the early design of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' toy packaging had the ''Transformers'' brand name in a smaller typeface than the main ''Beast Wars'' logo, the toy range was ''always'' officially titled ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' in the United States from day one. Later on, with the release of the [[Transmetal]]s and [[Fuzor]]s subranges, the ''Transformers'' name was increased in size and prominence on the packaging, eventually reversing the order of the two parts of the title to ''Transformers: Beast Wars''.

:In Europe, things were a little less cut-and-dry: Various types of [[multilingual packaging]] that saw use in different markets further reduced the prominence (and in some cases, also the visibility) of the ''Transformers'' branding, initially relegating it to an entirely different section of the packaging far away from the ''Beast Wars'' title. Lastly, when British commercial broadcaster ITV aired the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|''Beast Wars'' television series]] on their morning show (GMTV), the ''Transformers'' name was edited out of the title sequence entirely.

===2001 ''Robots in Disguise''===
*'''The ''Robots in Disguise'' toyline was known as "Transformers 2000" in Japan.'''
:As information about the then-new [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)|''Car Robots'' toyline]] began to trickle out of Japan in 2000, early rumors purportedly from Japanese sources indicated that it was officially named "Transformers 2000".<ref name="Transformers 2000">http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_frm/thread/e6436b92178f0c0a</ref> It's possible those Japanese sources were also going by early, inaccurate rumors or perhaps a soon-to-be-discarded working title for the line. The idea persisted with many Western fans well after the true name of the show was revealed, encouraged by online import retailers (who were equally misinformed) using the title to promote pre-orders on their sites.

*'''''Robots in Disguise'' Side Burn was so complex, the toy's designer later apologized.'''
:Basically. [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)|''Car Robots'']] [[Side Burn (RID)|Speedbreaker]] was the first ''Transformers'' toy designed by [[Hironori Kobayashi]], and it kind of shows. In a later interview, he admitted that the development process was a "painful experience" and an "admonition" to do better in the future.<ref name="Translated interview at ToyboxDX">http://toyboxdx.com/phorum/read.php?3,97799,97800</ref>

===Alternators===
*'''A yellow version of Alternators Tracks was released to North American stores (but then recalled by Hasbro).'''

[[File:YellowTracks.jpg|upright=0.6|thumb|Only in Japan, baby.]]
:When [[Hasbro]] (and [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) originally announced the ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'' version of [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] in 2004, the toy's [[Alternate mode|vehicle mode's]] primary color was yellow. This caused the ire of a significant portion of the fandom, which insisted that the toy had to be ''blue'', like its [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]] predecessor.
:Hasbro eventually confirmed at [[OTFCC 2004]] that the initial idea had been to release the toy in yellow first, and then later as a running change [[variant]] in blue, like Takara would ultimately do. However, Hasbro had encountered problems at the test shot stage, where it became evident that some of the toy's innards were shining through the yellow plastic. As a result, plans for a release of the yellow version were scrapped, and it was decided to release the blue version from the get-go.
:Rumors started circulating that some stores (usually [[Walmart]]) had indeed received a shipment of the toy, but were then asked by Hasbro to send back the entire batch. Naturally, no substantial evidence has ever surfaced to back up these claims. And while toys may occasionally be recalled [[for safety reasons]], it's highly doubtful that "aesthetics" would be enough of a reason to warrant an expensive product recall.
:The only "packaged" versions of a yellow ''Alternators'' Tracks we ever got to see were internet pranks of the "yellow ''Binaltech'' Tracks in photoshopped Hasbro box" variety. Which, of course, didn't help matters at all.

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[[File:WindchargerOverdrive.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Castrated at the request of Honda.]]
*'''Hasbro omitted ''Alternators'' Windcharger's gun barrel for safety reasons.'''

: When the first stolen [[Prototype|test shots]] of ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'' [[Windcharger (G1)#Alternators|Windcharger]] surfaced in 2004, the toy sported an extraordinarily long gun barrel (which doubled as the [[Alternate mode|vehicle mode]]'s drive shaft). The toy was ultimately released without the barrel, which was not shown or mentioned anywhere on the packaging or in the instructions. Indeed, Windcharger's weapon accessory was officially identified as a "shield" on the back of the packaging (in addition to the actual, ragtop roof shield). [[TakaraTomy|Takara]], on the other hand, later released their own ''Binaltech'' version of the toy (named [[Overdrive]]) with the full barrel, prominently shown in the official promotional photos.

:The initial fan theory upon seeing the barrel-less toy was that Hasbro had gutted it for safety reasons, under the notion that the long barrel might pose a choking hazard. Even though this was refuted by actual experts on toy safety standards, the rumor still persisted. An official response from Hasbro's customer service department to an e-mail inquiry (published on a fan site's message board) confirmed that the reason for the barrel's omission was "so the accessory would not look like a weapon".<ref name="Windcharger gun barrel">"http://forums.tformers.com/talk/index.php?showtopic=13088 Response from Hasbro's customer service department regarding the lack of Alternators Windcharger's gun barrel.</ref> Eventually, Hasbro (in the presence of Takara representatives) would confirm the full story at [[BotCon 2005]]: It had indeed been Honda, specifically their North American branch, that had asked to remove the gun barrel and all references to "weapons" from the toy, its packaging and included paperwork. Honda's Japanese department, on the other hand, had no such concerns, which is why Takara were able to release the ''Binaltech'' version with the barrel intact.

===Masterpiece===
*'''Masterpiece Convoy has more diecast parts than 20th Anniversary Optimus Prime/Masterpiece Convoy is made almost entirely out of diecast/20th Anniversary Optimus Prime is made entirely out of plastic.'''
:This misconception was started by now defunct Hong Kong-based online retailer Action-HQ<ref name="plasticahq">[http://tformers.com/transformers-20th-anniversary-optimus-prime-plastic/2150/news.html "20th Anniversary Optimus Prime Plastic?"], November 2003.</ref> and ''might'' have been extrapolated from the ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'' toys, which are made entirely out of plastic (except for the rubber tires) for their Hasbro releases, whereas their Japanese ''Binaltech'' counterparts feature a few parts made out of [[die-cast|die-cast metal]].
:In fact, however, the amount of die-cast metal parts versus injection-[[mold]]ed plastic parts is the same between 20th Anniversary [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Optimus Prime]] and his Japanese ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' Convoy counterpart. The only differences between the two toys (not counting the packaging) are the shortened smokestacks for Hasbro's 20th Prime and the addition of painted battle damage that is missing from the Takara version.

===Transformers Collection===
[[File:G1 Vol.1 Issue2 1.jpg|thumb|upright=0.55|A solicitation of then upcoming Takara reissues? Not really.]]
*'''Takara's ''Transformers Collection'' had something to do with Dreamwave.'''
:In 2002, Takara launched their series of [[Generation 1 reissues]] named ''[[The Transformers Collection|Transformers Collection]]'', also commonly referred to as "bookbox reissues" or even "Dreamwave reissues" among fans. The reason for that is simple: The [[package art]], especially for early releases such as [[Jazz (G1)/toys|Meister]] or [[Prowl (G1)/toys|Prowl]], was directly taken from the covers of and promotional posters for [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave's]] first ''[[Prime Directive|Generation One]]'' mini-series drawn by [[Pat Lee]]. A common misconception among fans at that time was that Takara was coordinating their reissues with Dreamwave. Some even tried to predict upcoming reissues based on the existing Dreamwave covers. Yet [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)/toys|Sunstreaker]] never materialized.

:In fact, probably the main reason why Takara recycled Pat's Dreamwave artwork of those characters for the [[packaging]] of their reissues was its coincidental availability: The artwork had already been created and paid for, so why commission new art when they could just use what already exists? Furthermore, only about half of the TFC reissues actually sported "Dreamwave" package art, whereas the rest ''did'' use newly-commissioned art drawn by Japanese artist [[Hirofumi Ichikawa]], who has never in his life worked for Dreamwave and had been drawing in this style long before Pat Lee rose to his brief "superstar artist" fame.
{{-}}

===Prime===
*'''''Transformers: Prime'' was not initially planned to have any toys.'''
:The [[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|toy line]] for ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Transformers: Prime]]'' was ''very'' delayed, debuting roughly a year after the associated cartoon had premiered. Previously, at a [[BotCon 2010]] panel about the then-upcoming ''Prime'' cartoon, a Hasbro representative had made a statement that they weren't talking about toys just then. ''Transformers'' fandom being [[Red Alert (G1)|what]] [[Breakdown (G1)|it is]], a widespread belief developed that Hasbro was never going to make ''Prime'' toys ''at all.'' As additional information gradually surfaced, this evolved into a rumor that ''Prime'' would only have a small number of toys, with some further speculating that they would also be limited to the Deluxe [[size class]] (since initially only Deluxes had been seen). The eventual revelation of a full ''Prime'' toyline caused the belief to evolve once more, with the new theory being that there wasn't ''originally'' going to be a ''Prime'' toyline, but Hasbro changed their minds due to demand.
:The reality, as usual, was much less apocalyptic. The statement from the Hasbro Studios panel was never intended to refer to anything except the panel itself—the people ''in that room'' weren't going to be discussing toys ''at that panel''. (In fact, [[Eric Siebenaler]] expressed excitement about [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]]'s toy at the very same panel.) As for the delay in the line's launch, put simply, this was for appearance's sake. Hasbro wanted to establish ''Prime'' as a strong ''fictional'' franchise, rather than merely [[To sell toys|a glorified toy commercial]], and reasonably concluded that launching a toyline immediately would detract from that goal. There ''was'' a point when a few ''Prime'' toys were planned to be released under the ''[[Transformers: Generations]]'' banner, but since ''Generations'' was at that time exclusively Deluxes, the aforementioned Bulkhead (a Voyager) indicates that this idea had already been abandoned when the rumors started.
:In short, this is just a matter of fans jumping to conclusions based on misinterpreted statements.

===Europe (all generations)===
[[File:Jetfire-Dutch.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Oddly enough, Optimus Prime can still be seen in the background.]]
*'''Optimus Prime's toy was originally not released in Europe due to a trademark conflict.'''

:When Hasbro subsidiary [[Milton Bradley]] launched the [[The Transformers (European toyline)|''Transformers'' line]] on the European continent in 1985, many prominent characters were missing, among them [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Generation 1|Optimus Prime]]. Bizarrely, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] was branded as the Autobot leader, and depicted as such in [[In the Transformers|a pack-in mini-comic]]. Furthermore, Dutch publisher [[Junior Press]] initially renamed Optimus Prime into "Jetfire" for all his appearances in their translated versions of the [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|comic]]. Optimus Prime's toy was eventually released with the second wave of MB-branded ''Transformers'', and the Junior Press comics subsequently referred to him by his correct name.

:The reason for Optimus Prime's initial omission from the MB line-up was claimed to be due to a [[trademark]] conflict with Swedish kitchen utensil manufacturer "[http://www.optimusstoves.com/ Optimus]". Though initially accepted by the fandom, this claim doesn't hold up under scrutiny. A manufacturer of kitchen utensils ''usually'' does not operate in the "toys" field, thus making a trademark conflict unlikely to begin with. An editor's note in the Junior Press comic trying to explain the "Optimus"/"Jetfire" name situation claimed that the ''Transformers'' were originally ''two'' toy lines by different manufacturers in the United States, and MB had only released ''one'' of them in the Netherlands, while the "[[copyright]]" to the name "Optimus Prime" belonged to the other manufacturer. Which is of course horsehockey. Many years later, this editor's note (including the incorrect use of the term "copyright" rather than "trademark") was cited by a Dutch fan who added his own speculation (without marking it as such), thus spawning the urban myth that was subsequently accepted by the fandom.<ref name="optimusdutch">[http://www.fredsworkshop.com/veuro2.html The origin (?) of the "Optimus trademark conflict in Europe" rumor?] at The Complete Transformers Variants Page</ref>

:A much more likely explanation lies in that French company [[Joustra]] released their own version of the ''[[Diaclone]]'' line in many of the same markets as Milton Bradley's ''Transformers''. The theory suggests that because of Joustra's exclusive contract with [[TakaraTomy|Takara]], any toys from their ''Diaclone'' line-up were initially off-limits for Milton Bradley's ''Transformers'' line-up.<ref name="mijofive">[http://20thcenturytoycollector.com/mb-transformers-part-5/ Mijo's "MB Transformers: Part 5" article] at 20th Century Toy Collector</ref> A related theory suggests that Joustra's parent company, Ceji, got into financial trouble at the time, prompting them to sign a deal with Milton Bradley allowing them to use their existing (but still unsold) ''Diaclone'' stock released in ''Transformers'' packaging, which could explain why the second wave of MB-branded ''Transformers'' matches up almost perfectly with Joustra's ''Diaclone'' line-up.<ref name="mijofour">[http://20thcenturytoycollector.com/mb-transformers-part-4/ Mijo's "MB Transformers: Part 4" article] at 20th Century Toy Collector</ref>

*'''The Generation 1 Seacon Overbite was released under the name "Jawbreaker" in some European markets.'''
[[File:JawbreakerComic.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|UK comic exclusive name variant!]]
:In [[Enemy Action!|issue 152]] of the Marvel UK comics, the first appearance of the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]], [[Overbite (G1)|Overbite]] is called "Jawbreaker", a name repeated in his appearance in [[Salvage!|issue 160]] and in an "A to Z" profile in "[[Transformers Annual 1989]]". In the early days of online fandom, American fans concluded that this must mean that the toy had been released under a different name in Europe—which is not ''entirely'' unfounded, as Transformers often got renamed in Canada and Italy, and many European-market toys from the post-US-cancellation line had multiple names, dependent on what country they were released in.
:However, European fans claimed the toy was called "Overbite" when released in their respective countries (except for Italy, where [[GiG]] actually didn't release the Seacons ''at all''). Furthermore, the [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|letters page]] in [[City of Fear!|issue #164]] of the UK comic features a question by a confused (British) reader about the "Jawbreaker" name, since the UK-release toy was apparently indeed called "Overbite" (resulting in a made-up-on-the-spot explanation from the Marvel staff to reconcile both names). But to add to the confusion a much later letters page in [[A Savage Circle|issue #327]] in late 1991 instead stated that Jawbreaker was his British name and Overbite his American name. By this time the toy was no longer on sale and the character had long disappeared from the comic. It would appear the letters page in this era was compiled by someone who did not have a full in-depth knowledge of the franchise.
:So, why ''did'' the story identify the character as "Jawbreaker"? The answer was unknown until 2016, when a couple of early internal [[character model|model sheets]] were offered on [[eBay]]: Overbite's model sheet has his name crossed out, with "Jawbreaker" written below it.<ref name="modelsheets">[http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/93711-more-unseen-tftm-designs-plus-some-early-colors-and-some-show-design/?p=3191211 Early model sheets] at The Allspark.</ref> Since the same batch of model sheets also refers to the [[Sparkabot]]s as "Sparkler Minibots", another naming anomaly for the Marvel UK comics (and some translations thereof), Marvel UK writer [[Simon Furman]] may have used these model sheets (or similar reference materials) with the non-final names on them. The Overbite toy's instructions still refer to his ''weapon'' as a "Jawbreaker cannon", and his weapon mode for Piranacon is called a "Jawbreaker weapon" in the assembly instructions.

*'''Some toys were exclusively (or predominantly) available only in the United Kingdom/Netherlands.'''
:During the early days of the Transformers online fandom, most of the active European fans in English-language forums were based in the UK and Netherlands. So when information about non-US toys (or toy variants) was spread, there simply were no fans from Germany or France around to confirm that the toys in question had also been officially available in their respective countries. (Although to be fair, it's quite possible that some toys, such as the [[Milton Bradley]]-branded Generation 1 toys, were indeed released in bigger quantities in the Netherlands than in Germany or France.)<ref name="mbpart6">[http://20thcenturytoycollector.com/mb-transformers-part-6/ "MB Transformers: Part 6"] at 20th Century Toy Collector.</ref>
:As a result, numerous toys like the red [[Tracks (G1)#Toys|Tracks]] and [[IGA]] Mexican-market Transformers (imported under dubious circumstances) got labeled as "Netherlands-only", when they actually saw release in at least a half-dozen countries. Meanwhile, post-US-cancellation Transformers like the [[Action Master Elite]]s, "[[Classics (Europe)|Classics]]" reissues, [[Turbomaster]]s, [[Obliterator]]s, etc, were (and sometimes still are) often referred to as "UK exclusives", even though all of them were available in multiple countries, including Canada and Australia!
:In reality, there are ''very'' few toys actually exclusive to a single European country. The first ''genuine'' "UK exclusives" were a set of multi-packs from the 2007 [[Transformers (film)|''Transformers'' live action movie]] [[Transformers (2007 toyline)|toyline]], but the toys themselves were identical to the US releases. Meanwhile, other multi-packs or minor variants of toys from the 2007 movie toyline that were available in the UK but not the US were also available in other places, such as Japan, Hong Kong, Australia or other European countries again.

*'''A green variant of Trailbreaker was available in some European countries.'''
:This belief seems to stem from the fact that [[IGA]]'s Mexican version of [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (which, like most Mexican Transformers, was widely available on the European gray market circa 1989, as mentioned above) used the same head sculpt as [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]. But like the "Blue" Bluestreak, no samples of an actual green version of the Trailbreaker mold actually sold ''as'' "Trailbreaker" have been found.

===Takara vs. Hasbro===
[[File:Cybertrontoy hasbro and takara vector primes.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Vector Prime]] features different color applications dependent on whether it was released in [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] or [[Hasbro]]'s market.]]
*'''Takara (alternatively, Hasbro) are ''solely'' responsible for designing, developing and manufacturing (all, or certain specific) ''Transformers'' toys.'''
: This was true only for the original [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1 toys]], and possibly also the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|''Generation 2'' toys]]. Most of the toys from 1984 to 1986 were imported (and, occasionally, slightly altered) versions of already-existing Japanese toys originally designed and released by [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]. Following that, Takara developed new toys both for the Japanese and the Western market, now specifically with ''Transformers'' in mind. The primary exceptions are a handful of toys licensed from other Japanese companies (Jetfire, Whirl, and Roadbuster, for example), and the 1986 toys for the [[The Transformers: The Movie|animated movie]], which were mostly based on designs by [[Floro Dery]].
: However, ever since 1988,<ref name="dunsay">[http://obscuretf.com/hhk/images/full/BC04Dunsay.jpg BotCon 2004 program guide interview with George Dunsay]</ref> most "main" line toys released both in Japan and the Western hemisphere (such as the [[Unicron Trilogy]], ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'', the [[Transformers (2007 toyline)|2007 Movie line]] and ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]/[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)|Henkei! Henkei!]]'') have been designed and developed in cooperation between [[Hasbro]] (or its subsidiary [[Kenner]]) and [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] (now TakaraTomy). (For the specifics of this joint venture development process, see the article about [[toy]]s.)
: Still, numerous reasons have led some people to assume incorrectly that ''all'' ''Transformers'' toy lines were ''solely'' developed by only one of the two companies:
:*The Western public and mainstream media, naturally, tend to be unaware of the existence of Takara (TakaraTomy these days). It's therefore logical to assume that Hasbro, the company responsible for distributing Transformers toys outside Japan, is also solely responsible for developing and manufacturing the toys. The fact that Hasbro regularly chooses not to mention their Japanese business partner in official press releases and interviews hasn't exactly helped matters, either.
:*On the other hand, Western anime fans are used to Japanese companies being solely responsible for designing robot toys, which are then imported and sold by Western companies. For lack of better knowledge, those people then simply assume the same also applies to ''Transformers'' toys — namely, that Takara does ''all'' the design and engineering work on their own, and Hasbro is merely the Western ''distributor'' of those toys. The fact that the back of Hasbro's packaging for ''Transformers'' toys sports a small note saying "Manufactured under license from Takara Co., Ltd." (changed to "TOMY Company, Ltd." on more recent toys) is occasionally cited as "proof" that Takara is the sole manufacturer of ''Transformers'' toys as well. A long paper trail of evidence to the contrary<ref name="Hasbro Tour">[http://www.seibertron.com/events/gallery.php?event_id=70&size=0&start=272 Exemplary rundown] of the development process of ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' Leader Class [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys|Optimus Prime]], shown during the Hasbro tour at [[BotCon 2007]]. Of course, Hasbro just replaced the name "Takara" in some of the steps with "Hasbro" in order to convince fans that... yeah, riiiight.</ref> has not been able to convince those people of the flaws in their conspiracy theory — rather, some of them have even postulated the existence of a so-called "Hasbro PR machine", whose sole purpose is to convince ''Transformers'' fans that Hasbro has a larger part in the development of ''Transformers'' toys than is actually the case.<ref name="Propaganda">[http://toyboxdx.com/phorum/read.php?1,88668 ToyBoxDX thread with anime fanboys arguing that "Takara is an enormous toy '''manufacturing''' company. Hasbro doesn't manufacturer anything. The sole reason for its existence is for marketing the products of their partners and wholly-owned subs. Just to be clear here - Takara is bigger than Hasbro."] They wouldn't even believe that [[Joe Kyde]] actually worked at Hasbro. No kidding.</ref>

: That being said, there ''are'' indeed a few toys originally developed by either Hasbro or Takara without the other one's involvement, and then later picked up by the other company, but they're fewer than usually assumed: For Takara, those include the new molds for ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars (Japanese toyline)#1998 (Beast Wars II)|Beast Wars II]]'', ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars (Japanese toyline)#1999 (Beast Wars Neo)|Beast Wars Neo]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)|Car Robots]]'', plus various mostly short-lived, collector-aimed, niche market lines (such as the new ''[[Robotmasters (franchise)|Robotmasters]]'' molds, the ''[[Smallest Transforming Transformers]]'', the ''[[Hybrid Style]]'' toys etc.); for Hasbro, those are mostly either toys originally based on fiction-based franchises that did not originate with Hasbro (such as ''[[Animorphs]]'' or the ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars Transformers]]'' and their later successor, ''[[Transformers: Crossovers]]''), cross-brand lines ''within'' Hasbro where the Transformers toys only make up one part of the overall lineup (such as the [[Titanium Series]] and the [[Robot Heroes (toyline)|Robot Heroes]] figures) and a few very rare "main" line Transformers toys such as the ''Generation 2'' [[Power Master]]s and [[Grimlock (Energon)|Grimlock]], [[Swoop (Energon)|Swoop]], [[Alpha Quintesson]], [[Kicker Jones#Toys|Energon Kicker]] and [[High Wire (Armada)|High Wire]] from ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]''.

*'''Takara's Japanese-market releases are always of intrinsically better quality than their U.S. counterparts. (E.g., they have sweeter exclusives, and are always more show-accurate, have more accessories, and have tighter quality control.)'''
: This one depends a bit on the speaker, as it can either be a genuine misconception, a matter of opinion, or at worst, [[Personal canon|willful]] [[True fan|snobbery]]. But, like any broad generalization, it does have some basis.
:*"Better quality" can refer to the fact that Japanese versions of individual toys sometimes have clear plastic instead of painted-on windows like [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys|Movie Bumblebee]], or have vac-metallized parts where the equivalent U.S. release doesn't, like [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys|''Energon'' Optimus Prime/Grand Convoy]]. Or, "better" quality can refer to the fact that Japan is a less litigious society, with different toy safety laws, and Takara can thus give [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Prime]] toys old-school long smokestacks, which are now shortened in the U.S. [[for safety reasons]]. These laws also mean that [[Megatron (G1)/toys|Masterpiece Megatron]] is freely available in Japan, but hard to get in the U.S. (the exact opposite of ''real'' handguns, ironically). In the various forms of [[CHUG]], Takara releases also consistently boast more paint applications (for example, many ''[[Unite Warriors]]'' figures had painted hubcaps while their ''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]'' counterparts went without), something that was ironically reversed in their version of the [[Transformers: Prime (toyline)#Takara Prime toyline|''Prime'' toyline]].
:*"More [[Show-accuracy|show-accurate]] decos" does have some basis, as Takara frequently releases its toys later than Hasbro does Stateside, and thus they are better able to reflect discrepancies between late-run changes to a character's coloration in a show (such as with the original [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] or [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|''Armada'''s Tidal Wave]]). The most extreme example of this was ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (toyline)#2005 (Beast Wars Returns)|Beast Wars Returns]]'', the Japanese release of ''Beast Machines'', which was ''years'' later than in the U.S., allowing Takara to add a lot of the deco that was added to the characters by [[Mainframe Entertainment]] that was not accurate to the original toys.
:*"More accessories" mostly comes from the fact that ''some'' of Takara's releases have some extra accessories, but the only cases of this before the reissues were [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]'s two [[sword]]s, Megatron's sword and bullets (even though the Japanese release lacked the barrel, scope and stock extensions) and clear cases from the various cassettes. Japanese reissues have included additional accessories from the cartoon (the axe, chain mace, Energon cubes and gun mode Megatron in the ''[[The Transformers Collection|Transformers Collection]]'' reissues of Optimus and Megatron, Insecticons and Starscream, respectively, the Matrix from New Year's Convoy). Some ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Super Link]]'' releases came with [[redeco]]ed [[Energon weapon]]s as well. ''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)|Henkei! Henkei!]]'' [[Hot Shot (Henkei!)|Hot Rod]] came with two missile launchers and missiles not included with ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[Hot Shot (Armada)/toys#Universe .282008.29|Hot Shot]] due to budget constraints, and featured the original tooling for the rear bumper for their inclusion. In contrast, ''Henkei! Henkei!'' [[Sideswipe (G1)/toys#Henkei! Henkei!|Lambor]] was ''lacking'' the supercharger engine accessory ''Universe'' Sideswipe came with—TakaraTomy officially confirmed that they had ''deliberately omitted the optional piece of accessory'' to make the toy more "G1-accurate".<ref name="generations2009">Interview with Hisashi Yuki in [[Transformers Generations 2009|''Transformers Generations 2009'' vol. 1]], [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/223379-takaratomy-staff-interview-generations-2009-vol-1-translation.html English translation] at TFW2005.</ref>
:*"Sweeter exclusives" is really a matter of taste. If endless redecos of Generation 1 toys as completely unprecedented Generation 1 characters, buying $40 worth of toys you got a month ago for a single [[Mini-Con]], and shelling out half your mortgage for [[Lucky Draw figure|Lucky Draw]] gold chrome figures is what floats your boat, then yeah, Japan has better exclusives.
:*"Tighter [[quality control]]" is a total myth. Takara products are manufactured under much the same production conditions as Hasbro's: Pretty much everything for both markets is made in China—in fact, according to Hasbro [[Australia]] representatives and Hasbro designer [[Eric Siebenaler]], ''all'' of the Transformers toys jointly developed between Hasbro and Takara/TakaraTomy are manufactured at factories contracted to the Japanese toy company. This means Takara is (at least indirectly) responsible for whatever quality control problems occur with Hasbro-released toys. Takara's standards of quality control for their domestically-released toys are just as likely to let mistakes creep through. Just ask any buyer of ''Henkei! Henkei!'' [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#Henkei! Henkei!|Thundercracker]] how well his weapons stay attached to the arms. And let's not even get started on ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|Rodimus Convoy's]] first production run.
:*The fields in which Takara genuinely excels Hasbro are comparably minor: Takara's [[stock photography]] generally tends to be more impressive than Hasbro's, without obvious mistransformations and awkward poses, and at the same time looks more representative of the actual toy due to less reliance on blatant digital touch-ups. Likewise, Takara's [[instructions]] tend to be more detailed and useful than Hasbro's.

===Other===
[[File:SteamhammerEnergonUniverse.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Not literally a waste of packaging material.]]
*'''"Repackaged" toys are ''literally'' unsold toys sent back to Hasbro, taken out of the old packaging, put into new packaging and then sent back to stores.'''

:Every so often, a ''Transformers'' toy line features seemingly identical toys in multiple different [[packaging]] versions, such as multi-packs containing toys that were previously available separately. In addition, some toy lines also feature [[rebranding|rebranded]] items, namely toys that were originally released under one line, but are later re-released as part of another line with virtually no changes to the toy itself, only the packaging it is available in. The final stages of the original ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' line took the concept of "rebranding" to a new level, featuring numerous straight re-releases of toys from the since-ended ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' lines, among many others. Since then, it has been repeated with the 2006 ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' line, the 2008 ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' line, the 2010 ''[[Transformers (2010 toyline)|Transformers]]'' line and many others. Because a common [[fandom]] term for those releases is "repackages", a popular misconception claims that those toys are ''literally'' "repackages": namely, unsold toys sent back to Hasbro, taken out of their old packaging, put into new packaging and then sent back to (different) stores. (The same train of thought also—very rarely—suggests that "repaints", another common fan term for [[redeco]]s, are ''literally'' "[[repaint]]s", i.e. existing toys painted over in new colors, rather than new production runs from the same toolings using new plastic colors.)

:Needless to say, this theory is dubious for various reasons. Generally, old unsold toys are ''not'' sent back to Hasbro. They either [[Shelfwarmer|remain in the store]] until someone finally decides to buy them, or the store somehow dumps them, such as by selling them off to closeout chains. And even ''if'' Hasbro did regularly get sent back huge shipments of unsold toys, they'd be highly unlikely to go through the effort (and additional cost) of literally repackaging them. Hasbro confirmed this in January of 2009, stating that due to the toys being manufactured in Asia, it would be a waste of time and money to repackage them only to sell them at the same price-point.<ref>[http://www.sirstevesguide.com/index.php?categoryid=13&p2_articleid=1934 SirStevesGuide.com, Tri-Weekly Hasbro Q&A - January 30th]</ref> Thus, they are ''not'' repackaged old product, but new production runs of previous product. These days, this misconception should be much easier to dispel: Every toy now features a manufacturing date stamp etched into the figure, as well as a product code [[tampograph]]ed onto the figure, thus proving that a figure was manufactured more recently than its superficially identical predecessor.

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[[File:SmokesniperStarscream.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|The similarities are astounding. Especially those that aren't there.]]
*'''A new toy that is vaguely reminiscent of an older toy is a retool of said toy.'''

:Hasbro likes to [[redeco]] toys a lot (usually to recoup the R&D costs for developing the original [[mold]]). They also like to release redecos of toys from older lines in newer lines. In some instances, Hasbro also don't just redeco a toy, they [[retool]] it (or create new toolings for new parts that replace parts of the old version of the toy)—sometimes to improve a feature or fix an error, but sometimes also to give the toy new features or [[gimmick]]s, or simply to make it different enough from the original version so owners of the original version would be interested in buying the "retool" as well.

:Some of those retools are comparably minor (such as [[Jazz (Movie)|Final Battle Jazz]] from the [[Transformers (2007 toyline)|2007 Movie line]]), whereas others can be pretty elaborate. Sometimes the retools are so elaborate that the line between "retool" and "new [[mold]]" gets blurred. The most drastic instances in this regard would be [[K-9]] from ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' (based on [[Wolfang (Maximal)|Wolfang]] from the same line) and [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Dark Crumplezone]] from ''Cybertron'' (based on the original ''Cybertron'' Crumplezone toy), both of which have most, if not ''all'' of their parts entirely retooled. Another borderline case would be the ''[[Transformers: Armada (toyline)|Armada]]'' [[Mini-Con]]s [[Mirage (Armada)|Mirage]] and [[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]], which were released around the same time and are based on the same basic design, share a similar body structure and have very similar [[alternate mode]]s.

:However, sometimes fans ''definitely'' get too far decrying a new toy a "retool" (or "remold"). Toys that share some superficial design similarities, coupled with similar transformation schemes, are often mistaken for retools even though they're simply that: Similar toys based on the same general design, maybe even directly influenced by the older toy, but nothing more. For more examples, see: [[retool#Not actually a retool|retool]].

{{-}}
*'''Hasbro lost the rights to a lot of G1 Transformers names. That is why you see toys named "Autobot Jazz" or "Decepticon Brawl" these days. Takara is more competent than Hasbro and doesn't need to change their toys' names.'''

:That's not quite how name rights —aka [[trademark]]— work. There are indeed instances where another company has snatched a trademark, making it unavailable for Hasbro's use. The reason is because trademarks need to be consistently used in commerce (roughly once every year or so), or it could be considered "abandoned", making it open for grabs should another company try to claim it. "[[Hot Rod (G1)/toys|Hot Rod]]" was unavailable to [[Hasbro]] because Mattel held several similar trademarks, "[[Bluestreak (G1)/toys|Bluestreak]]" was too similar to Gendron's "Toledo 'Blue Streak'" trademark, and a company named Lanard held the trademark "Shockwave" until a few years ago. This prompted Hasbro to use substitute names for toys based on these characters, such as "Rodimus Major" and "Rodimus" for Hot Rod, "Silverstreak" for Bluestreak and "Shockblast" for Shockwave (Hasbro has since managed to reacquire all three aforemented trademarks).

:Meanwhile, the names with prefixes such as "Autobot" or "Decepticon"? Those are usually non-compound single real words from the English language. Hasbro's legal department considers them too "generic" to be easily defensible as trademarks, hence the addition of prefixes such as "Autobot Jazz", "Decepticon Brawl "or "Constructicon Devastator" for better protection. This does ''not'' work with names already trademarked by another company–otherwise, [[Bandai]] could release a toy named "Gunpla Optimus Prime" tomorrow, and Hasbro couldn't do anything about it.

:For a while, it seemed like these trademark quibbles were limited to Hasbro, and [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] was somehow exempt due to a different market situation. However, the ''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)|Henkei! Henkei!]]'' line saw the emergence of quite a few "Cybertron", "Destron" and "[[Stunticon (G1)|Stuntron]]" prefixes, implying that the trademark situation on the Japanese market was changing, and starting with the [[Transformers (2007 toyline)|''Movie'' line]], TakaraTomy (now adopting Hasbro names instead of their established Japanese-market names) began to use "Autobot" and "Decepticon" prefixes. With ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (toyline)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' and ''[[Transformers United|United]]'', TakaraTomy even used prefixes for names Hasbro has been able to use ''without'' prefixes.

{{-}}
*'''Hasbro is responsible for your local store not having the newest toys right now.'''

: Hasbro actually has almost nothing to do with distribution (when Product A arrives in Store B) beyond making sure the manufactured product leaves the factories and shipyards of China at the desired time. Once the items arrive on US shores, they are almost immediately sent from the ships to the distribution centers for the retail chains that ordered them. From there, it's more truck rides to various regional warehouses, which is all controlled by the retailers, not Hasbro. After that, the schedule for taking product from those warehouses and putting it on shelves is dictated by each chain's inventory system.

: It's ''conceivable'' that Hasbro could take more control of the situation, but that would require chains like Wal-Mart to release the vise-like death grip they have on manufacturers' nuts that lets them dictate how the system works—and they're sooooooo not doing that.

{{-}}

{{anchor|Older collectors}}
*'''Hasbro should totally cater to the wishes of older collectors, as they purchase the most Transformers product.'''

: Fans would like to think they've got some sway over the direction of the [[Transformers brand|''Transformers'' brand]]. After all, they've been buying toys for many years (as opposed to the limited purchasing span of most children), and they buy many ''more'' toys than any individual child. And in truth, Hasbro does pay attention to the desires and discussions of its older buyers, even designing certain line segments like ''Alternators'' or ''Classics'' and its successors with collectors as the primary target audience.

: Collectors, however, simply can't compare to the vast numbers of children out there whose parents buy Transformers for them. The bulk of Transformers product is purchased for and/or by young children, and if a company like Hasbro wants to stay in business and keep making money (and by extension, more toys), it must design and market its products accordingly. No accurate figures exist on the collector/children ratio, but estimates mentioned at BotCon panels range from around 10% to 20% of all purchases coming from older collectors—enough to be worth listening to, but not at all the driving force behind the brand. Past toylines have shown that betting ''too much'' on sales from adult collectors can be disastrous.

: Furthermore, it's not as though the [[fandom|fans]] speak with a unified voice. More often, for every fan pushing for one particular idea, there's another fan who thinks that same idea is boring or [[Ruined FOREVER|awful]].

==Fiction==
===Generation 1===
====General====
*'''Transformers were meant as a "genderless" race. Arcee and the other female Transformers were added to the brand because feminists complained about the Transformers all being male.'''
: When [[Bob Budiansky]] was assigned to work out the character details for the toys, he initially intended some of them to represent female characters, like [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]. However, he was not given permission by [[Hasbro]] to include females because the company feared it would have a negative impact on the sales of those toys.<ref>[http://rustingcarcass.yuku.com/topic/954 Rusting Carcass interview]</ref> Budiansky complied, and in later years, would even pen [[Recipe for Disaster!|a story]] for the Marvel comic in which the Transformer race was stated to have no concept of gender.

:[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The cartoon]] was a different story. Since television requires a bigger investment than comics, but also offers the potential for a much better payoff, it is of interest for a TV network to broadcast material that reaches the highest possible demographic. To this end, very early in its development, writer [[Jeffrey Scott]] penned a [[production bible]] which included original female Transformer characters as part of an effort to sell the series to TV Network CBS. When it was decided to produce the series for syndication rather than for a network, new story editors [[Bryce Malek]] and [[Dick Robbins]] dropped this idea, and the series went on to star an exclusively-male cast of robots. However, in late 1984, while working on the early story development for ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', writer [[Ron Friedman]] argued for the inclusion of a female Autobot in the story, on the basis that he "had a daughter who love[d] this stuff." Friedman won his argument, Arcee was added to the movie, and in 1985, female Autobots were incorporated into the series in advance of the film's release, with the introduction of [[Elita One]] and her [[Female Autobots]] in the episode "[[The Search for Alpha Trion]]."
:In other Transformers cartoons, [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari Sumdac]] and the English dub gender flip of [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] have also been added to their respective series because of network demands, whereas [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]], [[Strika (BM)|Strika]] and [[Botanica (BM)|Botanica]] were a request from the writers to Hasbro.
: Despite persistent stories, there is no documented instance of feminists demanding the inclusion of female Transformers (and likely, they've got something better to do than complain about another generic boys show like there are hundreds of). There is, however, a comic story called "[[Prime's Rib!]]" which presents Arcee's introduction to the Autobot ranks as an attempt by Optimus Prime to appease [[Feminist mob|human feminists]]. While the story is obviously satire, through hearsay it has become believed by some that it is what actually happened.

====The original cartoon====
*'''The original ''The Transformers'' series was redubbed anime which originated in Japan, just like ''Battle of the Planets'', ''Voltron'', ''Robotech'' and other such shows screened in the '80s.'''
: Although most moderate-to-hardcore fans are well aware that this is a fallacy, there are those more casual fans (or those who have not rewatched the original ''Transformers'' cartoon since childhood) who are under the misconception that [[The Transformers (cartoon)|''The Transformers'']] was an anime.
: Although the original toyline and thus the characters' basic visual designs were taken from Japanese-originated products, the original characters, names, factions and entire story premise of the whole ''Transformers'' franchise were developed in the United States by [[Hasbro]], [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] and eventually [[Sunbow Productions|Sunbow]]. Although the animation was farmed out to [[Toei|Japanese]] (and later also [[AKOM|Korean]]) [[TMS Entertainment|studios]], the writing and original voice recording of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|all four seasons of the original series]] plus ''[[The Transformers: The Movie|The Movie]]'' was entirely done in America.
: This misconception probably stems from distant childhood memories of the cartoon, the fact that shows like the aforementioned ''Robotech'' were redubbed anime and the ''Transformers''' obvious Japanese influences. This ''may'' also be due to passing exposure to [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 cartoon)|the 2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon]] and the [[Unicron Trilogy]] shows which, viewed as an adult, are ''very'' obviously redubbed anime.
: This is in part related to the misconception that '''all''' ''Transformers'' toys are ''solely'' designed, developed and manufactured by [[TakaraTomy|Takara]], and all [[Hasbro]] ever does is to put them in new packaging and distribute them in the Western market (see above). Because this is true for other Japanese robot toylines, and therefore it must also apply to ''Transformers''.
: However, there's actually a ''little'' bit of truth to this misconception; since the G1 cartoon is an animated series made by Japanese studios, one could feasibly call it an anime; as "anime" is only a word to describe any form of animation in Japan, much like the word "cartoon" is here in the West, and ''not'' a term for a specific genre.

*'''Jazz was written out of the series due to the death of his voice actor.'''
: [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] conspicuously survives the events of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', yet went on to make no speaking appearances in the third season of the cartoon. As his voice actor, [[Scatman Crothers]], passed away of lung cancer in 1986, it is common for fans to assume that the latter caused the former. This isn't hurt by the fact that fellow Autobot and film survivor [[Cliffjumper (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cliffjumper]] also vanished due to issues involving [[Casey Kasem|his own voice actor,]] nor by the fact that one of Jazz's only appearances involved him seemingly being referred to as "[[Munka Spanka]]."
: However, the dates simply don't match up: Crothers's death happened on November 22, long after the third season had begun airing. In fact, by that point, the only remaining episodes were the two parts of "[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|The Return of Optimus Prime]]", both of which aired months after the rest of the season. Add in the fact that any dialogue for the episodes would have been recorded months in advance, and the idea that Crothers dying affected the writing process becomes borderline impossible. The more likely answer is that Jazz stopped appearing, like much of the Season 1 and 2 cast, because his toy was no longer on shelves.

*'''''The Headmasters'' was going to be dubbed into English and shown in America.'''
: In America, "Season 4" consisted of "The Rebirth", a 3-episode mini-series. In Japan, "The Rebirth" was ignored, and a full-fledged series titled ''The Headmasters'' continued the story instead. Rumors once swirled in the fandom of an American-led dub of ''The Headmasters'' series; the dub was largely finished, goes the story, till the materials were lost in a warehouse fire.
: Given the meandering pace of the series (common for Japanese shows but anathema to American sensibilities), the presence of numerous characters who had no toy equivalent on US shelves, the incompatibility with the "[[Nebulan]]" head characters, the number of Japanese cultural references, and the very existence of "[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Rebirth]]", this rumor seems unlikely on the surface.
: More to the point, no official confirmation or other evidence has ever surfaced to back it up. In all likelihood the rumor was probably a {{w|Chinese whispers|Chinese Whisper}} from the fact that the laughably-bad English language [[Omni Productions]] dub was screened on UK satellite TV during the 1990s.

====''The Transformers: The Movie''====
[[File:TFTM dead gray Prime.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Traumatizing enough as it is, frankly.]]
*'''There exists an "uncut version" of ''The Transformers: The Movie'' containing all sorts of non-kid-friendly content.'''

: These stories stem mainly from the fact that many home-video releases of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' omit two relatively minor instances of characters using profanity, which during the 1990s resulted in some [[alt.toys.transformers]] posters advertising "uncut" VHS copies of the movie for sale, thus either intentionally or unintentionally creating the myth of a really foul-mouthed and ultra-violent alternate version of ''The Transformers: The Movie''. At least one poster claimed to have uncut reels of the original film showing a number of violent scenes,<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_thread/thread/07464cbfbb5d0cc9/8aee0b30765b2b4a?hl=en#8aee0b30765b2b4a THE UNCUT JAPANESE TRANSFORMERS MOVIE]</ref> but, unsurprisingly, was unwilling to provide any form of proof.<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_thread/thread/799fec40c1aa285e/6af42e4099affa04?hl=en# Doth the Canadian protesteth too much?]</ref> So have ended all claims of uncut footage from the film.

:A much stranger rumor, whose origins are unclear, claims that the original theatrical cut of ''The Transformers: The Movie'' depicted [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] crumbling into dust after dying, and that that scene was cut by the distributor in mid-release because children were traumatized by the imagery. Interestingly, the "[[Death of Optimus Prime]]" track on the original soundtrack album does contain ten extra seconds of music. At the end, just before the song's final low-octave percussion sequence, there is a very distinct series of notes that appears nowhere else in the song and is not in the onscreen version. However, no other evidence of this "lost" animation sequence exists among the many storyboards, preliminary animations, interviews, varying formats, etc., that have come to light. The myth could be related to the death of Starscream, a few scenes later, where Starscream '''does''' indeed crumble to dust after being shot by Galvatron; time and distance could lead fans to confuse the two scenes.

:These claims should not be confused with the extra storyboarded scenes and early script revisions which have come to light over the years, which do in fact contain a lot more violence. But no evidence exists that any of these sequences, even those that made it to storyboard, were ever animated. Especially given the expense of producing full animation.

::''See also: [[The Transformers: The Movie#Edits]].''

{{-}}
*'''Some portions of Unicron's dialogue were recorded by an actor other than Orson Welles.'''

: A common rumor in the Western fandom claimed that Unicron's final lines ("Destiny... you cannot destroy my.. destiny!") were recorded by [[Leonard Nimoy]], based on claims that those lines sounded "different" from the rest of [[Orson Welles]]' lines.<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092106/trivia IMDB.com reference to the Leonard Nimoy-as-Unicron rumor.]</ref> Compounding the rumor is the fact that Welles died shortly after recording his ''TF:TM'' lines<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/This-Orson-Welles/dp/030680834X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-6174389-3113623?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1182349938&sr=8-1 According to one biography, Welles recorded his ''TF:TM'' lines on October 5, 1985 and died five days later.]</ref> (and indeed, one version of the rumor has Welles actually dying ''before'' completing his lines). Despite being debunked repeatedly (including by [[Susan Blu]] and [[Wally Burr]], both of whom should know), this one still pops up from time to time.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/387399-leonard-nimoy-officially-announced-voice-sentinel-prime-13.html#post5858748 Nimoy-as-Unicron rumor repeated by TFW2005 user "RedAlert Rescue".]</ref><ref>[http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2007/07/when_orson_welles_was_a_transformer.single.html Slate.com discusses the Unicron rumor.]</ref>

{{-}}
*'''''The Transformers: The Movie''/Scatman Crothers coined the term "ginormous", which has since been added to several dictionaries.'''

: In ''The Transformers: The Movie'', [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], voiced by [[Scatman Crothers]], described [[Unicron]] as "a ginormous, weird-looking planet". The word "ginormous", a portmanteau of "gigantic" and "enormous", was officially added by the Merriam-Webster Online dictionary in 2007.<ref name="webster">[http://www.merriam-webster.com/info/newwords07.htm Merriam-Webster adding the word "ginormous]</ref>

: Some fans believe that Crothers had coined the term, which is incorrect for several reasons. Even putting aside the notion that under this theory, Crothers is assumed to have ad-libbed the line (rather than simply reading it from [[Ron Friedman]]'s script), the term has actually been around for much longer, being listed in the Oxford English Dictionary as a "British informal" word that has existed since at least the 1940s, and was originally military slang.<ref name="oxford">[http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/ginormous Oxford dictionary entry for "ginormous"]</ref>

{{-}}
*'''''The Transformers: The Movie'' was never released in Japan.'''

: It is true that ''The Transformers: The Movie'' was not released in Japan at the same time it was released in [[Hasbro]]'s markets, with Japanese fans instead getting the ''[[Scramble City: Mobilization]]'' OVA prior to the release of the third season of the show (second for Japan). But ''The Movie'' ultimately made it to Japanese theaters in August 1989. The various discrepancies between it and subsequent Japan-only Generation 1 fiction (such as who [[Prowl (G1)#The Headmasters cartoon|didn't]] [[Wheeljack (G1)#Victory cartoon|survive]] the movie) are largely a matter of the Japanese animators and writers being unaware of the precise details of the film. This also led to a similar rumor that ''Scramble City'' was an out-and-out ''replacement'' for the film, similar to how ''The Headmasters'' replaced "The Rebirth." Actually viewing the OVA reveals that it has nothing to do with the events of ''The Movie'', other than that both feature [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and take place between the second and third seasons; at no point does it significantly contradict the film, and pretty much the only third-season change the film explains is where [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] came from. There were indeed attempts to summarize what had happened in the movie, including a narration added to "Five Faces of Darkness" and scans in ''Terebi Magazine'', but ''Scramble City'' served much more as an advertisement for its subline than a major turning point of the continuity. <ref>http://tfarchive.com/community/showthread.php?s=&postid=216153#post216153</ref><ref>http://tfarchive.com/community/showthread.php?s=&postid=216478#post216478</ref><ref>http://tfarchive.com/community/showthread.php?threadid=30800</ref>

{{-}}
*'''''The Transformers: The Movie'' was released in Japan under the title "Matrix Forever".'''

: "[[The Transformers: The Movie - Apocalypse: Be Eternal, Matrix|Matrix Forever]]" is actually the shortened and slightly mistranslated title of a 20-minute video created to promote the Japanese release of ''The Transformers: The Movie'', but some Western fans have been confused into thinking that ''The Transformers: The Movie'' itself was renamed "Matrix Forever".<ref>http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/a5d29844863d2c29</ref>

====Japanese Generation 1 fiction====
*'''In Japanese continuity, Megatron and Galvatron are two separate characters.'''
:There are a few instances of Japanese fiction (and advertising) that would seem to support this notion, all of which can be attributed to a lack of communication between [[Hasbro]] and [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] prior to the release of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. All of them were ultimately ignored by the "primary" fiction, namely the (dubbed) third season of the cartoon (named ''Transformers: 2010'' in Japan) and the accompanying manga, which followed the Western story concept of Galvatron being a reformatted [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]].
:The [[The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 2|second issue]] of ''[[The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers]]'' [[manga]] depicts [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] commanding [[Megatron Corps|a legion of automatons]] created in [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s image, which some non-Japanese-speaking fans misinterpreted as depicting Galvatron and Megatron co-existing. This even extended into ''[[The Battlestars]]'', where the appearance of Super Megatron solidified the idea to those fans; after all, surely if he were upgraded from Galvatron, he would be named Super Galvatron, right? One particularly sturdy rumor claimed that he was trying to hunt Galvatron down (possibly conflating him with [[Gilthor]]).<ref>http://tfarchive.com/creative/showentry.php?s=179</ref>

*'''In Japanese continuity, the Destrons (Decepticons) were invaders from a planet called Destron.'''
:The [[Autobot]]s were renamed "Cybertrons" in the Japanese translation, resulting in a misconception that the Destrons ([[Decepticon]]s) must hail from somewhere other than the planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. However, the Japanese translation also used slightly different spellings for the faction, "Cybertron" (literally: サイバトロン, "Sa-i-ba-to-ro-n"), and the planet, (literally: セイバートロン, "Se-i-baa-to-ro-n"), commonly interpreted as "Seibertron" by Western fans, in order to avoid confusion, even though both words originally started out based on the English name "Cybertron".<ref name="tfa522">[http://tfarchive.com/creative/showentry.php?s=522 The Transformers Archive essay about various urban legends surrounding the Transformers franchise]</ref>
:This rumor presumably originates from an article a Thomas Wheeler had written for ''Attic's Collectible Toys and Values Monthly'' during the hiatus between the [[The Transformers (toyline)|G1]] and [[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|G2]] toylines. According to that article, Hasbro chose not to follow this element of the story because of the similarity between the term "Destron" and ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'''s "[[Destro]]" character. Of course, seeing as the story originated in America to begin with and was only dubbed into Japanese later on, this doesn't make a lot of sense. In later years, Wheeler wrote toy reviews for Master Collector's website, which occasionally also display a certain lack of knowledge about various toys and the ''Transformers'' brand's overall history, so it doesn't seem entirely out of place for him.

*'''Black Shadow and Blue Bacchus are both members of a "Space Mafia".'''
:[[Black Shadow (Victory)|Black Shadow]] of ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (franchise)|Victory]]'' has his function listed as "Space Gangster". An early fan translation of his on-package [[bio]] misinterpreted the Japanese word for "gangster" to mean "Mafia", hence the belief that a "Space Mafia" exists in the Japanese Generation 1 universe. This was naturally extended to his partner, [[Blue Bacchus]], whose function is "Space Gunman."

*'''Metrotitan is a zombie version of Metroplex.'''
: [[Metrotitan (Zone)|Metrotitan]] was a Destron [[redeco]] of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] from the ''[[Transformers: Zone (franchise)|Zone]]'' portion of Japanese Generation 1 continuity. For unclear reasons, Western fans believe that Metrotitan was a "zombified" version of Metroplex, and a stranger variation on this rumor holds that Metrotitan was somehow "regrown" from one of Metroplex's legs.<ref name="tfa522" />

====European Generation 1 fiction====
*'''Starscream and Shrapnel are female characters in the French dub of Generation 1.'''
: This rumor is only partly true. The [[The Transformers (cartoon)|''Transformers'' cartoon]] used three different dub teams for the French version: one for the TV show's dub broadcast in Quebec, one for the TV show's dub broadcast in France and one for the [[The Transformers: The Movie|1986 movie]] used in both countries. Neither of the TV show's dubs depict [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] as a female as he uses a distinctively male voice;<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhOCYZRxypM YouTube: Doublage de France: Combaticons et Égo]</ref><ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMXCeXw5Vdo Doublage Québécois: Égo et Dr. Croc-en-ville]</ref> however, the movie's dubbing team used a female voice for Starscream, and at one point [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] calls Starscream "une imbécile" (articles in French are gender-specific), clearly cementing Starscream's movie status as a female.<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20080612225831/http://www.bigbot.com/mp3/transformers_mp3.shtml#Femmes</ref> All the same is also true for [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]], who is even referred to as "Mademoiselle Shrapnel" by [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] in the movie.

*'''The German version of ''The Transformers: The Movie'' was edited and didn't depict Starscream's death scene.'''
: German TV didn't air a dubbed version of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original ''The Transformers'' cartoon]] until 1989. ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' was aired for the first time on German TV in 1994, with only one repeat. For unknown reasons, a rumor was circulating for several years claiming that [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream's]] death was considered too "violent" for German TV standards for children's programs and had therefore been edited out.<ref>[http://www.ofdb.de/view.php?page=fassung&fid=7489&vid=38680 German movie database ''still'' listing the rumor about Starscream's "edited death" in TF:TM]</ref> However, recordings of the TV airing still exist, which don't feature any obvious edits other than [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike's]] infamous "swear" line. Furthermore, a German DVD edition of the movie released in 2004 that features an entirely different dub also depicts Starscream's death in all its glory.

*'''An Earthforce story was written to promote the non-combining Constructicon toys.'''
:The comic story "[[Desert Island Risks!]]" from issue 264 of the [[Marvel Comics|Marvel UK]] [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|G1 comic]] reveals that the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] have somehow lost their ability to combine into [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. As a result, they try to build another Devastator as a new robot.

:Some fans mistakenly believe that this is somehow related to a re-release of the Constructicons (now in yellow) that were available in [[The Transformers (European toyline)|Europe]] after the ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' toyline had ended in the USA. Those Constructicons omitted the extra parts necessary to form Devastator; and furthermore, [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] and [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (neither of them officially named in this version; all six toys came on multi-purpose cardbacks simply named "Constructicon") were [[retool]]ed to omit the tabs that were necessary for combining them (and [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]]) when forming Devastator. Since the toys couldn't combine into Devastator anymore, fans believe that the [[Earthforce]] comic story was intended to serve as an "explanation" for this.

:The problem with this theory, however, is that the yellow "Euro" Constructicon toys were released in 1992; the comic story, however, had already come out in early 1990. If anything, "Desert Island Risks!" was based on the [[Action Master]] version of Devastator, which no longer consisted of six individual Constructicons. (Also, the individual Constructicons don't even appear in the story.)

===Beast Era===
====Japanese ''Beast Wars''====
*'''Preface'''
:To give a better idea of how the following misconceptions came about, many of them stem from how little access the Western fandom had to understandable forms of the Japanese ''Beast Wars'' media at the time. After all, when the series were first released, the internet was still a relatively "new" thing, where [[alt.toys.transformers|USENET forums]] were still a major outlet for fan information and websites were... rudimentary. For about two decades since that time, the most that the West had access to were a small number of fan-subtitled episodes of ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars II]]'' and ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (cartoon)|Beast Wars Neo]]'', a fansubbed version of the theatrical feature segment ''[[Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger!]]'', a translation of the first ''Beast Wars II'' [[Catalog#Beast Wars II|toy catalog]], and second-hand accounts from those who had seen the untranslated episodes of either series or had read each's respective [[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (manga)|manga]] [[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (manga)|series]]. Over time, those who lacked an understanding of the Japanese language would misinterpret much of these series' specifics. The following are a few of the most well known misunderstandings.

[[File:Optimusx2.JPG|thumb|Well, that's just Prime.]]
*'''In Japanese ''Beast Wars'' continuity, Optimus Primal and Megatron were the same characters as their Generation 1 namesakes.'''
:Initially, both ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] and [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]] were identified in early packaging as new incarnations of Generation 1 [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], respectively, in the Western release of the toyline. This was most evident in the bios of the Basic class bat Optimus Primal and alligator Megatron toys, the very first toys of the two. But, the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|''Beast Wars'' cartoon]] would do away with this by firmly establishing that the two were instead separate individuals from their Generation 1 namesakes.
:When ''Beast Wars'' was first brought over to Japan, Takara evidently thought that the original notion was still the case: Optimus Primal was renamed "Convoy", the same Japanese name as Optimus Prime, and the [[Maximal]] and [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] factions were given the same Japanese names as those of the Autobot and Decepticon factions—"Cybertron" and "Destron", respectively. Optimus and Megatron's Ultra and Basic class toys were each given Japanese bios loosely based on the English bios of their respective Basic class toys; their Ultra class toy bios even gave them the same functions as their Generation 1 namesakes ([[Supreme Commander]] and [[Emperor of Destruction]], respectively) and the one for Optimus even implied that he was the very same Optimus of old. Both of their Basic class toys were even given special redecos with new bios that ''explicitly'' claimed the two had previously been a tractor trailer and a Walther P-38, the very altmodes of the Generation 1 Optimus Prime and Megatron.
:When the first season of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon began airing in Japan, it was initially ambiguous on the matter, never actually saying one way or the other if Optimus and Megatron were meant to be new characters like their English counterparts, or the same characters as their Generation 1 namesakes. More unhelpful to this confusion was Optimus Primal's later big-screen guest appearance in ''Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger!'', in which the cast of ''Beast Wars II'' revered him as a "legendary Supreme Commander", in contrast to his depiction in the American cartoon as merely the captain of a lowly science vessel. Likewise, the Predacon leader [[Galvatron (BWII)|Galvatron]] referred to a "Megatron" as "the greatest and most vicious legendary Transformer in history." But, it was never clarified if this grandiose description was in reference to Generation 1 or ''Beast Wars'' Megatron... likely because, at the time, the movie treated the two as the same person, just as it seemed to do for Optimus.
:Clarity would finally come in ''Beast Wars Metals'', the Japanese dub of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon's second and third seasons, which had been held back from airing on Japanese television until after both seasons had been completed by [[Mainframe Entertainment|Mainframe]], and thus did not reach Japanese audiences until after ''Beast Wars II'' and ''Beast Wars Neo'' were over. In short, ''Metals'' remained consistent with the original English-language version in keeping the Generation 1 and ''Beast Wars'' namesakes as separate characters. In the Japanese dub of "[[The Agenda (Part 2)]]", ''Beast Wars'' Megatron even refers to Generation 1 Megatron as "My ancestor Megatron"<ref>我先祖のメガトロン, ''Waga senzo no Megatron''</ref> when relating the history of the Golden Disk to Ravage.
:As for the "legendary" status of ''Beast Wars'' Optimus and Megatron in the movie, that was (and still is) merely an aspect of long-running Japanese children's series that have multiple shows (e.g. – ''Kamen Rider'', ''Super Sentai'', etc.), in that the main hero of a previous series is treated with awe and reverence by the cast of the next series in any crossover team-ups. Optimus Primal was the leader of the good guys from the series preceding ''Beast Wars II'', so the cast of that series viewed him with due respect. Later, the cast of ''Beast Wars Neo'' did the same for Lio Convoy of ''Beast Wars II'', calling him a "legendary warrior" in [[Illusion? Lio Convoy|Episode 29]]. Heck, even [[Big Convoy]] was called a "legendary warrior" multiple times in ''Neo'', even as early as the [[Big Convoy, Move Out|first episode]]. To put it simply, being "legendary" in Japanese ''Beast Wars'' fiction is not as special as it sounds.
:Incidentally, it would later be confirmed that the ''Beast Wars II'' cartoon actually took place eons ''after'' the later-made ''Beast Wars'' sequel series ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' (see below for more). This meant that ''Beast Wars'' Optimus Primal and Megatron actually ''were'' figures of the distant past from the ''Beast Wars II'' cast's perspective. In hindsight, this legendary status of the two in the movie fits rather well with how, in ''Beast Machines'', Megatron singlehandedly conquered all of Cybertron and "viciously" captured the sparks of its entire population, while Optimus saved the whole planet from Megatron at the cost of his own life. As Japan would not receive that series until [[2004]]—six years after the movie's release—this all proved rather fortuitous in the end.

*'''Optimus Primal was sent to Planet Gaia in the ''Beast Wars II'' movie when he flew into the alien machine at the end of "Other Voices, Part 2".'''
:The ''Beast Wars II'' feature film, ''[[Beast Wars Special Super Lifeform Transformers]]'', was initially released in Japanese theaters before the second season of the American ''Beast Wars'' cartoon first aired in Japan. During the ''Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger!'' segment of this film, Optimus Primal made a guest appearance to team up with the cast of ''Beast Wars II''. At the end of the segment, he declares that he must "return to Energoa"; this was the name given to prehistoric Earth in the Japanese dub of the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon, before its true identity as Earth was revealed. This meant that he had been transported to Planet [[Gaia]]—future Earth—from prehistoric Earth during the time of the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]].
:The final episode of the first season of ''Beast Wars'', "[[Other Voices, Part 2]]", ends with Optimus Primal flying up into the [[Vok]]'s [[Planet Buster|planet-destroying weapon]], sacrificing himself to save the planet. [[Aftermath|Three]] [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)|episodes]] [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)|later]], he is restored to life after a difficult resurrection process. Since Primal's appearance in the movie was screened in Japan between the Japanese airings of Seasons 1 and 2 of ''Beast Wars'', some took this release order as a literal chronology for Optimus Primal's Japanese cartoon appearances, thinking that his final moment in "Other Voices, Part 2" was the exact moment he was pulled into the future and brought to Gaia. A statement given in the ''[[Beast Wars Theatrical Special Film Book]]'' even seemed to confirm this theory.<ref>Page 7: エイリアンマシンに激突した際、時空を超えて惑星ガイアにやってきた。("When he crashed into the [[Planet Buster|Alien Machine]], he crossed space-time and came to the planet Gaia.")</ref>
:Some even took his presence in the movie as an explanation for why the Maximal [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] had great difficulty locating Primal's [[spark]] within "the other side of the [[Transformer afterlife|Matrix]]" in "[[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)]]", as if to mean that it ''wasn't'' there at the time. ''Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger!'' is even bookended by sequences that recap the events of Primal's death and rebirth in ''Beast Wars''. And most of all, when Optimus is brought to Gaia, he initially appears in a glowing, yellow, ghost-like form, which ''wasn't'' the case for the story's main antagonist, [[Majin Zarak]], who had arrived on Gaia through the exact same means as Optimus. He even returns to this glowing, yellow, spectral form upon his departure near the end of the movie.
:However, despite the longevity of this theory, the opening narration of the very next part of the movie—the Japanese dub of the ''Beast Wars'' season 2 episode "[[Bad Spark]]"—actually seems to debunk it by essentially reiterating what was true of Primal's fate in the English version of ''Beast Wars''. In this narration, Rhinox and [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] claim that Optimus Primal did indeed die in the [[unspace|transwarp]] explosion at the end of "Other Voices, Part 2", and that Rhinox had brought his spark back from the dead in "Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)".
:While this apparently renders the ''Film Book''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s statement in error, it does seem like there was originally ''some'' intention for it to be true, given Primal's arrival and departure in the movie depicting him in his aforementioned ghostly form. But, while a neat idea, it raises too many questions and relies on too many assumptions in order for it to sensibly fit with Primal's onscreen resurrection. And since Rhinox and Rattrap claim otherwise, this would mean that Optimus was brought to the future from a different point during the Beast Wars, ''before'' the end of Season 1 due to Primal having his Season 1 body in the movie. Exactly when during Season 1, however, has never been disclosed.

{{anchor|JBWchronology}}
[[File:PrimalLioConvoyCatalog01.jpg|thumb|Everything you know is a lie!]]
*'''The characters of the ''Beast Wars II'' and ''Beast Wars Neo'' cartoons hail from the same time-period as the cast of ''Beast Wars'', at a point set prior to ''Beast Machines''.'''
:It's almost not fair to call this one a misconception: By all appearances, this ''was'' the original intent for the Japanese-original ''Beast Wars'' shows. Both the first catalog packed in with ''Beast Wars II'' toys, and the ''Beast Wars II'' manga present Lio Convoy and Galvatron as contemporaries of ''Beast Wars'' Optimus Primal and Megatron, and the ''Beast Wars II'' cartoon initially gave no reason to doubt this applied to its story. But then, months into its run, the show's [[Emissary of the Fourth Planet|thirty-sixth episode]] stated that humanity hadn't lived on Gaia for "tens of thousands of years." As the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon [[Dark Designs|established]] that its cast hailed from only three centuries after the era of Generation 1 era, when Earth was still populated by humans, this meant that it was impossible for the 'bots of ''Beast Wars II'' (and ''Neo'', by extension) to be from the same time period, and that the two Japanese series were, in fact, set ''long'' after the home time of the ''Beast Wars'' cast. Of course, as it would be nearly twenty years before the series was translated in full, western fans never ''learned'' about this at the time and, with only the catalog to go on, continued to assume that its story held true for the cartoon. It was only in the 2006, when TakaraTomy published a massive Generation 1/Beast Era timeline, which adhered to the ''Beast Wars II'' cartoon's dating for the series, that English-speaking fans at large first learned of this fact.
:Now, to be honest, ''Beast Wars II'' probably didn't ''intentionally'' deviate from ''Beast Wars'' cartoon, but rather, just kinda goofed on the continuity, and history had to roll with it. That said, this did fix a discrepancy: By coincidence, both ''Beast Wars Neo'' and ''Beast Machines'' (both produced around the same time) had featured the mega-computer [[Vector Sigma]], but depicted it in two very different, very contradictory ways. ''Beast Wars Neo'' had presented the computer as the ruler of Cybertron, while ''Beast Machines'' depicted it as a long-lost legend, unheard of for years until it was reactivated in [[The Reformatting|the first episode of the series]]. If ''Beast Wars Neo'' was meant to occur before ''Beast Machines'' (as was probably the intent), this didn't make any sense, but the timeline shuffle caused by ''Beast Wars II'' now helped these two different portrayals fit together.
:It did create a ''new'' discrepancy, though: In ''Beast Wars Neo'', Cybertron was depicted with its traditional appearance as a metallic planet, when, at the end of ''Beast Machines'', it was converted into a [[technorganic]] form. In [[2019]], a ''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Transformers Legends]]'' [[Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Blue Big Convoy)|pack-in comic]] fixed this last gap in the timeline, explaining how and why Cybertron was turned back into a metallic world eons after its [[Great Transformation|technorganic reformatting]].
:While these retcons have tidied things up, the fans' original understanding of the timeline has influenced several pieces of American Beast Era media over the years. The Hasbro toy bio for [[Transmetal 2|Transmetals 2]] [[Cybershark]] referred to "a rogue band of Cybertronian space pirates" (an allusion to ''Beast Wars II'''s [[Seacon (BWII)|Seacon Space Pirates]]) as his contemporaries, while the bio for ''[[Dinobot (BM)|Dinobots]]'' [[Magmatron]] all but explicitly pegged him as the same Magmatron from ''Neo'', mentioning his "[[Emperor of Destruction|emperor of destruction]]" title and his involvement in "an interplanetary quest for [[Angolmois Energy|energy capsules]]", the latter of which was also placed, by the bio, before the events of ''Beast Machines''.<ref>The full first sentence of ''Dinobots'' Magmatron's bio: "Following an interplanetary quest for energy capsules, Magmatron returned to Cybertron to find an alarmingly growing population of Vehicon drones."</ref> In both the ''[[Transformers: Universe (comic)|Universe]]'' comic series and the prose story "[[Wreckers: Finale Part II]]", characters from the two Japanese series appeared on Cybertron as contemporaries of the ''Beast Machines'' cast, at points set within a year after the planet's technorganic reformatting. The latter even referred to [[Combatron (BWII)|some of them]] as "pre-reformatting". [[IDW Publishing]]'s ''[[Transformers, Beast Wars: The Gathering|The Gathering]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars: The Ascending|The Ascending]]'' comic series likewise chose to depict the ''Beast Wars II'' and ''Neo'' casts as contemporaries of the ''Beast Wars'' characters (though these series played faster and looser with the timeline, depicting events similar to ''Beast Wars II'' and ''Neo'' as having happened ''before'' the home time-period of the ''Beast Wars'' instead of during or after), while the ''Beast Wars II'' Predacons [[Dirge (BWII)|Dirge]] and [[BB|Max-B]] made appearances in the ''Beast Wars'' prequels "[[Theft of the Golden Disk]]" and "[[Intimidation Game]]", respectively.
:Even after the release of the Japanese Generation 1/Beast Era timeline, new media set in other continuities have chosen to continue depicting characters from ''Beast Wars II'' and ''Neo'' (and even ''Car Robots'') existing side-by-side with the ''Beast Wars'' cast, with such series as ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]'' and the ''[[Transformers Legends (comic)|Transformers Legends]]'' comics set in the "[[Legends World]]" presenting all of them living together in societies and scenarios unique to those series.

*'''The characters in ''Beast Wars II'' travel forward in time to Future Earth just like how the characters of ''Beast Wars'' travel back in time to Prehistoric Earth.'''
:Seemingly an offshoot of the above misconception, this appears to have been born out of a misinterpretation of a scene in the [[The New Forces Arrive!|first episode]]. When the Maximal starship ''[[Yukikaze (BWII)|Yukikaze]]'' takes off into space, there is a shot where it vanishes in a flash of light and reappears elsewhere within the vicinity of Gaia. Some have mistaken this flash of light to mean that the ''Yukikaze'' traveled through [[unspace|transwarp space]] forward in time to arrive in the future, as if to echo the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s own time-jump to the past in ''Beast Wars''.
:This feels like an attempt to hold on to the belief of the ''Beast Wars II'' cast originating from the same home-time of the ''Beast Wars'' cast, while also aligning with the revelation of Gaia being Earth several tens of millennia after humanity left planet.
:In truth, however, what really happens during the scene in question is that the ''Yukikaze'' simply travels to Gaia with no time travel involved. The ship's disappearance and reappearance in a flash of light was merely the ship going to warp speed, just like many other spacecraft of science fiction.

*'''In ''Beast Wars II'', Apache is a drunkard as part of a Native American stereotype.'''
:[[Apache]] did indeed get drunk in the first episode of the ''Beast Wars II'' cartoon, but only in grief, believing (erroneously) that his earlier actions had caused the death of [[Lio Convoy]] (which didn't happen). He did not get drunk again for the duration of the cartoon, nor did he ever do so in the manga. Outside of that, the Native American stereotype "common" to Japanese fictions is a stoic, silent, and often mystical warrior—none of which could be used to accurately describe Apache at all.
:Amusingly enough, in the sixth installment of the ''Beast Wars II'' manga, ''Lio Convoy'' gets drunk for no apparent reason and ends up trashing Apache's room.

[[File:BWNeo Unicron.JPG|thumb|Looks can be deceiving.]]
*'''In ''Beast Wars Neo'', Unicron was resurrected by possessing the corpse of Galvatron.'''
:This misunderstanding is pretty understandable. In [[Illusion? Lio Convoy|Episode 29]], the coveted [[Angolmois Energy]] is revealed to be the life energy of [[Unicron]], who is successfully resurrected in [[Unicron Revived!?|the very next episode]]. Yet, when he makes his debut, he appears in the form of Galvatron, who had seemingly perished in the [[Farewell! Lio Convoy|final episode]] of ''Beast Wars II''. At first glance, it looks as though Galvatron's corpse had been recovered and used as a vessel to house Unicron's Angolmois Energy, and those who did not understand the Japanese dialogue simply assumed this to be the case.
:However, the Japanese dialogue actually states otherwise. Unicron's resurrected form is not Galvatron's physical body, but is actually an energy body made of Angolmois Energy that Unicron has deliberately shaped into resembling the likeness of Galvatron. He takes this form in an initial attempt to trick Magmatron into thinking that he ''is'' Galvatron, impersonating the deceased Predacon leader before revealing his true identity. After which , he simply decided to continue using Galvatron's likewise as his energy body's default appearance, even using Galvatron's name when transforming between dragon and robot modes.
:Ironically, the misconception of Galvatron's body absorbing the Angolmois Energy as a resurrection vessel is almost exactly what Unicron wanted Magmatron to think, with the difference being that Unicron wanted Magmatron to think that the absorption was for Galvatron's revival instead of Unicron's.

[[File:BWN Blentrons absorbed.jpg|thumb|Unicron absorbs the Blentrons for no reasons related Angolmois Energy]]
*'''The Blentrons are made of Angolmois Energy, and are later absorbed by Unicron to fully complete his resurrection.'''
:In [[End of the Maximals!?|Episode 33]] of ''Beast Wars Neo'', the resurrected Unicron reaches Planet Cybertron in his aim to posses [[Vector Sigma]] and turn Cybertron into his new physical body. However, before touching down on the planet, he battles his way through the entire Maximal space fleet, utterly annihilating it and exhausting much of his power in the process. In his weakened state, he is then nearly destroyed in a fight with Big Convoy. His loyal minions, the [[Blentron]]s, soon come to Unicron's aid and are promptly absorbed by their master.
:Since Angolmois Energy is Unicron's energy, fans who did not understand the Japanese dialogue simply misinterpreted the absorption of the Blentrons as if to say that they too were made up of Angolmois Energy, and that Unicron needed to absorb them to top off the last of his energy needed to complete his resurrection.
:In actuality, the three were absorbed because, in that moment, Unicron had been significantly weakened and needed to replenish his health. Otherwise, he would have been destroyed by Big Convoy's Mammoth Dynamite attack, which almost completely dissipated Unicron's energy body.
:The series didn't actually give any kind of backstory for the Blentrons. While they were creations of Unicron in the manga, no such origin was given in the show. Regardless, the idea of the three being made out of Angolmois Energy was certainly never stated or even suggested, having been born out of this misinterpretation of Unicron absorbing them to save his own life.

====''Beast Machines''====
*'''A ''Beast Machines'' writer said, "Real heroes don't use guns."'''
:''Beast Machines'' was the first (but not the last) ''Transformers'' series to explicitly avoid all hand-held projectile [[weapon]]ry. While the [[Vehicon (BM)|villains]] still had traditional "blasters" mounted on their bodies, some of the [[Maximal|heroes]]' weapons were more esoteric (such as [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]'s energy-web attack, activated by putting her hands on the ground, or [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]]'s gauntlets, powered by absorbing enemy fire). According to story editor [[Bob Skir]], this creative decision was agreed upon between the story editors, [[Fox Kids]], [[Mainframe Entertainment]], and [[Hasbro]],<ref name="Skir">[http://web.archive.org/web/20080222040119/http://bigbot.com/beast-machines-transformers-bob-skir/Beast-Machines-FAQ/Sat_06_Nov_1999.html Archived Q&A from Bob Skir's now-defunct website,] where Skir responds to the gun controversy (question 7).</ref> and it is indeed reflected in the toys as well.

:Note that many Maximals had weaponry that was functionally no different from a "gun"—compare [[Botanica (BM)|Botanica]]'s hip-mounted energy cannons, [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]]'s back-mounted sonic blaster, or Optimus Primal's chest-mounted energy disc launcher to [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]]'s shoulder-mounted ray guns or [[Strika (BM)|Strika]]'s wrist-mounted energy... tossing thingies.

:On his website, Skir also elaborated on his own position as a writer choosing if or how to portray gun use, including this statement: "Our heroes use their wiles and resourcefulness, plus a few cool weapons. Guns? I've never been a fan of them myself, and do not write heroes who need them."<ref>[http://members.aol.com/zobovor/guns.html Article on the fan Dave "Zobovor" Edwards' personal site,] quoting Bob Skir's original gun statement.</ref> Some fans interpreted Skir as condemning ''all'' gun use, even in the real world, no matter the circumstances. This led to the misquote, "Real heroes don't use guns,"<ref>[http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_thread/thread/be5e55a90df944bb/b748601b997b3508#b748601b997b3508 Alt.toys.transformers thread] with the misquote and attendant assumptions right at the start.</ref> which remains a notoriously persistent error in the fandom. Skir, responding to the controversy, said on his site that "there '''are''' heroes who '''do''' need guns (such as the [[Punisher]]). Spider-Man doesn't need guns. Neither does the [[Hulk]]. And neither do Optimus, Cheetor, Black Arachnia{{sic}}, et al."<ref name="Skir" />
:Notably, the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 franchise)|series]] [[Unicron Trilogy|immediately]] [[Movie (franchise)|following]] ''Beast Machines'' did return to classic hand-held gun use among both heroes and villains. However, the later ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]'' series once again eschewed guns, probably because of its younger target audience.

====''Car Robots''====
*'''Unlike the English version, Gigatron (Megatron) has multiple personalities, a different one for each of his modes.'''
:This seems to have arisen from how, in the Japanese version, Gigatron's bat and dragon modes each have their own unique-sounding voice and way of speaking. The Gigabat voice is higher-pitched, a bit dim-sounding, and speaks like how older people used to speak during Japan's Edo period, ending most of its dialogue with "deansu" (であんす). For the Gigadragon mode, Gigatron speaks with a much deeper, angrier, and overall more aggressive-sounding voice. Both of these differ from his much calmer and more "normal" sounding voice in robot mode (which he also used in each of his other modes), and are most noticeable in the first episode, in which Gigatron makes heavy use of both his Gigabat and Gigadragon modes.
:By contrast, the English ''Robots in Disguise'' version gave Megatron one voice for all of his modes, and rewrote his personality to be much more theatrical and ill-tempered. This in turn made his English voice sound like a combination of the two unique Japanese voices, combining the over-the-top aspects of the Gigabat voice with the seething aggression of the Gigadragon voice.

===Live-action film series===
====''Transformers'' (2007)====
[[File:Japaneseflowchart.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Look! No 2007 movie!]]
*'''The movie series takes place in the Generation 1 timeline in Japan.'''
: This is another one of those instances where one TakaraTomy thing, very early in the life cycle of a new ''Transformers'' [[franchise]], will say one thing about said franchise, and then literally ''everything else ever'' will say another.

: When the live-action movie series was getting started, TakaraTomy went live with their "World of Transformers" website. The website timeline appeared to make the rather bizarre claim that the 2007 live-action movie also somehow took place in the Japanese Generation 1 continuity, between ''The Transformers: The Movie'' and ''Transformers 2010'' in the year 2007. However, this was ''not'' reflected by the site's accompanying flow-chart, and was established to not be the case by the [[Source:Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)|''Kiss Players'' timeline]] (which noted that the movie-verse Autobots and Decepticons came from another universe when they appeared in a ''Beast Wars'' crossover). And of course, nothing else ever attempted to make the connection.
{{-}}

*'''''Transformers'' was nearly rated R by the MPAA.'''
: In the spring of 2007, it was reported that ''{{w|Disturbia (film)|Disturbia}}'', a then-upcoming [[DreamWorks]] film starring [[Shia LaBeouf]] and produced by [[Steven Spielberg]], had received an R rating from the {{w|Motion Picture Association of America}}. That film's rating was eventually lowered to PG-13 on appeal, but in the meantime some ''Transformers'' fans became confused and believed that it was ''[[Transformers (film)|Transformers]]'' that had been rated R, leading to some heated discussion on ''Transformers'' message boards.

{{-}}
[[File:MovieCreditsNoBrawl.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Invisible credit.]]
*'''Brawl is named in the credits.'''

: The Decepticon tank, who was named "Devastator" in a subtitle in the movie, ended up being named "[[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]]" in [[Hasbro|Hasbro's]] [[Transformers (2007 toyline)|toy line]]. Both Hasbro and the screenwriters, [[Alex Kurtzman]] and [[Roberto Orci]], have expressly favored the toy's name, referring to the name in the movie as an "error".

: Since the character has a "speaking" line in the movie, some fans claim that the voice actor is named in the ending credits, and the character's name is stated as "Brawl" there. In fact, however, there's no credit ''at all'' for the character, under either name, as he has no voice actor, his "speaking role" being little more than echo-y electronic gibberish.

{{-}}
[[File:BanachekMustacheMan.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|One of these is not like the others.]]
*'''The Decepticons' hologram is Tom Banachek.'''

: Several Decepticons in the movie are seen using a holographic "pilot"/"driver" based on the same short-haired, mustache-clad human with an intense stare, only wearing different clothes to match their respective [[alternate mode]]s. Since [[Tom Banachek]], the head of [[Sector Seven]]'s Advanced Research Division, also sports a mustache, a short-cropped hairstyle and a pretty intense stare, many fans mistakenly believe that the Decepticons' hologram is meant to look like him.

: There are two problems with that. One, the Decepticons' hologram, dubbed "[[Moustache Man]]" in the credits, is played by real-life United States Air Force Major [[Brian Reece]], whereas Tom Banachek is portrayed by established actor [[Michael O'Neill]].

:Two... how would the Decepticons know who Banachek even was to model a hologram after him?

{{-}}

====''Revenge of the Fallen''====
*'''Barricade's return?'''
:A common misconception among fans is that [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade's]] Saleen Mustang alternate mode was spotted on the set of ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', possibly as part of the alleged "disinformation campaign" director [[Michael Bay]] repeatedly insisted he had initiated. In fact, however, a truck transporting three "Barricade" prop vehicles was spotted in Culver City, California, in March 2008, more than ''two months'' before principal shooting for ''Revenge of the Fallen'' started.<ref name="vehspotted">[http://www.superherohype.com/news/transformersnews.php?id=6980 Superhero Hype reporting on the spotting of Barricade vehicles in March 2008]</ref> There's been no indication that this had any significance other than moving the prop cars... someplace. Barricade would not make his reappearance until the ''next'' movie, ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]''.

====''Dark of the Moon''====
*'''Optimus Prime let the Decepticons take over Chicago.'''
:Given the comparatively darker tone—and a decidedly more ruthless interpretation of [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]]—of the first five live-action films when compared to the majority of the ''Transformers'' franchise, one common criticism of ''Dark of the Moon'' was Prime's apparent complacency in the face of the Decepticon attack on [[Chicago]] after the destruction of the ''[[Xantium (DOTM)|Xantium]]''—sometimes interpreted by some fans and critics as him "teaching Earth a lesson" after humanity unanimously agrees to exile Prime's Autobots in the hopes of appeasing [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]] and [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]. This reading of the film seems to misinterpret Prime's line of "now your leaders will understand" and "we needed them to believe that we had gone" as Prime having engineered the entire crisis for his own political gain; the second line assuredly refers to the ''Decepticons'', as Optimus and company faking their deaths allowed the heroes to sneak to Chicago and catch Megatron's forces by surprise. Even without the script, Cape Canaveral and Chicago are ''very'' far apart; if we assume that the Autobots hightailed it to Chicago seconds after splashing down in the Atlantic, it would ''still'' take them about eighteen hours to get there, a time discrepancy that more or less matches up with the way events play out onscreen.

====''Bumblebee''====
*'''Bumblebee is a reboot, and is separate from the rest of the "Bayverse"'''.
: ''[[Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee]]'' was initially conceived as a straight prequel to the ''Transformers'' films, chronologically falling between the [[World War II]] flashback sequences seen in ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight]]'' and the 2007 ''Transformers'' film. However, the movie was hastily retooled relatively late into production, tweaking the film's opening to show Bumblebee arriving on Earth in the 1980s, and, as a result, became more-or-less irreconcilable with both the information given by the ''The Last Knight'' and the various prequel comics that had gone before. Likely due to a combination of wishful thinking and resentment of the Bay films, members of the fandom and various mainstream nerd sites quickly jumped on the idea that ''Bumblebee'' was now a "reboot" of the film series as a whole, similar to the {{w|Marvel Cinematic Universe}}'s interpretation of [[Spider-Man]] vs. his prior two cinematic outings—though both [[Hasbro]] and [[Paramount Pictures]] have been fairly mum on just how ''Bumblebee'' and the five prior Bay films will fit together moving forward: the closest we've gotten to a conclusive answer is that the film represents the start of a "new storytelling universe," <ref>[https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2467064/looks-like-bumblebee-is-officially-the-start-of-a-new-transformers-movie-universe "Looks Like Bumblebee is Officially The Start Of A New Transformers Movie Universe]</ref> which is... a pretty ambiguous statement, to say the least. Other fiction, such as the ''[[Sector 7 Adventures: The Battle at Half Dome]]'' comic included with the home media release of the film, has continued to tie the events of ''Bumblebee'' to the rest of the live-action film series, suggesting Hasbro is at least maintaining its prequel status for now.

: This vaguery has only continued in the lead-up to ''[[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts]]'', with the only official statement being their desire to avoid the "timeline" of the first five films. This is almost certainly meant to refer to the time''frame'' of the preceding films' events, with Rise of the Beasts being yet another prequel story set before the 2007 film, rather than any kind of alternate timeline. Either way, for the moment, we're no closer to a definitive answer.

===''Animated''===
*'''The Japanese dub of ''Transformers Animated'' presents it as a prequel to the live-action movies.'''

: This appears to have ''some'' basis: back in March 2010, the then-recent edition of ''[[TV Magazine]]'' published some early pre-release information about the Japanese dub of the [[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|''Animated'' cartoon]]. Among the details announced was the name-change of [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] to "Ironhide", and changing his character to be closer in personality to [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] from the [[live-action film series|live-action movies]]. The article allegedly also claimed that because [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] was not Supreme Commander of the Autobots in ''Animated'', the cartoon would be "set chronologically before the live action movies".<ref name="tvmagani">[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/animated-8/latest-edition-of-tv-magazine-reveals-new-transformers-animated-japan-details-169265/ TFW2005 reporting on ''TV Magazine'' article about the Japanese dub of the ''Transformers Animated'' cartoon], March 2010.</ref>

: In actuality, however, not much of this has been reflected in the dub itself: aside from the aforementioned renaming of Bulkhead into "Ironhide", there's nothing in the Japanese dub that ties the ''Animated'' cartoon any closer to the live-action movies than its American counterpart.

: It is worth noting that TakaraTomy chose to use the movie-style branding for ''Animated'' products, rendering the "Transformers Animated" logo in the gray steel look used for the movies.

===Aligned===
*'''The High Moon Studios games are part of G1.'''
{{quote|We really did look very closely at Generation 1 stuff and tried to capture what for us was the essence of the characters.|[[Sean Miller]], Director Character and Animation|[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2009/12/21/transformers-art-video.aspx Gameinformer interview]}}
:With its designs aiming at a video gamer audience who grew up with [[The Transformers (franchise)|Generation 1]], the development team for ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|War for Cybertron]]'' took a great deal of inspiration from the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original cartoon]] for such things as characters and the design aesthetic for [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].<ref>[http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2009/12/21/transformers-art-video.aspx Gameinformer interview]</ref> A [[Commercial#War for Cybertron|commercial]] even depicted Shockwave ordering Soundwave to play [[The Touch|a song]] made famous by the [[The Transformers: The Movie|original animated movie]]. Furthermore, War for Cybertron toys were sold as part of the ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' toyline that featured Generation 1-styled characters. These factors led many to believe the game was actually part of Generation 1.

:To be fair, there was and is virtually no information available to the average fan that ''War for Cybertron'' is not part of Generation 1. Hasbro has essentially been folding ''War for Cybertron'' into their modern continuity, and have been informing dedicated fans of this fact through [[Hasbro Q&A|question and answer sessions]].<ref>"The official story of the original 13 and specifically Alpha Trion has not been explored fully in the modern continuity that Transformers War for Cybertron, Exodus, and Prime are a part of." [[Hasbro Q&A/September 2010: Answers]]</ref> The [[Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic)|''War for Cybertron'' comic adaptation]] and [http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/play/details.cfm?guid=7fd5ecd9-19b9-f369-1041-a7635be83172 online timeline] actually are adaptations from ''[[Transformers: Exodus]]'', which is the basis for the new modern continuity fiction.

:Canonically, both WfC and its sequel ''Fall of Cybertron'' are in the Aligned continuity, but beyond suggestions and mandatory changes from Hasbro, High Moon Studios doesn't seem to care about Hasbro's declarations of canon. In the art book for the sequel to WfC, ''[[The Art of Transformers: Fall of Cybertron]]'', the only influences of the concept art and designs mentioned are G1 related. Dreamwave, the original cartoon, and other concepts and ideas from Generation 1 are cited, but the fact that Cliffjumper's head is based off of ''Prime'' Cliffjumper's is not mentioned, nor are the modifications to Optimus Prime's gun, Megatron's new body, [[Tox-En]], or the other assorted influences from Prime.

:[[High Moon Studios]] has often described the games as prequels to the G1 cartoon. More savvy fans would recognize that the game is generally irreconcilable with the cartoon (or any other Generation 1 continuity for that matter): the circumstances of [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]]'s rise to power would contradict "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]", and Optimus's [[Sentinel Zeta Prime|predecessor]] does not possess the Matrix, unlike his [[Sentinel Prime (G1)#The Transformers cartoon|cartoon counterpart]]. The Autobots left Cybertron because the [[Core]] shut down, not because energy sources were depleted, and characters like [[Jetfire (WFC)|Jetfire]], [[Breakdown (WFC)|Breakdown]], [[Cyclonus (WFC)|Cyclonus]], the [[Aerialbot (WFC)|Aerialbots]], and [[Trypticon (WFC)|Trypticon]] wouldn't be on Cybertron or even ''exist''. Additionally, the game draws inspiration from other continuities, including characters not from Generation 1 like [[Slipstream (WFC)|Slipstream]] and [[Demolishor (WFC)|Demolishor]]. The game does share a lot of similarities with Dreamwave's ''[[War Within (franchise)|War Within]]'' series (where Jetfire and Trypticon are present), but it cannot take place in that continuity either.

==Companies==
===Marvel Comics===
*'''John Romita designed the Generation 1 character models.'''
:The rumor here comes about through a misreading of the credits to ''[[The Transformers Universe]]''. Legendary Marvel Comics artist John Romita, Sr. was listed as "Art Director", leading readers to assume that he was in charge of designing or developing the various [[character model]]s used in the series (and reprinted in said comic). However, Romita was actually the Art Director for Marvel Comics as a whole at the time. The majority of the character models were in fact done by [[Floro Dery]], who went uncredited.<ref>See [http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/01/11/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-85/ Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed] for more information.</ref>

===TakaraTomy===
*'''Takara was taken over by Tomy.'''
:In 2005, it was announced that Takara, longtime Japanese manufacturer/distributor of Transformers toys, and former competitor Tomy would merge into a new company, named [[TakaraTomy]], as of [[March 1]], 2006. Some fans misinterpreted the media coverage, believing that Takara had been bought out by rival Tomy. This was not helped by official press releases declaring Tomy the "surviving company", Tomy having the majority of shares, and the merged company simply going by the name "Tomy" outside Japan.
:The name issue is easily explained, as it was done for purely pragmatic reasons. "Tomy" is an internationally established brand, since the company already had divisions in many other countries prior to the merger, and distributed their toys under their own name there. Takara, meanwhile, had mostly abandoned ventures into international markets years ago, and had its products distributed through other companies (such as [[Hasbro]]) instead. Therefore, the merged company decided to use the better-known name for its international business, while it would continue as "TakaraTomy" within Japan itself.
:Now, as for the specifics of the merger... Although the merger ratio was set at 0.356 of a Tomy share for each Takara share (including a split of Tomy's stock), and the companies announced a layoff of 15% of their combined workforce mostly on the Takara side, the term "merger" (as compared to "take-over") was prominently used in all the official announcements by the two companies, and twisting tiny details into a de facto "takeover" of Takara by Tomy is effectively splitting hairs.

*'''e-Hobby is owned by Takara (TakaraTomy).'''
:The [[e-HOBBY]] shop is owned by Part One, Ltd. Although the company has had close ties with Takara for decades, the online store also sells toys by other companies, primarily TakaraTomy's rival [[Bandai]].
:The online store ''directly'' owned by TakaraTomy, meanwhile, is [[TakaraTomy Mall]] (formerly Toy Hobby Market).

===IDW Publishing===
*'''Hasbro pays IDW to publish comics for them, and profit directly from the comics selling well.'''
:Presumably stemming from the fact that most Transformers ''cartoons'' are commissioned by Hasbro in order to advertise their toys, a lot of fans are under the impression that Hasbro pays IDW Publishing and other licensees to produce ''Transformers'' comics for them. This is the exact opposite of how licensed comics work; IDW pays Hasbro for the privilege of publishing ''Transformers'' comics, and IDW keeps all the profits outside of that licensing fee. As such, Hasbro doesn't have any particular investment in the comics selling well, other than their indirect effects on toy sales and potential negative press caused by "failing" comics; all that matters to Hasbro is that they sell well enough that IDW keep paying for the license.

*'''The [[Hasbro Universe]] was pushed on IDW by Hasbro.'''
:While Hasbro is mostly hands-off with IDW's comics, one of the terms of the license is that IDW needs to work with Hasbro to do [[To sell toys|occasional promotion]] for new and upcoming toys; this most obviously took place with events such as [[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]], [[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]] and [[Titans Return (comic)|Titans Return]] — and, if we're being honest, has resulted in some of the less popular arcs from "phase 2" of IDW.<ref>[[James Roberts]] has apologised on multiple occasions for Dark Cybertron, which says a lot.</ref> As such, when IDW announced that they were bringing [[G.I. Joe (franchise)|several]] [[Rom|other]] [[Action Man|Hasbro-]][[M.A.S.K. (franchise)|owned]] [[Micronauts|franchises]] into their [[2005 IDW continuity|acclaimed Transformers universe]], a lot of fans assumed that this was the result of another Hasbro mandate, especially given their stated desire to have a "Transformers {{w|Marvel Cinematic Universe|Cinematic Universe}}." It also bore a startling resemblance to the shuttered plans to use the [[Aligned continuity family]] to launch a shared universe, even sharing the name of [[Unit:E]]. However, the creative teams involved were open from the start about the decision being an internal one that IDW had to ask Hasbro for permission to do.
:Reportedly, the decision stemmed from IDW obtaining multiple additional Hasbro licenses, and [[Chris Ryall]] and [[Christos Gage]] suggesting that G.I. Joe appear in their ''ROM'' comic; this led to [[John Barber]] bringing up [[Andrew Griffith]]'s suggestion that IDW's ''G.I. Joe'' universe could fit "between" big ''Transformers'' events, which led to all of them suggesting to [[Cullen Bunn]] that the Earth that the [[Micronaut]]s visited be the ''ROM''/''Transformers''/''G.I. Joe'' one... and, well, it all spiralled from there. Hasbro were apparently very on board with the idea, but it was far from something that they pushed onto unwilling creators.

*'''The Hasbro Universe comics are responsible for the ending of the 2005 IDW continuity.'''
:Given that IDW announced that they were concluding their [[2005 IDW continuity|main continuity]] less than two years after the VERY controversial Hasbro Universe was first announced, a lot of fans were under the impression that the shared universe, and the relaunch of [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|''The Transformers'']] and [[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|''More than Meets the Eye'']] into ''[[Optimus Prime (comic)|Optimus Prime]]'' and [[The Transformers: Lost Light|''Lost Light'']], were responsible for tanking sales to the point that IDW decided that it would be more profitable to reboot.
:However, the reason that those titles were relaunched in the ''first'' place is that their sales were on an unsustainable downwards spiral; and, other than a brief sales spike for the [[Dissolution Part 1: Some Other Cybertron|first]] [[New Cybertron Part 1: To Walk Among the Chosen|issues]] of the relaunched series, the relaunch did pretty much nothing to the sales trends, which continued to decrease at the same level as they had from around the 51st issues to the relaunch.<ref>[https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/670-general-comics-discussion/page-60#entry3661883 Sales chart of the Phase 2 IDW ongoings]</ref> While the Hasbro Universe titles generally didn't sell ''great'', they didn't affect the sales of the ongoing ''Transformers'' series.

*'''Chris Ryall was kicked out of IDW because he conspired to break Hasbro mandates.'''
:He ''really'' wasn't, guys. In fact, he was [http://hasbrouniverse.libsyn.com/interview-chris-ryall outright surprised by the idea that this was a rumor going around].

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20121116134912/http://tfarchive.com/creative/showentry.php?s=522 Ten popular but incorrect rumors about Japanese Transformers, retrieved November 16, 2012] (archived)

[[Category:Fandom]]
[[Category:Lists]]

Overbite (G1)

2021-09-15T13:55:33Z

Timrollpickering: /* Notes */ #327

{{factions|decepticon|predacon|unicron}}
{{disambigm|Overbite (disambiguation)|Jawbreaker}}
:''Overbite is a [[Decepticon]] [[Seacon (G1)|Seacon]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:G1Masterforce Overbite cardart.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Also known as "Bruce".]]
'''Overbite''' (aka '''Jawbreaker''') is a relentless hunting machine. His name strikes fear into the processors of any seagoing [[Autobot]]. Though Overbite loves a good hunt, he's not wholly obsessed with the occupation. He enjoys taking time off, but in his own special way: sinking [[oil tanker]]s and picking off the drowning [[human]]s for sport.

He can combine with his fellow Seacons to form [[Piranacon (G1)|Piranacon]].

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:Salvage jawbreaker.JPG|upright=0.85|thumb|My name is Jawbreaker, dammit!]]
''When [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]'s Earthbound Decepticons established their new undersea base, Jawbreaker and his [[Seacon (G1)|Seacon mates]] were summoned from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to work on the base's fortifications, as they were uniquely suited for underwater activity. They got more than they bargained for when the super-Decepticon [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] came a'calling. In the battle, [[Seawing (G1)|Seawing]] and Jawbreaker managed to momentarily stun Galvatron, but in the end even the combined might of [[Piranacon (G1)|Piranacon]] couldn't beat him.'' {{storylink|Enemy Action!}}

''Jawbreaker liked his name very much! Unfortunately, Shockwave decided to rename him "Overbite". He got very sad about this and likes to make it clear what his ''real'' name is; the other Seacons still think of and call him Jawbreaker. Fight the man, guys!'' {{storylink|City of Fear!|#164's Grim Grams}}

''When bazillionaire [[Richard Branson]] (or [[Mister Johnson]]) had the rusted-together remains of [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and [[Centurion (Marvel)|Centurion]] dredged up from the [[Thames|River Thames]], Jawbreaker (minus his [[beast mode]] arms and legs!) swam in to bite through the barge-chains. This allowed [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]], and [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] to attach their own cables to the pair and haul them away for Shockwave to experiment on.'' {{storylink|Salvage!}}

''At some point, the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] shot down [[Dreadwing (G1)|Dreadwing]] over the ocean while he was carrying a vital power source. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] and the Autobot [[Powermaster]]s descended to retrieve it but were ambushed by Overbite and the Seacons, who had the upper hand in their home environment. During his initial approach, Overbite was caught off-guard by [[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]] dropping in on top of him, but recovered in short order to attack [[Getaway]]. Prime then ordered [[Hi-Q]] and the other [[Nebulan]]s to take the power source and return to the surface, but with that gone the Seacons decided that rather than press their advantage against the Autobots, they couldn't afford to let [[Hi-Test (G1)|Hi-Test]] and [[Throttle (G1)|Throttle]] drown and rescued them instead.'' {{storylink|Dreadwing Down!}}

[[File:Overbitesharkclubcon.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Oh, THERE'S my limbs!]]
''After Shockwave was deposed, the new commander [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] kept the Seacons on retainer for another mission.'' The Seacons were commissioned to hunt down a sunken shipwreck in the water around the Decepticon undersea base, a wreck which supposedly contained two Autobot cassettes with valuable information encoded on them. They successfully obtained the treasure chest containing the cassettes and, despite a brief theft by the Autobot [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], managed to recapture the prize and return it to their leader. {{storylink|Club Con!}}

The cassettes were decoded, leading to both Ratbat and [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] learning about the [[Underbase]], a powerful Cybertronian artifact headed for Earth. Ratbat relocated his troops to the Arctic, only to be apparently found by an enemy force. Overbite was among the troops who reacted to the invasion alert being sounded, and combined with his fellow Seacons to meet this threat. Their visitors turned out not to be Autobots as they had anticipated, but another group of Decepticons led by [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]]. Through subtle manipulations, Starscream managed to pit both groups against one another, culminating into a [[Decepticon Civil War]]. While Overbite was busy battling the likes of [[Bomb-Burst (G1)|Bomb-Burst]], Starscream snuck off to claim the power of the Underbase for himself. {{storylink|Cold War!}} The Decepticons eventually caught on that they were being duped, and called for a cease-fire. Joining forces with the Autobots, they headed into space to stop Starscream from seizing ultimate power. They were only partially successful, and Starscream absorbed enough of the Underbase's energies to attain might beyond reason. Several squads were formed to combat the Seeker as he rampaged across the Earth, with Overbite being stationed in [[New York City|Manhattan]]. He and the Seacons attacked Starscream in unison after he had been pushed into the waters beneath the Brooklyn Bridge, but they were destroyed in a single energy discharge. {{storylink|Dark Star}}

=====Earthforce=====
{{earthforcefiction}}
Sometime later, Megatron traveled back in time and possessed the body of Seacon leader [[Snaptrap (G1)|Snaptrap]] during the [[Underbase Saga]], in an attempt to save them in the past to bolster his troops in the present. He failed due to the intervention of [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]], and the Seacons met their fate as before. {{storylink|Flashback!}}

====''Transformers Comic-Magazin''====
The characteristics of Overbite and the other "Small Targetmaster Seacons" were reviewed by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] in a simulation watched by [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]]. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 15|Memories of Bumblebee}}

====''Classics''====
{{noteclassics}}
After the Seacons were revived following their destruction at the hands of Starscream, Snaptrap rose quickly in the ranks of the Decepticons under Bludgeon's command. As a result, Overbite was named sub-commander of the Seacons, and frequently governed the team in Snaptrap's absence. {{storylink|Transformers Timelines (toyline)#2008|Seacons ''Timelines'' Profiles}}

When [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] detected an apparent traitor in his organization, he assembled Snaptrap, Overbite and the Seacons to face the betrayer. Unfortunately, their target was [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Grrr]], leader of the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcon]]s, and Terrorcons stick together. Literally. As [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] formed inside the Decepticon armory, Overbite and his men took aim at the giant's weak points, but were unable to break up the combination robot. The Seacons then switched tactics, forming their own giant warrior, Piranacon. Overbite remained separate from his fellows and, after the initial bout of grappling and melee, lept into the fray in his stormsurge cannon mode, blasting Abominus in the face with a foot-wide blast of corrosive fluid.

The enraged behemoth continued fighting back, knocking Piranacon to the floor. [[Nautilator]] slipped free from the combination form and joined Overbite behind Abominus. The smaller warriors were beneath Abominus's notice until they concentrated their firepower on his lower leg, bringing him down. As Overbite and Nautilator reconnected with Piranacon, the latter shifted into weapons mode and further disabled Abominus with a blast from his torpedo cannon. One final swipe from Piranacon's coral blade, and Abominus was finished.

Believing the imminent battle with Megatron's Decepticon forces was compromised, Bludgeon summoned the Seacons to his command centre to prep for the attack. Bludgeon was so enthralled with analyzing the attack pattern of Megatron's incoming ships that he failed to notice the Seacons merge once more. The real traitors, they formed Piranacon and obliterated Bludgeon using their mass compression cannon before alerting Megatron's forces that the area was secure. {{Storylink|At Fight's End}}

As the universe was obliterated, Overbite was aboard the ''[[Talon (Classics)|Talon]]'' which was pulled into an [[Primax -408.24 Epsilon|alternate universe]]. The ''Talon'' crashed on prehistoric [[Earth]] where the ambient [[energon radiation]] required the Seacons to adopt experimental energon-absorbing armor. {{storylink|Shattered Time}} Overbite was with Megatron when the Decepticon leader activated three new Decepticons from [[stasis pod]]s. He and the others were blasted by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] after the newcomers failed to terminate the Autobots. {{storylink|Shattered Expectations (BWSG)|Shattered Expectations}}

The Decepticons pursued the Autobots to a chasm, where they watched Megatron take on Ultra Magnus and be defeated. They climbed to the bottom of the chasm to retrieve their fallen leader and found a giant face hewn into the rock. It cheered Megatron up immensely once they dug him out of the rubble. {{storylink|Shattered Paths}} Overbite and the others watched Megatron utilize the equipment in the cavern they'd found. The Seacons later attempted to retrieve the "Maximal" energy purifier, and merged into [[Piranacon (G1)#Classics|God Neptune]] so they could fight off [[Magnaboss (BW)|Magnaboss]]. {{storylink|Shattered Hope}} The Predacons including Overbite accompanied Megatron as he used the giant mech he'd built to try and claim the matrix the Maximals had found. {{storylink|Shattered Balance}} Combining into God Neptune once more, the Seacons battled the Maximals until they were all sucked into a dimensional rift thanks to Ultra Mammoth. {{storylink|Shattered Destiny}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{NoteRG1}}
After his defeat at Starscream's hands during the [[Underbase Saga]], Overbite was resurrected and lobotomised by Megatron as part of his [[zombie]] army of "Ex-Bots". In [[2012]], when the [[Autobot]]s arrived from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to confront Megatron he ordered Overbite and the other zombies to attack them. In retaliation, [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] called dibs on shooting Overbite. {{storylink|Loose Ends, Part 5|Loose Ends #5}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
In the form of Piranacon, Overbite and the Seacons battled [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] in the [[Gladiator Zone]] before joining [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]]'s new army of Decepticons. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 2|The Art of War #2}} Still in combined form, they subsequently helped their new leader capture a few Autobots and [[G.I. Joe (team)|Joes]] and attacked [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] at an Autobot peace conference. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 3|The Art of War #3}} Although Piranacon defeated the Autobot giant with the help of some other combiners, he was taken out of action when [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] rammed [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] into his head. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 4|The Art of War #4}}

===''Hearts of Steel''===
[[File:OverbiteInfestation2-1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right]]
Like his fellow Seacons, Overbite was woke from his slumber on the bottom of the ocean by an [[Elder God]]'s [[fish people|servants]] and brought to their underground city. {{Storylink|Infestation 2: The Transformers issue 1|Infestation 2: The Transformers #1}}

{{IDW HOS}}
{{-}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
[[File:Overbite (Universe) box art.jpg|thumb|Hellscream, he is not.]]
The Jawbreaker of [[Primax 1104.30-TW Zeta]] acquired a new body, changing his name to Overbite in the process. He was drawn into the multiversal [[Universe War]], where he became a [[Minion of Unicron (Universe)|Minion of Unicron]]. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/08/02}}
{{-}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
:*''First Appearance:'' [[Sins of the Wreckers issue 2|Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers #2]]
[[File:SinsoftheWreckers2-settledown.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.6|Billy, the theme park shark! Performing tricks for tourists that have paid five bucks ahead!]]
Overbite became part of a secret society known as [[Mayhem Attack Squad|Mayhem]] after the war, using advanced spark signature-shielding techniques and organic alt modes to disguise themselves on Earth. Their agenda was to take out the "ruling class" of both factions and they started with [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]], plotting to expose all his dirty deeds. He stayed lurking inside their mobile base/comrade [[Tidal Wave (G1)|Tidal Wave]], waiting for [[Stampy (BWN)|Stampy]] to bring the [[Aequitas]] [[data slug]], and swam out of Tidal Wave's mouth to bash up [[Stakeout (G1)|Stakeout]] when their cover was blown.

In the resulting fight, Overbite took control of the Mayhem squad: he took the fight to the [[Wrecker]]s and told Tidal Wave to stop bitching. Neither objective succeeded and Overbite was sent into retreat while several Wreckers infiltrated Tidal Wave. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 2|Sins of the Wreckers #2}} The Mayhems returned to fighting the remaining Wreckers until Tidal Wave regained his ability to transform, at which point they retreated into the ocean. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 3|Sins of the Wreckers #3}} On learning that the Wreckers were entering the [[Noisemaze]], [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] ordered Mayhem to enter the dimension and fight them off. Overbite had his reservations, but followed orders and traveled to the crazy dimension to continue the battle with the Wreckers. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 4|Sins of the Wreckers #4}} Tarantulas was defeated in the end, though the members of Mayhem escaped the implosion of the Noisemaze and welcomed former Wrecker [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] into their ranks as they continued their mission. {{storylink|Sins of the Wreckers issue 5|Sins of the Wreckers #5}}

[[File:Mayhem requiem of the wreckers.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8]]
Over the next few years, Mayhem continued to operate on Earth, keeping an eye on the anti-Cybertronian campaigner "Megan Guiglione" and adopting new vehicle modes to blend in with her rallies. During one surveillance mission, the mind-controlled [[Springer (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Springer]] arrived and blasted her, prompting "Megan" to drop her own [[Chimeracon]] disguise and reveal herself as the Decepticon [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]]. Realizing that their cover had been blown, Overbite and the other members of Mayhem transformed to fight Overlord, but were summarily slaughtered by the superpowered Decepticon. {{storylink|Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers|Requiem of the Wreckers}}
{{--}}

==Commercial appearances==
Overbite and the Seacons attacked a [[M.A.R.S.|M.A.R.S. Industries]] submarine deep underwater. They then combined into [[Piranacon (G1)|Piranacon]] to wreak havoc in a city. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Seacons|Seacons commercial}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Legends''===
Overbite and Nautilator attacked a coastal town, hoping to secure some research, but they were seen off by [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] and his team. {{storylink|The B-Team Part Deux}}

[[File:Battle-Tactics-Overbite.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.7]]
===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
Overbite participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He was an Epic character who could be recruited by collecting 500 units of Cybermetal, 250 units of Transmetal, and 50 cores of this character. {{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===''The Transformers''===
[[File:Overbiteg1toy.jpg|upright=2.2|thumb|Overbite, hump that gun!]]
*'''Overbite''' (Seacon, [[1988]])
**''Team ID number'': '''SE1'''
**''Accessories'': "[[Jawbreaker cannon]]", "Tripod Rifle", connector, weapon stand base, Left & right shark-arms

:[[:File:Overbite-instructions.jpg|Overbite transforms into a robotic shark]], albeit one with arms and legs. His "Jawbreaker cannon" can mount underneath his shark mode head. He also has a third [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] mode,<ref>1988 [[Hasbro]] ''Transformers'' catalog</ref> which can be mounted on the weapon stand formed from the "Tripod Rifle" and other accessories, or held in the hand of the Seacons' combined robot. As a [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)#1986 (Scramble City and Transformers 2010)|Scramble City]]-style combiner, he can form an arm or leg to any compatible robot combination; although the [[instructions]] included with the individual Seacons depict him as Piranacon's hand weapon, the art and instructions for the US giftset transferred him to the right arm, replacing the missing Nautilator.

:This toy was sold in Japan as the [[Overbite (Masterforce)|Overbite drone]]. It was also used to make ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars (Japanese toyline)#1998 (Beast Wars II)|Beast Wars II]]'' [[Sea Phantom]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1988/Decepticon/Overbite/overbite.htm More information on Overbite at TFU.info]''

{{-}}
*'''Piranacon''' (Seacon giftset, 1988)
:Overbite was also available in the Seacon box set, along with his teammates [[Snaptrap (G1)|Snaptrap]], [[Seawing (G1)|Seawing]], [[Skalor]], and [[Tentakil (G1)|Tentakil]], but without [[Nautilator]].
{{-}}

===''Beast Wars''===
[[File:BW2-toy SeaPhantom.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|The Ghost Who Bites?]]
*'''God Neptune''' (Ultra, [[1998]])
**''ID number:'' '''D-21'''
**''Accessories'': Left & right shark-arms
:{{note|[[Sea Phantom]] was [[Repurposing|repurposed]] as Overbite in ''[[Beast Wars Shattered Glass]]''.}}

:A [[redeco]] of the [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]] [[Seacon (G1)|Seacon]] Overbite, Sea Phantom transforms into a robotic shark with limbs. However, he lacks the rifle and stand-pieces of the original version of the mold. He was available only as part of the God Neptune gift set with his teammates. Since he uses the [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)#1986 (Scramble City and Transformers 2010)|Scramble City]]-style of combination, he can form the arm or leg to any combined robot of similar construction, but his nominal place is as the right arm of God Neptune.

:For unknown reasons, a great number of unboxed God Neptune sets—lacking ''all'' of their accessories, including combiner parts and Sea Phantom's shark-arms—ended up available on the secondary market. These went for considerably less than the "complete" releases, naturally.

:This mold was used to make the ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)#1988 (Super-God Masterforce)|Masterforce]]'' Seacon drone [[Overbite (Masterforce)|Overbite]]. It was also slated to be released as ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' Overbite, as part of an [[exclusive]] [[Piranacon (G1)|Piranhaking]] multi-pack that was eventually released as ''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' Piranacon.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1998/Destron/SeaPhantom/seaphantom.htm More information on Sea Phantom at TFU.info]''

===''Universe'' (2003)===
[[File:Universe Overbite toy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Overbite with Repugnus''' (Ultra, [[2006]])
**''Accessories'': 2 missiles

:Overbite, who transforms into a cyborg shark, was available in a two-pack with [[Repugnus (G1)#Universe (2003)|Repugnus]]. An extensive [[retool]]ing of the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Cybershark#Beast Wars|Cybershark]] mold, Overbite is essentially ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars (Japanese toyline)#1998 (Beast Wars II)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Starscream (BWII)#Hellscream|Hellscream]] with fewer paint applications and a Decepticon insignia on the right of his chest. The [[beast mode]] head may be used as a hand-weapon, and the tail turbine has a spring-loaded mechanism for the included missiles.

:This set was originally slated to be available as part of the ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' line's general retail Ultra assortment, but the sudden discontinuation of ''Universe'' as a general retail line resulted in a large amount of already produced sets taking up space in one of Hasbro's warehouses. Hasbro eventually struck a deal with [[Target]], who agreed to pick up this set as an exclusive, along with the two other canceled ''Universe'' Ultra two-packs of [[Hightower (Universe Ultra)#Universe (2003)|Hightower]]/[[Long Haul (Universe Ultra)#Universe (2003)|Long Haul]] and [[Bonecrusher (Universe Ultra)#Universe (2003)|Bonecrusher]]/[[Scavenger (Universe Ultra)#Universe (2003)|Scavenger]].

:This toy also doubles as the independent ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]'' character [[Overbite (BWU)|Overbite]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Decepticon/Overbite/overbite.htm More information on Overbite at TFU.info]''

===''Timelines''===
[[File:Overbitetimelinestoy.jpg|upright=2.2|thumb|The years haven't been kind to this mold.]]
*'''Piranacon''' (Seacon giftset, [[2008]])
**''Accessories'': "Jawbreaker cannon", "Tripod Rifle", connector, weapon stand base, Left & right shark-arms

:A [[redeco]] of the Generation 1 mold above, ''Timelines'' Overbite was available exclusively as part of an [[Transformers Collectors' Club|Official Transformers Collectors' Club]]-[[exclusive]] giftset containing all six Seacons in new color schemes. He is once again depicted as the hand weapon of the combined super robot, this time a [[Stormsurge Cannon]].

:This toy was originally intended as a Wal*Mart exclusive set of ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]''-series [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]], but was shelved due to a lack of retailer interest. The team were to be called the Piranhacons and their combined form would have been Piranhaking, but this other Overbite's name would have remained Overbite.

:Many ''Timelines'' Overbites suffer from quality-control problems that keep him from using his Jawbreaker cannon in two of three modes. The larger pegs just don't fit well anymore.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Decepticon/TFCCOverbite/overbite.htm More information on ''Timelines'' Overbite at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Transformers'' (2010)===
[[File:TF 2010 Overbite toy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Decepticon Piranacon''' (Seacon giftset, [[2010]])
**''Accessories'': "Jawbreaker cannon", "Tripod Rifle", connector, weapon stand base, Left & right shark-arms

:Overbite comes packaged in the [[BigBadToyStore|Big Bad Toy Store]] exclusive Piranacon set transformed as Piranacon's gun. The main notable difference between this issue and his original release is that the purple components are cast in a much lighter color, nearly (but not quite) matching the magenta components.

:The mold issues with the Jawbreaker cannon are still present, at least with regards to the gun's double-post, whose 5mm portion is too narrow to stay in Overbite's 5mm peghole on some issues of the figure.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2010/Decepticon/BBTSOverbite/overbite.htm More information on 2010 Overbite at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Kre-O''===
[[File:KreO-Toy Overbite.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|He has no nose because he accidentally bit it off.]]
*'''Piranacon''' w/ [[Nautilator]], Overbite, [[Snaptrap (G1)|Snaptrap]], and [[Tentakil (G1)|Tentakil]] Kreons

:Overbite comes as part of the Piranacon [[Micro-Changer]] combiner set, and can be rebuilt from his robot mode into a shark. He can also contribute his bricks to form Piranacon. He shares his shark head with [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] (though Sharkticon doesn't use it as a helmet) and his gun was originally made for [[Bumblebee (Kre-O)|Bumblebee]].

:Some packages of Piranacon contained a duplicate Overbite rather than a Tentakil.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Decepticon/Kre-OOverbite/overbite.htm More information on Overbite at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

===''Generations''===
[[File:Generations-Selects-Overbite.jpg|upright=1.8|thumb]]
*'''Seacons Overbite''' ([[March 28]], [[2020]])
**''Accessories'': Laser gun, sword, combiner hand/gun mode handle, hand gap filler/gun
{{note|''Generations Selects'' [[Overbite (Masterforce)#Generations|Overbite]], and the other [[Seacon (Masterforce)|Seacons]], were sold through Hasbro Pulse under both their Japanese and American names.}}

: ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)#Selects|Generations Selects]]'' Overbite is an extensive redeco and minor retool of ''[[Power of the Primes (toyline)|Power of the Primes]]'' Deluxe Class [[Rippersnapper (G1)#Generations|Terrorcon Rippersnapper]], changing the colors, beast mode legs and heads while transforming from a robotic shark-monster to a robot. He is able to form any limb for King Poseidon. Like other ''Generations Selects'' Seacons, Overbite has newly-tooled Combiner hands with posable fingers. They also form part of the Targetmaster-style gun mode.

:Overbite was released as a [[TakaraTomy Mall]] exclusive in Japan. The Seacons were also available via [[Hasbro Pulse]] and other online retailers in the U.S. and Canada. He was later redecoed as [[Sea Phantom#Generations|Sea Phantom]].
{{POTPRippersnapperMold}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
[[File:JawbreakerComic.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|He can form a team with [[Skalor#Timelines|Archerbot]].]]
*The instructions for Piranacon misspell Overbite's name as "Over Bite".
*In his first appearance in [[Enemy Action!|issue #152]] of the Marvel UK comics, Overbite is referred to by the name "Jawbreaker". This was repeated in his appearance in [[Salvage!|issue #160]] and a ''[[Transformers AtoZ]]'' profile in the [[Transformers Annual 1989]]. Even though this later spawned an [[Misconceptions and urban legends about Transformers|urban legend]] that the Overbite toy was officially released under the name "Jawbreaker" in some European markets, no substantial evidence has ever surfaced to back up this rumor—rather, all evidence points to Overbite having been released under his US name in Europe as well, including the United Kingdom. Several theories have been suggested to explain how this odd alternate name that appears to have been limited to the Marvel UK comics (and their German translations by [[Condor Verlag]] in ''[[Transformers Comic-Magazin]]'') might have come about; however, a definite explanation wouldn't appear until 2016, when a couple of early internal [[character model|model sheets]] were offered on [[eBay]]: Overbite's model sheet has his name crossed out, with "Jawbreaker" written below it.<ref name="modelsheets">[http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/93711-more-unseen-tftm-designs-plus-some-early-colors-and-some-show-design/?p=3191211 Early model sheets] at The Allspark.</ref> This would suggest that he had his name changed at one point during the early planning stages for the 1988 toy and character line-up, but eventually had it changed back to the earlier name prior to the figure's release. Since the same batch of model sheets also refers to the [[Sparkabot]]s as "Sparkler Minibots", another naming anomaly for the Marvel UK comics (and, again, Condor's ''Transformers Comic-Magazin''), it would appear that Marvel UK writer [[Simon Furman]] might have simply been provided with these model sheets (or similar reference materials) with the non-final names on them. The Overbite toy's instructions still refer to his ''weapon'' as a "Jawbreaker cannon", and his weapon mode for Piranacon is called "Jawbreaker weapon" in the Piranacon assembly instructions.
*The name discrepancy was subsequently brought up by a reader in a [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|"Grim Grams" letters page]] in [[City of Fear!|issue #164]], which offers a contemporary confirmation of sorts that the toy ''was'' indeed sold as "Overbite" in the United Kingdom. Furman (as [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]]) came up with a rather unconvincing explanation claiming that Shockwave arbitrarily renamed Jawbreaker "Overbite" when he arrived on Earth, but that everyone would still call him "Jawbreaker". Allegedly, the threat of physical violence from Jawbreaker made Marvel UK use his "real" name.
**To add to the confusion a later [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|"Darn 'n' Blast" letters page]] in [[A Savage Circle|issue #327]] in late 1991 instead stated that Jawbreaker was his British name and Overbite his American name. By this time the toy was no longer on sale and the character had long disappeared from the comic. It would appear the letters page in this era was compiled by someone who did not have a full in-depth knowledge of the franchise.

===Foreign names===
*''French:'' '''Morsure''' (Canada)

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Classics Decepticons]]
[[Category:Fan Club exclusives]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Kre-O Decepticons]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Mayhem]]
[[Category:Minions of Unicron]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Decepticons]]
[[Category:Regeneration One zombies]]
[[Category:Repurposed toys]]
[[Category:Seacons]]
[[Category:Target exclusives]]
[[Category:Targetmasters]]
[[Category:Timelines characters]]
[[Category:Transformers (2010) Decepticons]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]
[[Category:Undersea specialists]]
[[Category:Universe Decepticons]]

Talk:Overbite (G1)

2021-09-15T13:48:51Z

Timrollpickering: /* Overbite/Jawbreaker */

Do we have a category for name changes like this? Jawbreaker, Professor Spark, Cambo, etc? (If not I want one.) Characters that have multiple names that are NOT their international names? Should there be an AKA template?

Should there be a separate category for external-vs-internal renames? (Characters mysteriously renamed something in a fiction, vs. characters that change their names) Where does Silverstreak fall? -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 17:41, 22 January 2007 (UTC)
: I think we'd have to figure out some strict guidelines, so we don't end up putting every Mini-Con in that category who was accidentally called Leader-1. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 17:47, 22 January 2007 (UTC)
::I think it'd have to be systematic, like the Jawbreaker thing.
::And oh-damnit, did I put this in the main article, nto the talk section? -[[User:Derik|Derik]] 17:51, 22 January 2007 (UTC)

==Overbite/Jawbreaker==
According to this letters page, Overbite was sold as Overbite in toy stores in the UK.

[http://transfans.co.uk/comics/186-613016894 UK 164]

Unless someone can provide a packaged image of Euro-release Overbite that calls him Jawbreaker, this is where the facts stand. --[[User:Monzo|Monzo]] 23:36, 17 March 2008 (UTC)

:Hmmmm..... interesting. My memory clearly has Jawbreaker on a card, but I may be getting mixed up with his Tech Specs bio which was published in one of the annuals with his box-art. Nevertheless, he WAS Jawbreaker in UK G1, and this bio only implies that fact, without explicitly stating it. I will edit it accordingly.

::One of the very last letters pages in #327 contradicts this by saying Overbite is his American name and Jawbreaker his British one. By this time the letters page was not written by someone with a huge indepth knowledge of the franchise and there are many "never heard of that" and mistakes in it. [[User:Timrollpickering|Timrollpickering]] ([[User talk:Timrollpickering|talk]]) 09:48, 15 September 2021 (EDT)

==G1 Piranacon gift set issues==
Was there never a full six Seacon giftset? I am aware of the 5 version removing Nautilator (who was dropped in the Italian version btw?) but did the west never get a 6-figure one like Japan? Overbite's different colour scheme as compared to the limbs (Seawing/Nautilator & Skalor/Tentakil) shows that he was always meant for non-limby rifle-ness!

Monstercon from Mars!

2021-07-12T17:50:34Z

Timrollpickering: /* UK printing */ correct letter details

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #45
|prev=The Cosmic Carnival
|next=Ca$h and Car-nage!
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #190–191
|prev2=Dry Run!
|next2=Ca$h and Car-nage!
|title="Monstercon from Mars!"
|image=MarvelUS-45.jpg
|caption=Shouldn't this magazine be wrapped in brown paper, and be ''behind'' the cash register?
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=
|coverdate=October [[1988]]
|writer=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|breakdowns=[[José Delbo]]
|finished art=[[Dave Hunt]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Bill Oakley]]
|editor=[[Don Daley]]
|editorinchief=[[Tom DeFalco]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

'''...and weirder!'''

==Synopsis==
On the set of a really, [[Creepozoids of the Crab Nebula|really bad alien-monster movie]], the FX monster suddenly shorts out and explodes. Director [[Rollie Friendly (G1)|Rollie Friendly]] isn't far behind, as this set-back will cost him weeks of filming. In a meeting with his PR expert [[Mitch Keno]] later that day, Rollie is looking for new ideas when Keno tunes him into a local broadcast by reporter [[Brad Emory]] relating to the [[Transformer]]s.

The [[Autobot]] [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] is finally returning to [[Earth]] with his passengers, the human children nicknamed the [[Spacehikers]]. After setting down at a pre-arranged landing site, Sky Lynx releases his friends to their waiting parents. At first, Sky Lynx is willing to stick around, answer a few questions and pose for pictures. But the anti-robot hysteria of some members in the crowd quickly turns it into a mob, and he is chased away into the sky.

Keno's public relations standpoint is that, even as the villain, robot monsters will not be good for business in movies anytime soon. Instead, he suggest that Rollie check out a mysterious [[Bigfoot]] sighting from ''[[The Inquisitor]]''. With nothing to do until his [[Creepozoid]] prop is fixed, Rollie enlists a camera crew and his two stars, [[Jake Colton (G1)|Jake Colton]] and [[Carissa Carr (G1)|Carissa Carr]], to go creature hunting. After grabbing a local guide in [[North Carolina]] and slipping past the [[National Guard]], Rollie and company run right into the giant [[Skullgrin]], inside his [[pretender|organic shell]].

After a brief "fight", Rollie gets to talking with Skullgrin and offers to pay him in exchange for a movie deal. Thinking back, Skullgrin remembers that he was sent to Earth alone by [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|his commander]] to establish a secret fuel depot for his [[Decepticon]] comrades. With this in mind, he makes the arrangement with Rollie to be paid in fuel for his time. After squaring things over with the National Guard, Rollie and company bring Skullgrin back to [[Hollywood]] for [[Monster from Mars|his big break]].

[[File:MonsterconFromMars Skullgrinmania.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Bigger than Optimus!]]

Skullgrin mania sweeps the country, and as he adjusts to his new role, Skullgrin prepares for his first live press conference. Things go a little crazy when the fleshlings actually ask him questions, but Carissa manages to calm him down in a classic ''[[King Kong]]''/''[[Beauty and the Beast]]'' moment. After the show, Carissa happens across a wheelchair-bound woman who is depressed about not seeing more of Skullgrin, so Carissa lets her in on a little secret: they'll be traveling to the [[Grand Canyon]] for more filming.

As the shooting continues at the Grand Canyon, Rollie calls a break and Skullgrin goes off to talk with Carissa. Once she confesses the sheer horror of her real name, Ethel Stankiewicz, Skullgrin feels the need to confide in her as well, and removes his Pretender shell for the first time. Unfortunately, the "poor woman in the wheelchair" has followed them to the Grand Canyon, and reveals herself as the robot-hating [[Circuit Breaker (G1)|Circuit Breaker]].

As Skullgrin and Circuit Breaker begin to spar with one another, Rollie catches sight of the battle and begins setting up cameras to catch it all on film. Skullgrin swipes his fleshling foe with his vibro saber, and prepares to shrapnel-blast her into oblivion until she manages to radio-override his shell and turn it against Skullgrin. The shell's strike knocks his cannons off-target, shattering the cliffside under Carissa's feet. While Rollie just continues to roll film, the poor actress is about to fall to her death. Skullgrin is willing to let her, as he feels betrayed by Carissa telling Circuit Breaker where to find him, but Josie does her good deed for the millennium and tells him Carissa never did anything to harm him.

As Skullgrin moves the actress to safety, Circuit Breaker overwhelms him with her electro-bolts and is ready to move in for the kill when Rollie yells that he'll pay her double bucks to kill Skullgrin on film for him. Momentarily more disgusted with her own race rather than the Transformers, Circuit Breaker fries Rollie's equipment and takes off, leaving Skullgrin alive but injured at the bottom of the canyon.

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (6)
|c2=
*''[[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]'' (13)
*[[Skullgrin]] (14)
*[[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]] (17)
|c3=
{{collist|2|
*[[Carissa Carr (G1)|Carissa Carr]] (1)
*[[Jake Colton (G1)|Jake Colton]] (2)
*[[Rollie Friendly (G1)|Rollie Friendly]] (3)
*[[Mitch Keno]] (4)
*[[Brad Emory]] (5)
*[[Robin Lindley (G1)|Robin Lindley]] (8)
*[[Jed Lindley]] (9)
*[[Sammy Wainwright|Samuel Wainwright]] (10)
*[[Allan Silver]] (11)
*[[Circuit Breaker (G1)|Circuit Breaker]] (12)
*[[Ralph (cameraman)|Ralph]] (15)
*[[Fred (cameraman)|Fred]] (16)
*[[Herb]] (18)
}}
|c4=
*[[Daisy]] (7)
}}

==Quotes==
"You can't even believe the '''page numbers''' in this rag, Mitch!"
:—'''Rollie Friendly''' doesn't have a high opinion of ''[[The Inquisitor]]''

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
*Skullgrin never once shuts his mouth.

===Continuity errors===
*Skullgrin travels from the [[Semper Tyrannis|Decepticons' ship]] to Earth by just sort of floating out the door in his pretender shell. This carries on the bizarre trend of Fortress Maximus and Scorponok's crews flying to and from planetary surfaces without shuttle craft.

===Continuity notes===
*Ridiculous as it sounds, it's entirely possible that Skullgrin mania swept the country without the Autobots knowing about it. As of US issue #44, all the Autobots of Earth were still trapped on the moon following the departure of ''[[Steelhaven (G1)|Steelhaven]]'' for [[Nebulos]].
*The Spacehikers joined the Transformers cast in "[[Child's Play (issue)|Child's Play]]" and began their return journey to earth in "[[The Cosmic Carnival]]".
*Placards brought to protest Sky Lynx's landing include, "Let 'em Rust", "DOWN with the ROBOT" and "DIE, Robots!" There was also the slightly more creative "Reck the Robots", with the r of 'Reck' also serving as the r for robots.
*In the previous issue, [[Berko]] was a passenger on Sky Lynx along with the Spacehikers, and he expressed some interest in returning to Earth. [[Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?|When we next encounter Berko]], he and Sky Lynx are working as partners, and Berko is contemptuous of humans. It's safe to assume he's on board Sky Lynx during this issue (and just chooses to stay there). One might speculate that the abuse Sky Lynx receives here convinces Berko not to stay on Earth, but this is not explicitly supported by the text.
*Sky Lynx leaving Earth was very fortunate for him, since it means he doesn't get offed during the imminent [[Underbase Saga]].
*This story is recalled in "[[King Con!]]" when [[Iguanus (G1)|Iguanus]] makes fun of Skullgrin for his time as a movie star and calls him a "fleshling-lover" over and over.
*Instead of a regular Transmissions letters page, this issue listed the names of a bunch of contestants from the [[Bot Roster]] and [[Shingo|Spot Shingo]] contests. The list started last issue and continued into the next issue.
*Circuit Breaker's flashback references events primarily from issues [[The Worse of Two Evils!|#6 ("The Worse of Two Evils!")]] and [[DIS-Integrated Circuits!|#9 ("DIS-Integrated Circuits!")]]; the art is copied from issues #6, #8, #9, and #22.
*For some reason, Circuit Breaker rolls around in her wheelchair without her "costume" on - meaning she can only move her head and (partially) one arm. Then when she dons the circuit-tape costume and bursts out of her trenchcoat... there's no other clothes there! Was she just running around in nothing but a trenchcoat like a quadriplegic flasher?
*Sky Lynx mentions [[scraplet]]s.
*Skullgrin is paid in [[G.B. Blackrock|Blackrock]] [[oil]].
*The story ends pretty abruptly, with no real resolution for Skullgrin's career or the human cast. Though since Skullgrin ends the story alive, pissed, and within firing range of Friendly, it probably didn't end well for that guy.

===Real-life references===
*A soldier suggests that a farmer take his complaints to [[Frank Perdue]], a real-life CEO of a chicken business.
*Skullgrin is the cover star of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', ''[[Newsweek]]'', and ''[[People]]''.
*One of the reporters at Skullgrin's press conference is reading an issue of ''Marvel Universe''.
*Sky Lynx returns the children at an unspecified location in [[California]]; the movie crew finds Skullgrin in the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina; the battle with Circuit Breaker occurs at the south rim of the Grand Canyon.
*The implication is that Ethel Stankiewicz, like a number of real-world actors (and Marvel comic creators), has changed her name because it was Jewish and you're not going to get ahead with a name like ''that''...
*Mr. Friendly hopes his movie will be bigger than something called "[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]".

===UK printing===
'''Issue #190'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''[[Visionaries]]'' - "Wings" and ''[[Combat Colin]]''
*'''[[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]:''' [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]
*In ''[[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Dread Tidings]]'', [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] clears up confusion about who is named who in the Powermasters' ad in the UK comics, as well as answering the question of whether Transformers go to sleep.
*An editorial note was added to Circuit Breaker's flashback.
*Several lines of dialog in this issue were changed from the US version for the UK audience. "Nix the close-ups" became "FORGET close-ups" and references to Skullgrin being paid "points" was changed to "bonuses" for the UK version.

'''Issue #191'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]]'' - "Unmaskings" and ''Combat Colin''
*The cover of the comic the reporter at Skullgrin's press conference is reading was changed from an issue of ''Marvel Universe'' to the US cover of "[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]". (This has usually been seen as the US cover for this story but you can juuuust about make out [[:File:MarvelUS-43.jpg|the rocks flying about]]) The image is only partly angled and not correctly aligned to the outline the reporter is holding, but anything to reiterate that story wasn't really UK canon, eh readers?
*In ''Dread Tidings'', Dreadwind covered that [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s lack of UK appearances had been rectified since the letter was written plus stated the citybot was mentioned in the 1987 annual story "[[Ark Duty]]" and continued to tease about the upcoming "[[Time Wars]]".
*This issue includes an ad for ''Death's Head'' #1 that includes a summary of [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]]'s career before he got his own solo series. The ad is worthy of note because it is one of the few times after his leaving its pages that direct reference is made to his adventures in Transformers.

===Covers (3)===
*'''US issue #45 cover:''' Circuit Breaker vs Skullgrin, by [[Bob Budiansky]] and [[Dave Hunt]].
*'''UK issue #190 cover:''' Circuit Breaker and a Skullgrin poster, by [[Stephen Baskerville]].
*'''UK issue #191 cover:''' Skullgrin's shell fighting his inner robot, by [[Art Wetherell]] and Stephen Baskerville.
<gallery>
File:MarvelUS-45.jpg|'''US issue #45''' - If this was made in Japan, it could have gone horribly wrong...
File:MarvelUK-190.jpg|'''UK issue #190''' - The only thing worse than robots — B movies.
File:MarvelUK-191.jpg|'''UK issue #191''' - We always hurt the ones we are.
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
====US====
*Ultra Games - inside front cover
*Freedom Stick (wireless joystick)- between pages 4 & 5
*New England Comics- between pages 5 & 6
*Westfield Comics Subscription Service- between pages 7 & 8
*East Coast Comics- between pages 8 & 9
*Sketchy ads - between pages 16 & 17
*Olympic (sales catalog) - between pages 17 & 18
*Bullpen Bulletins and checklist - between pages 19 & 20
*Sketchy ads - between pages 20 & 21
*[[Letters page|Transmissions]]
*Marvel Comics Subscriptions
*''Forgotten Realms'' (''AD&D'' campaigns) - inside back cover
*Candilicious candy - back cover

===Reprints===
*'''''[[Transformers: Maximum Force]]'' TPB:''' [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]], a [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] gun, the ''Steelhaven'' and half of [[Skullgrin]]'s head, by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''''Maximum Force'' HC:''' Skullgrin, by [[Peter Snejbjerg]].
*'''[[Classic Transformers Volume 3|''Classic Transformers'' Volume 3]]:''' Panels from this issue and US issues [[Child's Play (issue)|#35]] and [[Spacehikers!|#36]]. Art and pencils by José Delbo, pencils by [[Don Perlin]], finishes by Dave Hunt & Don Hudson, inks by [[Ian Akin]] & [[Brian Garvey]], colours by Nel Yomtov.
*'''[[The Transformers Classics, Vol. 4|''The Transformers Classics,'' Vol. 4]]:''' [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]], by [[Guido Guidi]].
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]] Volume 12: Cosmic Carnival:''''' [[Skullgrin]] and the [[Cosmic Carnival]] by [[Don Figueroa]], [[Frank Springer]] and [[Danny Bulanadi]]
<gallery>
File:Titan-MaximumForceSC.jpg|'''''Maximum Force'' TPB''' (Titan Books, 2004)
File:Titan-MaximumForceHC.jpg|'''''Maximum Force'' HC''' (Titan Books, 2004)
File:Classic Transformers Vol3.jpg|'''''Classic Transformers'' Volume 3''' (IDW Publishing, 2009)
File:TFClassicsVol4.jpg|'''''The Transformers Classics,'' Vol. 4''' (IDW Publishing, 2012)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v12.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection Volume 12: Cosmic Carnival''''' (Hachette Partworks, 2018)
</gallery>

[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

The Gift

2021-06-14T20:29:45Z

Timrollpickering: /* Continuity notes */ sp

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #93
|prev=Heavy Traffic!
|next=Decepticon Graffiti!
|title="The Gift"
|image=MarvelUK-093.jpg
|caption=Come with me if you want to BWAH.
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[December 20|20th December]] [[1986]]
|coverdate=[[December 27|27th December]] [[1986]]
|writer=[[James Hill]]
|pencils=[[Martin Griffiths]]
|inks=[[Tim Perkins]]
|colours=[[Steve White]]
|lettering=[[Robin Riggs]]
|editor=[[Ian Rimmer]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''At Christmastime, Jetfire struggles with his place amongst his peers.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:TheGift jetfire and buster.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.75]]
[[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] is spending the [[Christmas]] holidays studying for a test on the [[American War of Independence]] when he is disturbed first by a news report on recent [[Transformer]] activity at a [[Blackrock Enterprises]] [[Blackrock's chemical plant|chemical plant]] in [[Portland]], and then by the appearance of [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] at his window. Jetfire has come seeking Buster's advice on a problem he is having, and begins to tell his story...

''Shortly after the [[Target: 2006|defeat of Galvatron]], the [[Autobot]]s learn that the [[Decepticon]]s have taken over a [[NASA]] facility. [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] and [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] use their vehicle modes to slip past the police cordon surrounding the facility, while Jetfire is kept in reserve as their back-up. The pair discover that [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] is in the process of using the the base's radio telescope to transmit a message to the Decepticons on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. With [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] and [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] barring the two Autobots' way, Prowl contacts Jetfire to come to their aid. Jetfire responds, but caught up in the moment, winds up ignoring Prowl's orders to stop Soundwave, and instead tries to help his comrades. The Decepticons easily evade his attack and quickly escape, leaving an angry Prowl to reprimand Jetfire for giving them the villains time to complete their objective.''

Buster tries to reassure Jetfire that Prowl was just cranky over the loss, but Jetfire insists that Prowl was right about his failure. Jetfire ''knows'' he can do better, and to illustrate, tells Buster the story about the recent chemical plant attack...

[[File:TheGift jetfire vs thrust.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.75]]

''Jetfire and [[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] are at the planet to take delivery of a fresh a shipment of [[Transformer fuel]] from [[G.B. Blackrock]] when they are caught by surprise by an attack from [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] and [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]. The Autobots are quickly overcome, and worse yet, Blackrock realises that a fire started during the battle is in danger of causing an explosion that will flood the atmosphere over Portland with toxic chemical fumes, killing thousands. Hearing this, Jetfire is galvanized into action, easily defeating the Decepticons and putting out the fire with the contents of a water tank.''

Buster congratulates Jetfire on the win, but Jetfire goes on to explain that he believes he reacts smartly and more efficiently when ''[[human]]s'' are in danger, compared to when his fellow Autobots are imperiled, because he was created on [[Earth]]. These experienced having given him cause to worry that, if he was ever forced to choose between helping humans and helping Autobot, he would end up betraying his comrades. Buster tells him not to worry; [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] already knows where Jetfire's loyalties lie, and values his outlook on life, and Jetfire should be proud to think of Earth as his home. Buster tells Jetfire that these words of support are his Christmas gift to the Autobot, and Jetfire takes them to heart, jetting off into the sky with a smile on his face.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (2)
*''[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]'' (3)
*''[[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]]'' (4)
*''[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]'' (5)
*''[[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]]'' (6)
*''[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]]'' (10)
|c2=
*''[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]'' (7)
*''[[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]]'' (8)
*''[[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]'' (9)
*''[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]'' (12)
*''[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]'' (13)
|c3=
*[[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] (1)
*''[[G.B. Blackrock]]'' (11)
}}

==Quotes==
[[File:TheGift standing still.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.75]]
"You're supposed to be able to fly at Mach 4.2—but when Dirge takes off you almost break the world record... '''for standing still!'''"
:—'''Prowl''' takes Jetfire to task

"You're the first of a generation of '''Terran Transformers.''' Earth is your home planet... don't worry about that—be '''proud''' of it!"
:—'''Buster''' reassures Jetfire
{{--}}
==Notes==
===Production notes===
*Following an abortive first attempt in [[Robot Buster!|issue #60]], "The Gift" marks the point at which the UK comic permanently switches from hand-painted colours to using mechanical colour separation. This cheaper method—the customary way in which all American comic books were coloured at the time—involved manually cutting sheets of coloured acetate and overlaying them to create different colours. There were three colours (cyan, magenta, and yellow) and each was available in three levels of opacity (25%, 50%, and 100%), which combined to create a palette of 64 available colours, but which essentially eliminated the ability to create subtler artistic effects the painted colouring had allowed for up to now, like gradiated light and shadow.

===Continuity notes===
[[File:TheGift be proud of it.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.75]]
[[File:TheGift autobot fuel.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.75]]
*Though [[Donny Finkleberg]] has severed his association with the Decepticons as of [[Command Performances!|US issue #19]], a radio news report heard in the first panel of this issue shows at the media still believe him to be responsible for the Transformers.
*Jetfire's refers back to his creation on Earth, and the role Buster played in it, as seen in [[Brainstorm!|US issues #11]]-[[Prime Time!|12]]. While moping about how this makes him different from the other Autobots, Jetfire laments the fact he doesn't "know anything about the [[Primal Program]]" and that he has "never seen the [[Celestial Spires]]," two revered aspects of Cybertronian culture that the comic has seen Transformers typically swear by in moments of shock; the Primal Program was first sworn by in US issue #12, while the Celestial Spires were first sworn by in [[Decepticon Dam-Busters!|UK issue #30]].
*Jetfire also refers back to making "errors of judgement" during the Autobots' battles against Galvatron, as chronicled in [[Target: 2006|"Target: 2006" in UK issue #78-88]].
*Trailbreaker and Jazz are explicitly noted to have been recently repaired following the injuries sustained in the battle with Galvatron's forces (Trailbreaker took a blast from [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] in UK issue #83, while Jazz was lobotomized by Galvatron in UK issue #85). It is, however, a little ''odd'' to see that they've been repaired; over in the US stories, the two characters have been in the repair bay since sustaining injuries in US issue #12, and by taking them offline, "Target: 2006" brought their status in the UK stories into synch with the US... only for them to now be revived only a few issues later. Their resurrections are barely felt outside this issue; the pair effectively vanish from the UK comic after this point (although Jazz can be seen in [[Resurrection!|issue #104]]) and don't reappear until they are brought back in the US stories. All in all, it seems safe to say that if the more continuity-minded regular writer [[Simon Furman]] had penned this Christmas story, Jazz and Trailbreaker wouldn't have been revived.
*Blackrock made a deal to supply the Autobots with fuel (right) in [[DIS-Integrated Circuits!|US issue #9]].
*Jazz remarks that the Decepticon now "have a [[Special Teams|Special Team]] in the field," referring to the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]], who the Autobots encountered [[Heavy Traffic!|last issue]].

===Real-life references===
*Buster is studying the {{w|American Revolutionary War|American War of Independence}}, specifically the {{w|Siege of Yorktown (1781)|Battle of Yorktown}}.

===Continuity and plotting errors===
*Fire safety basics! Putting water on a chemical fire will ''not'' put it out. Instead it'll probably cause a large explosion and make things ''much'' worse.
*Buster says that Jetfire is the "first of a generation of Terran Transformers," but he's wrong; the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] were also built on Earth, and were activated before him.

===Artwork and technical errors===
[[File:TheGift locked in battle.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.75]]
*'''Page 3, panel 7:''' Trailbreaker's pelvis is magenta instead of blue-black. Wheeljack's got red shoulder-wings, a prototypical colour scheme seen in early issues of the comic.
*'''Page 4:'''
**'''Panel 1:''' Jetfire's Autobot insignia is yellow instead of red.
**'''Panel 4:''' The bottom half of Kickback's yellow chest door is left uncoloured white (right).
**'''Panel 5:''' "Soundwave" is misspelled as "Sounwave".
*'''Page 5, panel 1:''' There are some incongruous red panels on the back of Soundwave's cassette-player mode.
*'''Page 6, panel 5:''' Jazz is missing his Autobot insignia.
*'''Page 8:''' Thrust is missing the purple decals on his knees, which are left the same red as the rest of his boots.
**'''Panel 1:''' Bombshell's Decepticon insignia is red instead of purple.
**'''Panel 2:''' Thrust is missing his left arm.
**'''Panels 2, 5, and 6:''' The sides of Thrust's abdomen, as well as his feet, are white instead of grey.
**'''Panel 6:''' Portions of Thrust's pelvis and left arm are incorrectly coloured magenta.
**'''Panel 7:''' The sides of Thrust's abdomen are now coloured red instead of grey.

===Other trivia===
*Despite appearing on the issue's cover, Galvatron plays no part in the story. He does, however, threaten that he'll "be back," and would keep this promise, returning in [[Fallen Angel|issue #101]].
*For this special Christmas issue, the title of the "Transformation" editorial page is (adorably) made up of letter-shaped Christmas puddings, flanked by gift-wrapped Autobot and Decepticon [[insignia]].

===Back-up material===
[[File:TheGift xmas robocapers.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.75]]
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''[[Back-up strips#Spitfire and the Troubleshooters|Spitfire and the Troubleshooters]]'' ("Behemoth," Part 3) and ''[[Robo-Capers]]''
*'''[[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]:''' [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] and [[Blades (G1)|Blades]]; as Beachcomber already had a [[Fact File]] printed in [[The Icarus Theory|issue #45]], a note on the "Transformation" page explains that the A-Z entries are intended to supplant the earlier format, and that some repetition will occur.
*'''Other features:''' Competition to win one of twenty sets of "[[More than Meets the Eye (mini-series)|Arrival from Cybertron]]," "[[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1|Megatron's Master Plan]]," and "[[Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1|Desertion of the Dinobots]]" on VHS from [[Video Gems]]. To enter, readers were shown three speech bubbles (from "[[Dinobot Hunt!]]", "[[Devastation Derby!]]" and "[[Target: 2006]]") and had to identify which Transformer spoke them.
*This issue's ''Robo-Capers'' is another of the small number to feature actual Transformers (right). Continuing the issue's festive theme, it sees two children unwrapping their presents on Christmas morning to find that they have received [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Galvatron (G1)/toys|Galvatron]] toys. After five hours of non-stop battle the kids are called to dinner, at which point the toys come alive and complain about the rough treatment they've suffered.
*This issue's letters page includes a missive from eagle-eyed Alasdair Morrison from Stirling, who, while scrutinizing the [[stock photography]] on [[Octane]]'s toy packaging, has spotted a box of Kodak film being used to prop the figure up, which the designer failed to edit out of the photograph.
{{--}}
===Covers===
*'''Issue #93:''' Galvatron spreading some holiday cheer, by [[Robin Smith]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-093.jpg|The Treebots were a massive failure on the battlefield.
</gallery>

===Reprints===
<gallery>
File:Tfcolcom11.jpg|'''[[Transformers Collected Comics|''Collected Comics'' #11]]''' (Marvel Comics, 1988)
File:TitanSG.jpg|'''''[[Transformers: Second Generation|Second Generation]]''''' (Titan Books, 2004)
File:Classicuk3.jpg|'''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 3|''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 3]]''' (IDW Publishing, 2012)
</gallery>

====Reprint notes====
*This issue was printed out of sequence in IDW's ''Classics UK'' Volume 3, appearing between [[Distant Thunder!|issue #100]] and [[Fallen Angel|issue #101]].
*This issue was accidentally omitted from [[Hachette]]'s [[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection|''Definitive G1 Collection'']].

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gift}}
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Surrender!

2021-06-14T20:29:28Z

Timrollpickering: /* Artwork and technical errors */ that's not the Ark; it's a shuttlecraft

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #71
|prev=The Pri¢e of Life!
|next=...All This and Civil War 2
|title="Surrender!"
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #311–312
|prev2=The Pri¢e of Life!
|next2=...All This and Civil War 2
|image=MarvelUS-71.jpg
|caption=Hey look, a face!
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=August [[1990]]
|coverdate=October 1990
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|penciler=[[Andrew Wildman]]
|inker=[[Stephen Baskerville]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]<ref>[http://www.comicbookdb.com/issue.php?ID=187957 Comic Book Database credits Rob Tokar as the colorist on this issue.]</ref>
|letterer=[[Rick Parker]]<ref>Comic Book Database also credits Nel Yomtov as letterer.</ref>
|editor=[[Rob Tokar]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''Prime finds his cajones, and Zarak finds his soul.'''

==Synopsis==
''Four million years ago, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] is on the [[Jan-Ja|front line]] defending the [[Polities of Cybertron|city-state]] of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. [[Mattock|An Autobot soldier]] tries to tell Prime they are being overrun, and have no choice but to surrender. Optimus asks the soldier for the white flag, but only to bind his wound. Optimus Prime then leaps out of the foxhole and charges the [[Decepticon]] battle line shouting "Never Surrender!"''

[[File:Arkshuttle8.jpg|left|upright=1.5|thumb|"We'll take that nice shuttle too!"]]
[[Powermaster]] Optimus Prime kneels in the rain, in the garbage atop [[New Jersey base|the Decepticon base]], surrendering his crew to [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]]. Naturally, the [[Decepticon]] leader is all too happy to accept and commands his soldiers to divest the [[Autobot]]s of all weapons and toy gimmicks. [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]] is in no mood to go quietly, but Prime insists it's the only option. In his own mind, however, Optimus is just as worried about his decision as Kup.

Scorponok, meanwhile, is having a ball. His warriors were less than pleased with his recent leadership decisions, especially taking [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] under his command and then losing him. Now, though, it seems he's once more back on top... as long as he breaks his word to Optimus Prime and reneges on their potential alliance against [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]].

In the meantime, [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] and Starscream's insurrection army has grown, and Scorponok's present "victory" over all the Autobots has pushed up their plans considerably. With some leisurely applied peer pressure and threats of death, [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] and [[Triggerhappy (G1)|Triggerhappy]] are officially inducted into the Decepticon auxiliary group, and the strike plan begins.

Hours later, Optimus Prime is being guarded in his cell by [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]], and dreams of an alliance with Scorponok seem to be turning to ash before his eyes.

[[File:Surrender! Galvatron attacks Autobase.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8]]
Things are doing little better on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] and [[Hook, Line, and Sinker|Unicron's heralds]] have reached the planet and begun sowing discord in his name, starting with [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]]'s [[Autobase]]. [[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]] convinces Xaaron to take the turbo-lift into the sewers and flee for safety, to form another Autobot rebellion one day if need be. Quickmix and the others remain behind to deal with the attackers.

On [[Earth]], Optimus has had enough of waiting in his cell and slams Soundwave through a wall before making his escape. He breaks out Kup and [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] for assistance, but Kup has had enough and demands Prime give them a good reason why any Autobot should listen to him now. Still, he wouldn't be Optimus Prime if he couldn't make up an impassioned speech on the spot, and Kup agrees to go along.

Nearby, in his war room, [[Zarak (G1)|Zarak]] is beginning to regret tarnishing his honor by rolling over on Optimus Prime as he did. His musings are interrupted by Prime and his Autobots bursting in on the scene. Once again, Optimus attempts to get through to Zarak about the severity of their situation, and this time he succeeds. The alliance is about to be sealed with a handshake when Shockwave and his warriors bomb the base, leaving all inside for dead.

On Cybertron, Xaaron is on the run. The sewers provide him no safe passage. The might of Galvatron is on his trail, and there is no escape...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*''[[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]]'' (1)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (2)
*''[[Mattock]]'' (3)
*''[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]]'' (4)
*''[[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]]'' (5)
*''[[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]]'' (6)
*[[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]] (7)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (8)
*[[Cloudburst]] (15)
*[[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (17)
*[[Getaway]] (21)
*[[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]] (34)
*[[Xaaron]] (35)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] (39)
|c2=
{{collist|2|
*[[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]] (9)
*[[Apeface]] (10)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] (11)
*[[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] (13)
*[[Skullgrin]] (14)
*[[Bomb-Burst (G1)|Bomb-Burst]] (16)
*[[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] (19)
*[[Octopunch (G1)|Octopunch]] (20)
*[[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] (22)
*[[Fangry (G1)|Fangry]] (23)
*[[Horri-Bull]] (24)
*[[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] (26)
*[[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]] (27)
*[[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] (28)
*[[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]] (29)
*[[Triggerhappy (G1)|Triggerhappy]] (30)
*[[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (31)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] (32)
*[[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] (33)
}}
|h4=[[Nebulan]]s|c4=
*[[Recoil (G1)|Recoil]] (12)
*[[Zarak (G1)|Zarak]] (25)
|h5=Others|c5=
*[[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] (18)
*[[Hook, Line, and Sinker]] (36–38)
}}

==Quotes==
"Optimus Prime -- this is madness! We're beaten, defeated! We must surrender before we're all killed!" 
"Do you have the '''white flag?'''" 
"The flag--? Oh, yes, '''the flag! Thank Primus!''' I'll tie it to the front battlements and --" 
"You'll '''bind my wound''' with it, soldier!"
:—An '''Autobot soldier''' learns how '''Optimus Prime''' rolls

"We're '''Autobots!''' We '''never''' give ground and we '''never, never surrender!'''"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' sounds the Autobots' rallying cry

"'''Scorponok''' -- in the name of the '''Autobots''', I... '''''I surrender!'''''"
:—Four million years later, '''Optimus Prime''' lays it all down in pursuit of a greater goal

"I'll make it real simple for you. You've seen and heard '''too much!''' If you want out, you go '''feet first!'''"
:—'''Starscream''' applies his usual charisma to persuade a doubtful Mindwipe

"Thank you for your... hospitality, Soundwave."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' exercises some rarely-heard sarcasm.

"I know I am asking '''much''', my Autobots, but hear me out before you decide! All our lives we have been bred to '''fight''', to struggle, to '''never''' give ground. It's '''ingrained''' in us! But that's with a '''normal''' enemy, a foe in '''our league!''' Unicron is '''neither!''' It's difficult to believe a single foe '''exists''' that we cannot vanquish through earnest effort and guts, but Unicron is powerful beyond measure, a '''fallen god!''' To stand a '''chance''' we must do the most difficult thing of all -- '''nothing!''' This surrender is not an act of '''cowardice''' on our parts... it requires the '''greatest courage of all!''' Will you stand '''with''' me, '''help''' me see it through?"
:—When it comes to motivational speeches, nobody can top '''Optimus Prime'''

"'''Foolish Autobot!''' I am a master of '''Metallikato''', the forbidden Cybertronian '''art of combat!''' I'll cut you in two before --" 
"Before I pull the arms and legs off this '''puny flesh creature?''' I think '''not!'''"
:—'''Bludgeon''' and '''Hot Rod''', the latter with Zarak in his grip

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
*During the flashback at the beginning of the issue, Optimus Prime is shown with the red eyes of his Powermaster body, rather than the yellow eyes his original body had.
*Page 17, panel 5: "Hot Rod" is misspelled as "Hod Rod."

===Continuity errors===
*TBD

===Continuity notes===
*The flashback happened relatively early in the Transformer civil war. If it happened before the launch of the [[Underbase]], Optimus Prime might have been a [[Lieutenant Commander]] at the time; alternatively, this could be shortly before "And There Shall Come...a Leader!".
*The Autobots are ordered to give up their weapons, ''Nebulans'' and Pretender Shells. That can't have been fun for the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] in the group. Or the [[Powermaster]]s either, for that matter. (It's notable that Optimus Prime doesn't hand over [[Hi-Q]], or his shoulder guns for that matter. And Bomb-Burst points his gun right at Highbrow's [[Gort|head]] and all Highbrow does is pass over his weapon, realizing that Scorponok was just being a bit silly.)
*The origins of Shockwave's underwater headquarters were revealed in a letters page.{{fact|Which one?}} It is [[Nemesis (G1)|the starship]] the Decepticons built to follow the Ark to Earth. Shockwave parked it underwater four million years ago before brawling with the Dinobots. This represents either a divergence between the US and UK continuities or a UK continuity error since that same starship was revealed to have been parked in orbit by Shockwave and later destroyed by Galvatron way back in "[[Target: 2006]]".
*Bludgeon and his [[Mayhem Attack Squad]] materialized on Earth after US issue [[The Primal Scream|#61]], and would then join up with Scorponok's crew prior to this issue.
*Shockwave's "brush with death" occurred in US issue [[The Desert Island of Space!|#39]]. If you believe in the US/UK combined comic universe, the logic-related nervous breakdown caused by UK issue [[Dry Run!|#189]] and [[Time Wars|#199–205]] could also be responsible for "loosening his circuits", as Mindwipe put it.

===Real-life references===
*As he mentally commands Scorponok to release Kup, Zarak throws up the "I love you" hand sign!
*The action is set in the swamps of northwest [[New Jersey (Earth)|New Jersey]], with a brief interlude off the coast of [[United Kingdom|England]].

===Bot Roster===
*Autobots: 30 active; 8 rogue Micromasters; 1 in storage, 32 offline as Ratchet is put into storage (off-panel), 24 presumed offline. (95 total)
*Decepticons: 21 active, 7 gone rogue as the Battlechargers - missing since #23 - join Shockwave's team; 25 offline, 25 presumed offline. (78 total)

===UK printing===
'''Issue #311:'''
*'''Other strips:''' ''Machine Man'' - "He Lives Again" and ''[[Combat Colin]]''
*'''[[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]:''' [[Getaway]] and [[Joyride (G1)|Joyride]]

'''Issue #312:'''
*'''Other strips:''' ''Machine Man'' - "He Lives Again" and ''Combat Colin''
*This issue also featured a readers poll for which the results would never be published.

===Other trivia===
*''[[The Transformers Universe|Transformers Universe]]'' profiles for [[Punch (G1)|Punch and Counterpunch]] are found after the main story.

===Covers (3)===
*'''US cover:''' Prime surrenders to Scorponok, by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''UK issue #311 cover:''' recoloured US cover. Still wrong.
*'''UK issue #312 cover:''' Bomb-Burst and Skullgrin by [[Stephen Baskerville]], [[Lesley Dalton]] and [[Robin Bouttell]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUS-71.jpg|'''US issue #71''' - That's the last sticker he needs for the album!
File:MarvelUK-311.jpg|'''UK issue #311''' - Nope, try again!
File:MarvelUK-312.jpg|'''UK issue #312''' - Now, how are you supposed to shake ''that''?
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*None yet identified.

===Reprints===
* '''''[[Transformers: All Fall Down]]'' TPB:''' Powermaster Optimus Prime, Megatron/Ratchet, Starscream, Shockwave and half of [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]], by [[Andrew Wildman]].
* '''''Transformers: All Fall Down'' [[BotCon]] exclusive cover:''' Powermaster Optimus Prime and Unicron, by [[Geoff Senior]] & [[Oliver Harud]].
* '''''Transformers: All Fall Down'' standard HC:''' [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]], by [[Howard Chaykin]] & [[Chris Blythe]].
*'''''[[The Transformers: The Best of Simon Furman]]'':''' Cybertron, by [[Don Figueroa]].
*'''''[[Best of Transformers: Eye of the Storm]]'':''' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]] and [[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]], by Andrew Wildman.
<gallery>
File:All_fall_down_tpb_cover.jpg|'''''Transformers: All Fall Down'' TPB''' (Titan Books, 2001)
File:All_fall_down_botcon_cover.jpg|'''''Transformers: All Fall Down'' hardback Botcon exclusive cover''' (BotCon Exclusive, 2001)
File:All_fall_down_hb_cover.jpg|'''''Transformers: All Fall Down'' hardback standard cover''' (Titan Books, 2003)
File:BestofSimon.jpg|'''''The Best of Simon Furman''''' (IDW Publishing, 2007)
File:Best of Transformers.jpg|'''''Best of Transformers: Eye of the Storm''''' (Titan Books, 2008)
</gallery>
*'''[[Classic Transformers Volume 5|''Classic Transformers'' Volume 5]]:''' panels from this issue, "[[Deadly Obsession]]", "[[All Fall Down]]" and "[[...All This and Civil War 2]]".
*'''[[The Transformers Classics, Vol. 6|''The Transformers Classics,'' Vol. 6]]:''' [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], by [[Guido Guidi]].
*'''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection|''Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection:Volume 18: Edge of Extinction'']]''': [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], above an interior scene ([[The Void! (US)|issue #74]]) of Powermaster [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] battling the [[Acolyte of Unicron|Acolytes of Unicron]]. Grimlock art by [[Guido Guidi]], Retro art by [[Andrew Wildman]] (pencils) and [[Stephen Baskerville]] (inks).
<gallery>
File:Classic Transformers Vol5.jpg|'''''Classic Transformers'' Volume 5''' (IDW Publishing, 2009)
File:TFClassicsVol6.jpg|'''''The Transformers Classics'', Vol. 6''' (IDW Publishing, 2013)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v18.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 18: Edge of Extinction''''' (Hachette Partworks, 2017)
</gallery>
===References===
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

...All Fall Down!

2021-05-25T16:49:07Z

Timrollpickering: /* UK printing */ #281

{{disambig3|All Fall Down}}
{{Comicstory|
|title="...All Fall Down!"
|seriesissue=''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers (comic)|G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]'' #4
|prev=Ashes, Ashes...
|seriesissue2=''[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Transformers'' (UK)]] #277–281
|prev2=Bugged!
|next2=Internal Affairs!
|image=JoeTF4.jpg
|caption=This year's WWF roster was looking especially promising.
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=December [[1986]]
|coverdate=April [[1987]]
|writer=[[Michael Higgins]]
|penciler=[[Herb Trimpe]]
|inker=[[Vince Colletta]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Joe Rosen]]
|consulting editor=[[Don Daley]]
|editor=[[Bob Harras]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''The Autobots, Joe and Cobra devise a plan to deal with Power Station Alpha.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:JoeandTF4 blaster omega and the rest.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2]]
The [[Autobot]]s, together with their new allies from [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] and [[Cobra]], take refuge inside the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] as the area is shook with earthquakes from the effects of [[Power Station Alpha]]. At the Decepticon base, [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] instructs [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] to dispose of [[Doctor Mindbender]] but he is saved by the intervention of the [[Baroness]]. The two Cobra agents depart, taking Bombshell with them in insect mode, and depart for [[Seattle]], where they are due to rendezvous with a team from G.I. Joe.

[[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] arrives at the Joes' base to inspect the remains of [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] and is pleased to learn that not only is he still alive but that [[Mainframe (G.I. Joe)|Mainframe]] has already begun reconstructing him. With Ratchet's help, the work is soon completed and Bumblebee announces from now on he wishes to be known as Goldbug. Mindbender and Baroness arrive and Mainframe's investigation of the [[cerebro-shell]] retrieved from [[Anthony Duranti]] is shown to allow them to control Bombshell.

Meanwhile, debate ranges about the fate of Alpha. Both [[Serpentor]] and [[Ace]] think it should be destroyed but [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] is worried that, after the Decepticons' modifications, Alpha may now be a sentient being whilst [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] is concerned about the loss of life if Alpha is destroyed in a populated area. It is eventually decided that a small team consisting of Goldbug, [[Scarlett]] and Baroness will plant explosives on Alpha which can be detonated if necessary. In order to prevent the [[Decepticon]]s intervening, a combined Autobot, Joe and Cobra force will attack their base.

As the attack begins, Shockwave dispatches a group of Decepticon planes to counter the aircraft and also has the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] combine into [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. The [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] counter by becoming [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] and battling their opposite number.

Mainframe and Mindbender work out a way to use the cerebro-shell and electronic helmet to control Alpha and send the power station to an unpopulated area. Without permission, Baroness sets the timers on the charges and Alpha explodes harmlessly in orbit. Cobra hastily withdraw from the scene of the battle whilst Mindbender also slips away. Not entirely convinced the Joes weren't in on Cobra's plan, Blaster tells them that with the immediate crisis averted they should leave the Decepticons to them in the future. Ratchet signals that he and Goldbug are on their way back to the Ark.

Later, Hawk watches on as [[Barbara Larkin|Senator Larkin]] is taken into custody, only to be shot by a gunman working for Cobra.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (1)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (2)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] (16)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee/Goldbug]] (17)
*[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (21)
*[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (22)
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (23)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (24)
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (25)
*[[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (39)
|c2=
*[[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] (8)
*[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (9)
*[[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]] (10)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (27)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (28)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (29)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (30)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (31)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (32)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] (33)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Thundercracker]] (34)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]] (35)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (36)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (37)
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (38)
|h3=[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]|c3=
*[[Wild Bill]] (8)
*[[Slip-Stream]] (9)
*[[Ace]] (10)
*[[Mainframe (G.I. Joe)|Mainframe]] (12)
*[[Snake-Eyes]] (13)
*[[Scarlett]] (14)
*[[Beachhead]] (18)
*[[Roadblock (G.I. Joe)|Roadblock]] (19)
*[[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] (20)
|h4=[[Cobra]]|c4=
*[[Dreadnok|Buzzer]] (3)
*[[Dreadnok|Torch]] (4)
*[[Dreadnok|Ripper]] (5)
*[[Zartan]] (6)
*[[Serpentor]] (7)
*[[Doctor Mindbender]] (11)
*[[Baroness]] (12)
|h5=[[Human]]s|c5=
*[[Anthony Duranti]] (40)
*[[Barbara Larkin]] (41)
*[[Mrs. Duranti]] (42)
}}

==Quotes==

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
*In addition to [[Power Struggle|another anomalous appearance by Ravage]], Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp are all shown among the Decepticons at the base. All three of them were captured by the Autobots in "[[Command Performances!]]" and in US continuity they wouldn't be freed until "[[Totaled!]]".
*A total of seven [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] are seen taking off from the Decepticon base but only Starscream, Thundercracker, Skywarp, Thrust and Ramjet are named. Since [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] was killed in the previous issue, it's unclear who the other two are meant to be.
*As Devastator transforms, Scrapper appears to already partially be in his position as a leg, while he's also flying into the air.
*Although all six Constructicons are pictured, Shockwave only refers to Mixmaster, Hook, Long Haul, Bonecrusher and Scavenger.

===Continuity errors===
*Anthony recovered from what was basically full brain surgery ''incredibly'' quickly. Normally, a patient in his situation wouldn't be out of the hospital until 3 weeks later, at the earliest.
*In "Power Struggle", Mindbender was able to control Alpha with the helmet alone, but here he apparently also needs the cerebro-shell. This may be due to the Decepticon modifications to Alpha, however.

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Goldbugorigins.jpg|thumb|One of these happens in the issue.]]
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] is mentioned but not seen.
*Blaster is clearly implied to be in acting command of the Autobots following the death of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]].
*Ratchet rebuilds Bumblebee as Goldbug. He will [[Skin Deep|later rebuild Goldbug as Bumblebee]], saying he preferred him that way. [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity#Conflicting Goldbug origins|Maybe he decided he'd made a mistake, turned him back into Bumblebee while he was asleep, only for him to be destroyed again and rebuilt by Wreck-Gar.]] Stranger things have happened...
*Baroness seemingly wanders into Decepticon base, takes out Bombshell with a single shot (an achievement in itself), then wanders out again with Mindbender. That's great security.
*Similarly, the Decepticons have a massive force assembled around their base but don't bother to leave anyone guarding Alpha.
*Senator Larkin's grave stone gives the date as December 1986.
*By a happy coincidence, the encounter with [[Snake-Eyes]] that Mindbender referred to was printed in the UK Transformers comic, simplifying the footnote no end when they printed the story.

===Real-life references===
*The title. along with the title of last issue are from the children's nursery rhyme "{{w|Ring a Ring o' Roses}}" (specifically the American version).

===UK printing===
'''Issue #277'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Internal Affairs!]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|G.I. Joe the Action Force]]'' - "Cold Snap" and ''[[Combat Colin]]''
*'''[[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]:''' [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] and [[Snarl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Snarl]]

'''Issue #278'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[The House that Wheeljack Built!]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Cut and Freeze Dried" and ''Combat Colin''
*'''AtoZ:''' [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] and [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]]

'''Issue #279'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Divide and Conquer!]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Cut and Freeze Dried" and ''Combat Colin''
*'''AtoZ:''' [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]

'''Issue #280'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[The 4,000,000 Year Itch!]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Cut and Freeze Dried" and ''Combat Colin''
*'''AtoZ:''' [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] and [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]

'''Issue #281'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Makin' Tracks!]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Cut and Freeze Dried" and ''Combat Colin''
*'''AtoZ:''' [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] and [[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Swoop]]

===Other trivia===

===Covers (6)===
<gallery>
File:JoeTF4.jpg|'''''G.I. Joe and the Transformers'' #4'''
File:MarvelUK-277.jpg|'''UK issue #277'''
File:MarvelUK-278.jpg|'''UK issue #278'''
File:MarvelUK-279.jpg|'''UK issue #279'''
File:MarvelUK-280.jpg|'''UK issue #280'''
File:MarvelUK-281.jpg|'''UK issue #281'''
</gallery>
*'''''G.I. Joe and the Transformers'' #4 cover:''' G.I. Joe, Cobra and the Autobots pose next to Power Station Alpha, by [[Tom Morgan]].
*'''Marvel UK #277 cover:''' [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and Shockwave wrestle at [[Memphis Airport]], by [[Staz|Stewart Johnson]].
*'''Marvel UK #278 cover:''' [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] are ambushed, by [[Jeff Anderson]].
*'''Marvel UK #279 cover:''' [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] and Starscream duel in the skies, by [[Bryan Hitch]].
*'''Marvel UK #280 cover:''' [[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Swoop]] tries to keep [[Slag (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Slag]] from smashing through a door; art by ???
*'''Issue #281 cover:''' [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] glowers while [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus]] and Wheeljack puzzle over the sabotage, by John Marshall and Pete Venters.

===Advertisements===
====US====
*[[M&M's]] - inside front cover
*Brach's candy - between pages 4 & 5
*MPC Model Kits - between pages 5 & 6
*The Amazing [[Spider-Man]] Free the Cap'n Mystery - between pages 7 & 8
*Sales Leadership Club - between pages 8 & 9
*Various comics dealers - between pages 16 & 17
*Brach's candy - between pages 17 & 18
*Century Martial Art Supply, Inc. / Marvel Super Mart - between pages 19 & 20
*''Dungeons & Dragons Set #1: Basic Rules'' - inside back cover
*TSR ''Marvel Super Heroes'' RPG (back cover)

====UK====
????

===Reprints===
Other than [[G.I. Joe and the Transformers (comic)#Collections|reprints of the full series]]
* N/A

{{DEFAULTSORT:All Fall Down}}
[[Category:G.I. Joe and the Transformers issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

...All Fall Down!

2021-05-25T16:48:13Z

Timrollpickering: /* Covers (6) */ UK printing was in five parts not four

{{disambig3|All Fall Down}}
{{Comicstory|
|title="...All Fall Down!"
|seriesissue=''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers (comic)|G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]'' #4
|prev=Ashes, Ashes...
|seriesissue2=''[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Transformers'' (UK)]] #277–281
|prev2=Bugged!
|next2=Internal Affairs!
|image=JoeTF4.jpg
|caption=This year's WWF roster was looking especially promising.
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=December [[1986]]
|coverdate=April [[1987]]
|writer=[[Michael Higgins]]
|penciler=[[Herb Trimpe]]
|inker=[[Vince Colletta]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Joe Rosen]]
|consulting editor=[[Don Daley]]
|editor=[[Bob Harras]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''The Autobots, Joe and Cobra devise a plan to deal with Power Station Alpha.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:JoeandTF4 blaster omega and the rest.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2]]
The [[Autobot]]s, together with their new allies from [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] and [[Cobra]], take refuge inside the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] as the area is shook with earthquakes from the effects of [[Power Station Alpha]]. At the Decepticon base, [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] instructs [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] to dispose of [[Doctor Mindbender]] but he is saved by the intervention of the [[Baroness]]. The two Cobra agents depart, taking Bombshell with them in insect mode, and depart for [[Seattle]], where they are due to rendezvous with a team from G.I. Joe.

[[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] arrives at the Joes' base to inspect the remains of [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] and is pleased to learn that not only is he still alive but that [[Mainframe (G.I. Joe)|Mainframe]] has already begun reconstructing him. With Ratchet's help, the work is soon completed and Bumblebee announces from now on he wishes to be known as Goldbug. Mindbender and Baroness arrive and Mainframe's investigation of the [[cerebro-shell]] retrieved from [[Anthony Duranti]] is shown to allow them to control Bombshell.

Meanwhile, debate ranges about the fate of Alpha. Both [[Serpentor]] and [[Ace]] think it should be destroyed but [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] is worried that, after the Decepticons' modifications, Alpha may now be a sentient being whilst [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] is concerned about the loss of life if Alpha is destroyed in a populated area. It is eventually decided that a small team consisting of Goldbug, [[Scarlett]] and Baroness will plant explosives on Alpha which can be detonated if necessary. In order to prevent the [[Decepticon]]s intervening, a combined Autobot, Joe and Cobra force will attack their base.

As the attack begins, Shockwave dispatches a group of Decepticon planes to counter the aircraft and also has the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] combine into [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. The [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] counter by becoming [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] and battling their opposite number.

Mainframe and Mindbender work out a way to use the cerebro-shell and electronic helmet to control Alpha and send the power station to an unpopulated area. Without permission, Baroness sets the timers on the charges and Alpha explodes harmlessly in orbit. Cobra hastily withdraw from the scene of the battle whilst Mindbender also slips away. Not entirely convinced the Joes weren't in on Cobra's plan, Blaster tells them that with the immediate crisis averted they should leave the Decepticons to them in the future. Ratchet signals that he and Goldbug are on their way back to the Ark.

Later, Hawk watches on as [[Barbara Larkin|Senator Larkin]] is taken into custody, only to be shot by a gunman working for Cobra.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (1)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (2)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] (16)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee/Goldbug]] (17)
*[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (21)
*[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (22)
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (23)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (24)
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (25)
*[[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (39)
|c2=
*[[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] (8)
*[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (9)
*[[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]] (10)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (27)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (28)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (29)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (30)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (31)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (32)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] (33)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Thundercracker]] (34)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]] (35)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (36)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (37)
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (38)
|h3=[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]|c3=
*[[Wild Bill]] (8)
*[[Slip-Stream]] (9)
*[[Ace]] (10)
*[[Mainframe (G.I. Joe)|Mainframe]] (12)
*[[Snake-Eyes]] (13)
*[[Scarlett]] (14)
*[[Beachhead]] (18)
*[[Roadblock (G.I. Joe)|Roadblock]] (19)
*[[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] (20)
|h4=[[Cobra]]|c4=
*[[Dreadnok|Buzzer]] (3)
*[[Dreadnok|Torch]] (4)
*[[Dreadnok|Ripper]] (5)
*[[Zartan]] (6)
*[[Serpentor]] (7)
*[[Doctor Mindbender]] (11)
*[[Baroness]] (12)
|h5=[[Human]]s|c5=
*[[Anthony Duranti]] (40)
*[[Barbara Larkin]] (41)
*[[Mrs. Duranti]] (42)
}}

==Quotes==

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
*In addition to [[Power Struggle|another anomalous appearance by Ravage]], Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp are all shown among the Decepticons at the base. All three of them were captured by the Autobots in "[[Command Performances!]]" and in US continuity they wouldn't be freed until "[[Totaled!]]".
*A total of seven [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] are seen taking off from the Decepticon base but only Starscream, Thundercracker, Skywarp, Thrust and Ramjet are named. Since [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] was killed in the previous issue, it's unclear who the other two are meant to be.
*As Devastator transforms, Scrapper appears to already partially be in his position as a leg, while he's also flying into the air.
*Although all six Constructicons are pictured, Shockwave only refers to Mixmaster, Hook, Long Haul, Bonecrusher and Scavenger.

===Continuity errors===
*Anthony recovered from what was basically full brain surgery ''incredibly'' quickly. Normally, a patient in his situation wouldn't be out of the hospital until 3 weeks later, at the earliest.
*In "Power Struggle", Mindbender was able to control Alpha with the helmet alone, but here he apparently also needs the cerebro-shell. This may be due to the Decepticon modifications to Alpha, however.

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Goldbugorigins.jpg|thumb|One of these happens in the issue.]]
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] is mentioned but not seen.
*Blaster is clearly implied to be in acting command of the Autobots following the death of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]].
*Ratchet rebuilds Bumblebee as Goldbug. He will [[Skin Deep|later rebuild Goldbug as Bumblebee]], saying he preferred him that way. [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity#Conflicting Goldbug origins|Maybe he decided he'd made a mistake, turned him back into Bumblebee while he was asleep, only for him to be destroyed again and rebuilt by Wreck-Gar.]] Stranger things have happened...
*Baroness seemingly wanders into Decepticon base, takes out Bombshell with a single shot (an achievement in itself), then wanders out again with Mindbender. That's great security.
*Similarly, the Decepticons have a massive force assembled around their base but don't bother to leave anyone guarding Alpha.
*Senator Larkin's grave stone gives the date as December 1986.
*By a happy coincidence, the encounter with [[Snake-Eyes]] that Mindbender referred to was printed in the UK Transformers comic, simplifying the footnote no end when they printed the story.

===Real-life references===
*The title. along with the title of last issue are from the children's nursery rhyme "{{w|Ring a Ring o' Roses}}" (specifically the American version).

===UK printing===
'''Issue #277'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Internal Affairs!]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|G.I. Joe the Action Force]]'' - "Cold Snap" and ''[[Combat Colin]]''
*'''[[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]:''' [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] and [[Snarl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Snarl]]

'''Issue #278'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[The House that Wheeljack Built!]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Cut and Freeze Dried" and ''Combat Colin''
*'''AtoZ:''' [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] and [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]]

'''Issue #279'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Divide and Conquer!]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Cut and Freeze Dried" and ''Combat Colin''
*'''AtoZ:''' [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]

'''Issue #280'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[The 4,000,000 Year Itch!]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Cut and Freeze Dried" and ''Combat Colin''
*'''AtoZ:''' [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] and [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]

===Other trivia===

===Covers (6)===
<gallery>
File:JoeTF4.jpg|'''''G.I. Joe and the Transformers'' #4'''
File:MarvelUK-277.jpg|'''UK issue #277'''
File:MarvelUK-278.jpg|'''UK issue #278'''
File:MarvelUK-279.jpg|'''UK issue #279'''
File:MarvelUK-280.jpg|'''UK issue #280'''
File:MarvelUK-281.jpg|'''UK issue #281'''
</gallery>
*'''''G.I. Joe and the Transformers'' #4 cover:''' G.I. Joe, Cobra and the Autobots pose next to Power Station Alpha, by [[Tom Morgan]].
*'''Marvel UK #277 cover:''' [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and Shockwave wrestle at [[Memphis Airport]], by [[Staz|Stewart Johnson]].
*'''Marvel UK #278 cover:''' [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] are ambushed, by [[Jeff Anderson]].
*'''Marvel UK #279 cover:''' [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] and Starscream duel in the skies, by [[Bryan Hitch]].
*'''Marvel UK #280 cover:''' [[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Swoop]] tries to keep [[Slag (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Slag]] from smashing through a door; art by ???
*'''Issue #281 cover:''' [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] glowers while [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus]] and Wheeljack puzzle over the sabotage, by John Marshall and Pete Venters.

===Advertisements===
====US====
*[[M&M's]] - inside front cover
*Brach's candy - between pages 4 & 5
*MPC Model Kits - between pages 5 & 6
*The Amazing [[Spider-Man]] Free the Cap'n Mystery - between pages 7 & 8
*Sales Leadership Club - between pages 8 & 9
*Various comics dealers - between pages 16 & 17
*Brach's candy - between pages 17 & 18
*Century Martial Art Supply, Inc. / Marvel Super Mart - between pages 19 & 20
*''Dungeons & Dragons Set #1: Basic Rules'' - inside back cover
*TSR ''Marvel Super Heroes'' RPG (back cover)

====UK====
????

===Reprints===
Other than [[G.I. Joe and the Transformers (comic)#Collections|reprints of the full series]]
* N/A

{{DEFAULTSORT:All Fall Down}}
[[Category:G.I. Joe and the Transformers issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Christopher J. Priest

2021-04-12T18:21:47Z

Timrollpickering: former name used at the time

{{disambigm|James (disambiguation)|Chris (disambiguation)}}

[[Image:Owsley.jpg|thumb|right|In 2008 this was the best picture we could find. Now there are photos.]]
'''Christopher James Priest''' (born born '''James Christopher Owsley''' [[June 30]], [[1961]]) is a comic book creator and music producer, and the first Black editor in American comics. He was mentored by [[Larry Hama]] early in his career, and has had several collaborations with [[M.D. Bright]]. He changed his name in about 1993.

==Transformers comics credits==
Marvel Transformers (US):
:Editor - Issues 5-9 ''(as Jim Owsley)''

==External links==
*[http://lamerciepark.com/ Priest's website]
*{{w|Christopher Priest (comics)|Christopher Priest at Wikipedia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Priest, Christopher J.}}
[[Category: Editors]]
[[Category: Marvel Comics]]

Talk:Channel 5

2021-03-07T15:56:03Z

Timrollpickering:

I dunno the actual release date, but no way did the first release VHS come out in 1986, it has Powermaster Prime on the cover. The Video Gems version would have been 1986, this one either 1988 or 1989? --[[User:Wilsonjim|Wilsonjim]] ([[User talk:Wilsonjim|talk]]) 20:10, 17 March 2020 (GMT)
:I suspect those two images are of the same cover, just with or without the 3D effect mentioned. This looks like a more-likely 1986 release: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Transformers-Desertion-Dinobots-VHS/dp/B0006682JY --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] ([[User talk:ItsWalky|talk]]) 16:43, 17 March 2020 (EDT)
::Yeah, that's the Video Gems release, which I would say is 1986. The Channel 5 ones are 2 different releases (I own the 3D one from childhood), and I vaguely recall the non 3D version coming out before the 3D one, but couldn't give specific dates --[[User:Wilsonjim|Wilsonjim]] ([[User talk:Wilsonjim|talk]]) 12:30, 18 March 2020 (GMT)
:::I think the problem is the way the copyright date on the sleeve works. It probably refers to the original release of the these episodes rather than the Channel 5 release. [[User:Timrollpickering|Timrollpickering]] ([[User talk:Timrollpickering|talk]]) 10:56, 7 March 2021 (EST)

The Enemy Within!

2020-11-01T22:12:55Z

Timrollpickering: /* Production notes */ 1991 not 1990

{{disambig2|the Marvel UK story|the unproduced Dreamwave issue|The Enemy Within}}
{{comicstory|
|prev=Man of Iron (issue)
|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #13–17
|next=Raiders of the Last Ark
|image=MarvelUK-013.jpg
|caption=What have you done with the real Sideswipe?
|title="The Enemy Within!"
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=Part 1: [[March 9|9th March]] Part 2: [[March 23|23rd March]] Part 3: [[April 6|6th April]] Part 4: [[April 20|20th April]] Part 5: [[May 4|4th May]], [[1985]]
|script=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[John Ridgway]] (Part 1) & [[Mike Collins]] (Parts 2-5)
|colours=[[Gina Hart]]
|letters=[[Richard Starkings]]
|editor=[[Sheila Cranna]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''Brawn and Starscream both fall foul of their friends.'''

==Synopsis==
===Part 1: "Solo Strategy!"===
After challenging [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'s authority and being savagely reprimanded, [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] plots Megatron's downfall. He plans to attack [[human]]s indiscriminately until the [[Autobot]]s come to their defense. This will force the other [[Decepticon]]s to come to his aid, and together they will destroy the Autobots, proving that Starscream's methods are superior to Megatron's. Unfortunately, [[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]] overhears Starscream's plotting and rushes to tell Megatron, but he is spotted, and Starscream attacks him and leaves him for dead.

[[File:RavageEnemyWithinColour.jpg|left|thumb|"Ravage's ALIVE!"]]
At the same time, in the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], the Autobots are moving a heavy piece of machinery when it slips, and a short-circuit shocks [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]], knocking him unconscious. After his recovers, he begins to act strangely before eventually violently attacking [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] and then abandoning the Ark.

===Part 2: "The Best Laid Plans..."===
Some time later, as Starscream attacks US Air Force Base [[Oregon Four-Alpha]], the other Decepticons discover the badly damaged Ravage, who reveals Starscream’s treachery. Enraged, the Decepticons race off, and [[Containment Manoeuvre Four-Eight|capture]] Starscream during his attack. Starscream demands his right to [[Trial by Combat]].

[[File:TFUK14 Brawncar.jpg|thumb]]
Brawn, meanwhile, has gone on a rampage in the small town of [[St. Petersburg]], believing their cars to be enslaved robots... and when the immobile vehicles just sit there, he throws a wobbly and smashes them.

===Part 3: "Crime...and Punishment!"===
The Autobots try to subdue Brawn but are overwhelmed, only winning due to an ambush by [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]. The Autobots, unwilling to harm him in battle, use a [[neuro-tranquillizer]] to keep him down and take him back to base. Megatron, unwilling to let Starscream off so easily, plans to take advantage of the situation and suggests to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] that they allow Starscream and Brawn to fight each other. Desperate to redeem himself, the now repaired Brawn agrees.

===Part 4: "Trial...and Error!"===
The two battle, unaware that Megatron has stationed Ravage nearby with orders to blast Starscream if he wins the battle.

===Part 5: "Endings...and Beginnings!"===
The battle goes against Brawn, and it appears that he has been destroyed. Following his orders, Ravage blows Starscream out of the sky, gaining revenge on him. He then lets the other Decepticons believe that it was the Autobots who attacked Starscream, motivating them to get behind Megatron and attack the Autobots.

Unknown to the Decepticons, Brawn was not destroyed. Instead, [[Mirage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Mirage]] projected a [[hologram]] showing his death while the real Brawn was taken to safety: the same electric shock that harmed Brawn boosted Mirage's hologram powers!

Back at the [[Fortress Sinister|Decepticon fortress]], Megatron is preparing to launch an all-out attack on the Autobots.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] (7)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] (8)
*[[Mirage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Mirage]] (9)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (10)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (11)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] (12)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (14)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (14)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (15)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (18)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (19)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (26)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] (27)
|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] (2)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (3)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]] (4)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Thundercracker]] (5)
*[[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]] (6)
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (23)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (24)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] (25)
*[[Earthquake (G1)|Earthquake]] (28)
*[[Tornado]] (29)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (30)
|c3=
*[[Gordon]] (16)
*[[Alpha Leader]] (17)
*[[Mabel (G1)|Mabel]] (20)
*[[Phil]] (21)
*[[OBTV News]] ancher (22)
}}

==Quotes==
'''''HA!''''' The Autobots have fallen. '''None''' can challenge the might of Brawn!
:—'''Brawn''', just after punching Prowl in the face

==Notes==
===Production notes===
{{quote|If someone had told me back in 1985 that I'd still be writing TF in 2002, I'd have laughed.|Simon Furman, [http://www.alteredstatesmag.com/features/qanda/sfurman_2.php Altered States Q&A]... and he's still doing it in {{CURRENTYEAR}}!}}
*"The Enemy Within!" is the second UK-original story, produced following the conclusion of the [[The Transformers Four-Issue Limited Series|original US mini-series]] to fill for time until more US issues were available to reprint. It was written to span four standard 11-page issues, but after production was finished, the fourth chapter was split up into two smaller chunks to make it span five issues total. Though ''somewhat'' lighter in tone than its sinister predecessor, "[[Man of Iron (issue)|Man of Iron]]," the story remains a grim and violent affair, with Brawn even causing a human motorist's car to end up a flaming wreck that the man is not seen to be recovered from. [[Character model]]s remained unavailable to the artists, and so the Transformers are drawn using only the toys as reference.
*"The Enemy Within!" is the first ''Transformers'' story written by [[Simon Furman]], who would go on to become the UK comic's main writer, and one of the most prolific writers for the franchise in general, which he has continued to work on right up until today. He has since gone on record as saying that he does not think much of this early work, but artist [[Mike Collins]] thinks Furman "hit the ground running" with it.
*This story was originally published in a mixture of full-colour and black-and-white artwork, as was the standard for the comic at the time. A year later, it was fully colourised for ''[[Transformers Collected Comics|Collected Comics]]'' #4, which reprinted all five chapters, giving the first part, untitled in its original printing, a new name of its own. In 1991, this coloured version was split up into seven smaller parts and reprinted in issues #308-209 and #313-317 of the regular series. Though the story was skipped for the [[Titan Books]] series of reprints in the early 2000s (probably something to do with Furman's low opinion of it), it would eventually be reprinted by [[IDW Publishing]] and [[Hachette Partworks Ltd]], both of which also used the fully-coloured ''Collected Comics'' version.

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Redalertfromnowhere.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.4]]
*Though printed after the conclusion of the original US mini-series, "The Enemy Within" (like "Man of Iron" before it, and its direct sequel, next issue's "[[Raiders of the Last Ark]]") is set in some vague time ''during'' its events. The only allusions the story itself offers to a continuity placement are Megatron making mention of [[Spider-Man]], who the Decepticons encountered in [[Prisoner of War!|US issue #3]], and an [[OBTV News]] anchor remarking on the recent robot attacks in [[Oregon]], which became public news in that same issue. The "[[Robot War]]" text features which would later run in issues [[The New Order|#22]], [[The Next Best Thing to Being There!|#36]] and [[Second Generation!|#63]] would clumsily suggest that it took place somewhere "between panels" at the end of that story, after Spider-Man rescued [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] from the Decepticons, but before Sparkplug was returned to the Ark. This really doesn't work, not least of all because Gears appears active in the story, when he was offlined and would not be reactivated until Sparkplug's return.
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] appears among the Autobots, trying to restrain Brawn in Chapter 1, then ambushing him in Chapter 3. As a character from the 1985 toy range, he had not yet appeared in the US series, but internal to the UK comic at the time, his appearance in this story wasn't really an error; the UK reprint of [[The Transformers (issue)|US issue #1]] had omitted the famous two-page spread containing the full Autobot roll call, so Red's appearance didn't actually contradict anything in-story. Red disappeared from the series after this story, but by coincidence or design, when the 1985 [[Autobot Cars]] were later introduced properly into comic continuity in [[Rock and Roll-Out!|US issue #14]], Red was ''not'' included among them, meaning that his original appearance in "The Enemy Within" still didn't contradict anything. The [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|letters page]] of [[Devastation Derby!|issue #62]] justified his disappearance by explaining that he was critically injured off-panel during the events of [[The Last Stand|US issue #4]]. He would eventually reappear in [[Time Wars|issue #199]] as part of a group of time-travelling Autobots from the future.

===Real-life references===
[[File:TheEnemyWithin whaam.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.4]]
*Part 2, page 8, panel 1, in which Starscream shoots down a human military jet (pictured at right), is an homage to Roy Lichtenstein's painting, ''{{w|Whaam!}}'', complete with sound effect.

===Artwork and technical errors===
[[File:TheEnemyWithin offmodel sideswipe.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.4]]
*The lettering style used for this story makes punctuation very faint. Many sentences appear at first glance to be missing periods.
*In addition to Optimus Prime's solid-blue [[mouthplate]] (reoccurring from "[[Man of Iron (issue)|Man of Iron]]," another recurrent artistic quirk is introduced this issue: Megatron is coloured throughout the story with a golden torso, an overly literal artistic interpretation of the way his [[package art]] represented his toy's chromed chest.
*Sideswipe is drawn heinously off-model in issue #13, looking nothing like himself (see right). The artist's reference for his appearance seems to have been the equally-bizarre model used for [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] in the aforementioned double-page spread of US issue #1—note especially the designs of the face, chest, and the shoulder-wheels. He gets a "proper" face in #14, but is still drawn with the wrong helmet.
*Part 1
**Page 1, panel 3: Starscream's face, helmet, and cockpit are uncoloured.
**Page 2, panel 1: Megatron declares "Will discuss the matter no further!" which should evidently be either "'''I''' will discuss the matter no further!" or "'''We'll''' discuss the matter no further!"
**Page 2, panel 2: Rumble things Starscream should have "the right for a vote." He means "the right '''to''' a vote."
**Page 2, panel 4: Starscream had red thighs.
**Page 2, panel 5: Starscream is coloured like Skywarp.
**Page 4, panel 5: Starscream is coloured like Skywarp again.
**Page 9, panel 3: Red Alert is coloured like Gears.
**Page 10, panel 1: "It's" is used instead of "its."
*Part 2, panel 10, panel 3: The edge of the text within Optimus Prime's speech bubble has been erased or obscured turning "You must do no more harm," into "ou must do o more harm."
*Part 3, page 1, panel 2: Sunstreaker is coloured red and blue.

===Back-up material===
'''Issue #13:'''
*'''[[Back-up strips]]:''' ''Chromobots'', ''Machine Man'' ("Kill Me or Cure Me," Part 4), and ''Matt and the Cat''
*'''[[Fact File]]:''' [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]]
*'''Other features:''' More results from [[The Transformers (issue)|issue #2]]'s "Design a Decepticon" contest; "design a robot" contest to win a Draw and Colour Moving Book; "Robot Round-Up," "Prowl Needs That Star!" picture puzzle

'''Issue #14:'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Chromobots'', ''Machine Man'' ("Kill Me or Cure Me," Part 5), and ''Matt and the Cat''
*'''Fact File:''' Humph (star of ''Matt and the Cat'')
*'''April calendar:''' [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]]
*'''Other features:''' "Transformers Gallery Greats," a selection of readers' artwork; mail-in competition to win a ''Transformers Stunt Flyer''; "Robot Round-Up"

'''Issue #15:'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''[[Robo-Capers]]'', ''Chromobots'', ''Machine Man'' ("Arms and the Robot," Part 1), ''Tales from the Fact Files'' ("Trapped Beneath the Waves!"), and ''Matt and the Cat''. Both ''Robo-Capers'' and ''Tales from the Fact Files'' debut this issue; ''Tales'' will be a short-lived intermittent strip, while ''Robo-Capers'' will run until [[Enemy Action!|issue #152]]
*'''Fact File:''' [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]
*'''Other features:''' Art competition to win a Kodak DiscCamera

'''Issue #16:'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Robo-Capers'', ''Chromobots'', ''Machine Man'' ("Arms and the Robot," Part 2), ''Planet Terry'' ("The Search," Part 1), and ''Matt and the Cat''. The debut of ''Planet Terry'' ate up more page space and facilitated the splitting of the final chapter of "The Enemy Within" into two smaller parts.
*'''Fact File:''' [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]]
*'''May calendar:''' [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]
*'''Other features:''' "Robot Round-Up;" "Turtle Take-Away!", mail-in competition to win a robot turtle

'''Issue #17:'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Robo-Capers'', ''Chromobots'', '''Tales from the Fact Files''' ("The Truth About Alcatraz"), ''Machine Man'' ("Arms and the Robot," Part 3), ''Planet Terry'' ("The Search," Part 2), and ''Matt and the Cat''
*'''Fact File:''' [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]
*'''Other features:''' "Transformers Super-Search" word search; single-page poster made from an animation still from the first [[Commercial/Generation 1|''Transformers'' commercial]]; "Constructive Thinking!" mail-in competition to win ''Model 8'' construction kits

===Covers (5)===
*'''Issue #13:''' Brawn giving Sideswipe a suplex, by [[John Ridgway]]; art reused from page 8 of the story.
*'''Issue #14:''' Brawn & Optimus Prime, by [[Mike Collins]]; collage of panels reused from the story.
*'''Issue #15:''' Starscream vs. Brawn, by Mike Collins; art reused from the final page of the story.
*'''Issue #16:''' Brawn vs. Starscream, by Mike Collins; art reused from page 5 of the story.
*'''Issue #17:''' laughing Megatron, by Mike Collins; art reused from page 3 of the story.

<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-013.jpg|'''Issue #13''' - Let's get rrready to Frrrenzy!
File:MarvelUK-014.jpg|'''Issue #14''' - "With a mind like yours, I'd try the land crab."
File:MarvelUK-015.jpg|'''Issue #15''' - Either Starscream has shrunk, or Brawn has grown.
File:MarvelUK-016.jpg|'''Issue #16''' - Geronimoooo!
File:MarvelUK-017.jpg|'''Issue #17''' - Is it just me, or is Megatron going bald?
</gallery>

===Reprints===
<gallery>
File:CollectedComics4Cover.jpg|'''''[[Transformers Collected Comics|Collected Comics]]'' #4''' (Marvel UK, 1986)
File:MarvelUK-308.jpg|'''[[Eye of the Storm|Issue #308]]''' (Marvel UK, 1990; reprints issue #13)
File:MarvelUK-309.jpg|'''[[The Pri¢e of Life!|Issue #309]]''' (Marvel UK, 1990; reprints first half of #14)
File:MarvelUK-313.jpg|'''[[...All This and Civil War 2|Issue #313]]''' (Marvel UK, 1990; reprints second half of #14)
File:MarvelUK-314.jpg|'''[[...All This and Civil War 2|Issue #314]]''' (Marvel UK, 1990; reprints first half of #15)
File:MarvelUK-315.jpg|'''[[Out of Time!|Issue #315]]''' (Marvel UK, 1990; reprints second half of #15)
File:MarvelUK-316.jpg|'''[[Out of Time!|Issue #316]]''' (Marvel UK, 1990; reprints issue #16)
File:MarvelUK-317.jpg|'''[[The Void! (US)|Issue #317]]''' (Marvel UK, 1990; reprints issue #17)
File:BestofStarscream.jpg|'''''[[The Transformers: Best of Starscream]]''''' (IDW Publishing, 2010)
File:Classicuk1.jpg|'''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 1|''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 1]]''' (IDW Publishing, 2011)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v1.jpg|'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]], Vol. 1: Power Play''''' (Hachette Partworks Ltd, 2017)
</gallery>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Enemy Within!}}
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Talk:Dry Run!

2020-09-15T16:54:15Z

Timrollpickering: /* Nightstick's death */

It wouldn't have mattered if Scourge had killed this Megatron. This Megatron later kills himself during the Two Megatrons story. But as we also know, at the time of writing this Megatron was believed by everyone, including Furman, to be the one and only real original Megatron. [[Special:Contributions/95.148.8.3|95.148.8.3]] 17:26, 7 January 2010 (EST)
:Yep, you're right. --[[User:Emvee|Emvee]] 17:43, 7 January 2010 (EST)

::Except that there's the possibility that ''his'' Galvatron was created from the Straxus clone. Alternatively Scourge (and for that matter Galvatron in Target 2006) may simply not have a clear understanding of time travel theory and so genuinely don't know for sure what might happen. Even Galvatron II worried that killing Megatron would cancel him out, despite being well past the point of divergence. [[User:Timrollpickering|Timrollpickering]] 13:50, 11 April 2011 (EDT)
:::Ack, Straxatron stuff makes my brain ache. I've seen diagrams that try to make sense of it all, but there's a lot of supposition about future timelines...the divergent future Rodimus returns to after Time Wars doesn't help any, adding another possible Galvatron (Straxatron in the future?) to the mix. Best not to delve too deeply into it. --[[User:Emvee|Emvee]] 14:09, 11 April 2011 (EDT)
::::I think the point to remember is that Scourge isn't an expert in time-travel mechanics, causality theory or anything like that. He's not saying "If I kill Megatron I will cease to exist". He's just wondering aloud. He even says that he can't be sure, but he can't take the risk. So this isn't the author speaking through Scourge. It is the character himself wondering what will happen, and deciding it's not worth the risk. [[User:LiamK|LiamK]] 15:45, 13 October 2013 (EDT)
:::::Whether Scourge kills Straxus-Megatron or Straxus-Megatron kills himself, he still dies with nothing bad happening because of it but yes, Scourge doesn't know this. And I'm not seeing a second Straxus clone anywhere in the whole Marvel UK continuity that could later become Galvatron. The only Straxus-Megatron clone we know of kills himself in the Two Megatrons story. The main Galvatron in the UK continuity comes from the 1986 movie timeline and I just refuse to believe that the movie Megatron is not the real Megatron. If it were a clone, where would the real Megatron be in the movie timeline? [[User:Bass X0|Bass X0]] ([[User talk:Bass X0|talk]]) 17:21, 21 June 2014 (EDT)
::::::Two Megatrons takes place after Time Wars though and two key themes to come out of Time Wars are that the future can be changed and that Megatron is proactively taking steps to secure his future. So for all we know in the original pre Time Wars timeline the Straxus clone survived and maybe the original never even resurfaces (still lying in the Dead End?), and it was the clone who became Galvatron. Yes some may not like it but it's a legitimate interpretation of how things were presented - remember that pre-Two Megatrons everyone - Megatron, Straxus, Galvatron, the characters around them, the writer and the readers - all assumed Megatron to be the real deal and Galvatron to be his future self. Alternatively it's the replacement of the original with the clone that's part of the reason for Galvatron's memories not syncing up. It's a pity there's never been an official revisit to the UK continuity as both this and Earthforce could use some major untangling. [[User:Timrollpickering|Timrollpickering]] ([[User talk:Timrollpickering|talk]]) 07:38, 10 July 2014 (EDT)
:::::::The Straxus-Megatron never becomes Galvatron, in ANY continuity. The point of divergence between the various realities is Target:2006 - when Galvatron, Cyclonus and Scourge make that initial trip, that's the point at which their Movie-era future becomes an alternate reality. Galvatron I is just a future version of Megatron from a timeline in which T:2006 never happenned. Remember in T:2006 when the future Decepticons are surprised at Ultra Magnus' appearance "you shouldn't be here, now" or words to that effect? That's the first sign that the future Deceps are changing 'their' past - without their arrival, Magnus would still have been on Cybertron, getting ready for Operation Volcano. Straxus takes over Megs in Resureection, which is set after T:2006 in a present that has been altered by the actions of all the time travel. This never happens in the original timeline, because the whole 'Resurrection' story arc comes about because Prime wants to fake his own death in the wake of the Autobots' bad berformance in T:2006. Therefore, there is no possible future in which Straxus-Megatron ever becomes Galvatron. [[User:Ryan Frost|Ryan Frost]] ([[User talk:Ryan Frost|talk]]) 08:58, 26 April 2015 (EDT)

== Nightstick's death ==

Sorry, putting this here rather than having an edit war. I mentioned that Nightstick's death is pretty graphic, and one of the responses was "That was nothing, comics were never regulated or censored in the UK like they were in the US, hence Judge Dredd". While that is true, I don't think it applies here. I'm sure Transformers in the UK, like in the US, got away with a lot of things regular comics didn't because they involved giant robots. I don't think that other Marvel UK comics would have characters beging beheaded "on-camera", so to speak. I think that Nightstick's death is actually something pretty horrific, even for a UK comic. A human (well, humanoid) gets crushed to death by a Transformer. The UK comic tended to avoid human deaths like the US one, and certainly I can't think of anything comparable to this. I'm fairly certain the only reason they got away with it was because Nightstick was in gun form at the time and the censors probably missed that he was also a flesh and blood being.

So, is it worth noting, or am I overthinking it way too much? [[User:LiamK|LiamK]] 15:59, 13 October 2013 (EDT)
:I agree that Nightstick's death is not typical of some kind of standard UK "kids' comic" indifference to people being guesomely murdered on-panel, but I also wouldn't have been especially shocked by a comparable death in the US. The crux of the matter, as you rightly point out, is that it's a shot of a robot crushing a gun, and nobody who isn't paying close attention is going to get the implications. All that being said, I don't know whether I think it's worth a note anyway. -[[User:LV|LV]] 16:58, 13 October 2013 (EDT)
::Fair point. I suppose a way of seeing whether it's noteworthy or not is... are there any other "on-screen" deaths of a human(oid) in the original Marvel run? Outside of, say, Highbrow has been killed therefore Gort has been killed.[[User:LiamK|LiamK]] 11:53, 16 October 2013 (EDT)
:::I deleted it as a UK reader because it assumed that there was some sort of comic code or formal censorship in the UK which there isn't and never has been. Comics like Dredd did much worse, much more graphically and were freely sold to any age group. If you look at Marvel UK's Death's Head or Dragon Claws comics both show on panel human deaths that are way more graphic than this. In the image you see Megs crush a gun. Yes we know it is a Nebulan - a human like lifeform but nethertheless we see a gun being crushed - no blood spurt, no 'Sheeaarrghghhh!', just a sound effect. It is therefore not at all graphic. It is horrific in your head but not on the page - just like an old school horror. I think the panel is interesting in that it shows a sweaty Cyclonus seeming to show genuine concern for his companion. On the grounds that it was originally stated it just didn't seem noteworthy. Takes a lot more than that to give a Brit nightmares, like Shockwaves death for example ;) [[User:Mister Jazzz|Mister Jazz]] 13:57, 16 October 2013 (EDT)
::::It's also possible that Abnett was working from notes that stated the Targetmaster companions were in fact robots with duplicate minds of Nebulans rather than actual organic beings. This is how they're explained in the 1987 annual and it's easy to see how a guest writer might have been given a guide that still had this in there - other than the miniseries and Rodimus remembering Firebolt's death the nature of the Targetmaster guns is barely touched on when they appear. [[User:Timrollpickering|Timrollpickering]] ([[User talk:Timrollpickering|talk]]) 12:54, 15 September 2020 (EDT)

Burning Sky!

2020-05-10T12:58:15Z

Timrollpickering: /* Continuity notes */ sp

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #115–116
|prev=Wanted: Galvatron — Dead or Alive!
|next=Hunters
|title="Burning Sky!"
|image=MarvelUK-116.jpg
|caption=Galvatron teabags Ultra Magnus!
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|coverdate=[[May 30|30th May]]–[[June 6|6th June]] [[1987]]
|script=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Dan Reed]] (115), [[Geoff Senior]] (116)
|colours=[[Steve White]]
|letters=[[Richard Starkings]]
|chronology=[[Marvel Comics timeline#1987|1987]]/[[Marvel Comics timeline#Original future|Original future (2007)]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]] ([[Primax 984.20 Gamma|Marvel UK]])
}}
'''Ultra Magnus finds his peace shattered—twice over!'''

==Synopsis==
Since arriving on [[Earth]] once more, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] has been enjoying the beauty of Earth and a peaceful lifestyle, but this is interrupted when he is caught in an earth tremor. Investigating, he finds a camper van has been knocked over and caught fire. Two of the passengers, [[Cindy Newell]] and [[Judy]], have escaped, but [[Corrinne]] is trapped inside. Ultra Magnus picks up the van and pulls Corrinne out safely just as it explodes. He then transforms and transports all three ladies, learning from them that they have come to see a volcano. This triggers a bad memory, as Ultra Magnus recalls his failure to save [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]]. Cindy tells Magnus that they're going to have a great time, but Magnus isn't so sure of what the future holds for him...

[[File:BurningSky-TimeMachine.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|"You can't deal with that right then!"]]
Twenty years later, Ultra Magnus is in [[Autobase]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], arguing with [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] about the wisdom of [[Time travel|travelling back in time]]. Magnus believes that Rodimus's departure will make it easier for the [[Decepticon]]s to overwhelm them and that the [[Autobot]]s of [[1987]] can handle [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], but Rodimus is determined to rectify his mistakes that have sent both Galvatron and [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]] into Earth's past. He, [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]], and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] stand on the [[time-jump mechanism|time travel device]] and trigger it. Suddenly, as they dematerialise, [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] touches Blurr and disappears with them.

Back in 1987, Ultra Magnus and the three ladies have come across a forest fire, which Corrinne believes is the result of an eruption. Cindy urges Magnus to stop the fire before it engulfs a nearby town. Magnus agrees and tells the ladies to hide. He proceeds to knock down many trees to prevent the fire spreading. However, as he does so, he notes he can't see any evidence of volcanic activity and that the fire encircles the volcano—almost as though it was a deliberate barrier.

But Ultra Magnus is distracted as a tearful Cindy runs up, begging forgiveness. She met a being that she thought was a friend of his, not noticing the different [[Insignia|badge]], and told this being about Magnus. The mention of his name caused the being to seethe with rage. Magnus asks who the being is, but hears the reply from its own circuits: "Me! Galvatron!"

At a ranger station at the base of [[Mount Verona]], a sheriff is radioing control that the fire is now out. He sees a ranger running towards him, screaming about big trouble. Suddenly, both the ranger station and the sheriff's car are crushed as Galvatron knocks over Ultra Magnus. Galvatron viciously attacks Magnus, whose only concern is for Cindy.

Galvatron screams at Magnus that "all followers of Rodimus Prime will die!" but Magnus responds with a declaration of loyalty to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|'''Optimus''' Prime]] and assumes Galvatron is confused. Magnus tries to fight back, but Galvatron is as unstoppable as ever. Only concern for Cindy prevents Magnus from giving up, and he fights back, eventually knocking out Galvatron.

Leaving his unconscious foe behind him, Magnus looks for Cindy, realising she is in danger, but also wondering if he should finish off Galvatron for good. Whilst he agonises, Galvatron rises and transforms into his cannon mode, blasting down Magnus.

Meanwhile, Cindy has become trapped by the fire and screams for help. Suddenly, there is a blinding light, and then metal feet appear in front of her.

[[File:Galvatrons Power Siphon.jpg|thumb|The new arena!]]
Galvatron drags Ultra Magnus to the top of the volcano to show his latest scheme: he has built a [[power siphon]] to tap the energy of the [[Earth's core]], in the hope of powering himself up to god-like status.

Cindy has encountered Rodimus Prime, Kup, and Blurr, newly arrived in 1987. Rodimus has heard Cindy calling out for Ultra Magnus, and states that he is a friend, but Cindy doesn't want to make the same mistake twice. Rodimus responds that only the three Autobots can stop Galvatron and Death's Head!
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (1)
*''[[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]]'' (5)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (6)
*[[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]] (7)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (8)
*[[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (9)
|c2=
*[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (10)
|h4=[[Human]]s|c4=
*[[Judy]] (2)
*[[Cindy Newell]] (3)
*[[Corrinne]] (4)
*[[Sheriff]] (11)
*[[Park ranger]] (12)
}}

==Quotes==
"[''Hunh''] Sheriff...we, we [''hunh''] got trouble...[''hunh''] big trouble!" 
"Hey, ranger! Half the mountain's on fire. You don't need to tell me we've got '''trouble!''' Say, you got a light?
:-The '''Park Ranger''' and '''Sheriff'''

"'''FOOL!''' Have you learnt so little from our previous battles? I am '''power incarnate!''' I can not be '''stopped'''...'''And I cannot be destroyed!''' Sadly the same...cannot be said of you!"
:-'''Galvatron''' talks the talk and walks the walk simultaneously.

"Soon - very soon - the skies will burn once more, heralding the birth of Galvatron - '''the god!'''"
:-'''Galvatron'''

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
*Ultra Magnus's shoulder rockets appear and disappear across different panels in both parts.

===Continuity errors===
*TBD

===Continuity notes===
*This is one of very few Marvel Comics stories involving [[time travel]] that feature the same unaltered character in more than one time zone.
*The Ultra Magnus of [[2007]] does not appear to have any awareness of the events we see in 1987, suggesting that the parallel universe theory of time travel may be at hand.
*The location of [[Mount Verona]] in [[Oregon]] is not stated until the start of the second part.
*The Ultra Magnus of 1987 declares loyalty to Optimus Prime, not being aware that Prime has [[Afterdeath!|recently died]].
*It is never revealed which four present day Transformers are displaced to make way for Rodimus Prime and co.
*The fate of Wreck-Gar is dealt with in the [[Hunters|next story]], which also reveals what Death's Head (absent from this story) has been up to.
*Judy and Corrinne simply disappear before the end of the first issue, with no means of transport, in the middle of a forest fire, in the presence of Galvatron. When we see Cindy without them, she's very upset with Galvatron hot on her trail. It's ''possible'' that they got away.
*Cindy's suspicious reaction to Rodimus and co. is a bit odd. She has stated before that she realised Galvatron's badge was different from Ultra Magnus's, so why doesn't she take seeing Ultra Magnus's symbol on the three other robots as a clue they're on his side?

===Real-life references===

===Other trivia===
*The first ''Transformers'' story drawn by [[Dan Reed]].
*[[Fallen Angel|Like]] [[Gone but Not Forgotten!|some]] [[Wanted: Galvatron — Dead or Alive!|other]] [[Worlds Apart!|issues]], a free version of issue #115 (with an altered corner box) was given out at the chain of British steakhouses [[Berni Inn]].

===Back-up stories===
'''Issue #115:'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''[[Inhumanoids|The Inhumanoids]]'' - "Metlar Unleashed!" and ''[[Robo-Capers]]''
'''Issue #116:'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''The Inhumanoids'' - "Metlar Unleashed!" and ''Robo-Capers''
*'''[[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]:''' [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] and [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]]

===Covers (3)===
*'''Issue #115 cover:''' close up of Ultra Magnus' face, by [[Lee Sullivan]].
*'''Issue #116 cover:''' Galvatron and Ultra Magnus rasslin' up a storm, by [[Jeff Anderson]].
*'''Issue #115 Berni Funtime free edition cover:''' reuse of issue #115's cover with altered corner box and additional captions.
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-115.jpg|'''Issue #115'''
File:MarvelUK-116.jpg|'''Issue #116'''
File:MarvelUK-115Berni.jpg|'''Issue #115 Berni Funtime free edition:''' I'll have the Prawn Cocktail, Steak, Black Forest gateau and Toasted Magnus please.
</gallery>
===Reprints===
*'''[[Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 11|''Transformers Comic-Magazin'' #11]] cover:''' a pink and blue [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]] from "[[Aspects of Evil!]]", who doesn't actually appear in this comic.
*'''''[[Transformers: Fallen Angel]]'' cover: ''' [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]], by Lee Sullivan.
*'''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 4|''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 4]] cover:''' Rodimus and Galvatron fight whilst Scorponok squeezes [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]] rides Wreck-Gar, by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 8: Wanted: Galvatron – Dead or Alive ''''': [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] by ??? and [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] by [[Dan Reed]]
<gallery>
File:Tf commag 11.JPG|'''''Transformers Comic-Magazin'' #11:''' I... see... (Condor Verlag, 1990)
File:TitanFA.jpg|'''''Fallen Angel''''' (Titan books, 2003)
File:Classicuk4.jpg|'''''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 4''' (IDW Publishng, 2013)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v8.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection Vol. 8''''' (Hachette Partworks Ltd, 2017)
</gallery>

[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Recipe for Disaster!

2020-05-10T12:19:34Z

Timrollpickering: /* Sex */ mating refers to sex not gender

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #53
|prev=Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?
|next=King Con!
|title="Recipe for Disaster!"
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #217–220
|prev2=Race with the Devil
|next2=Survivors!
|image=MarvelUS-53.jpg
|caption=She also cut off his arm so as to unobstruct our view of her metal brazier. (Y'know, to light a small fire in.)
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=February [[1989]]
|coverdate=June 1989
|writer=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|penciler=[[José Delbo]]
|inker=[[Dave Hunt]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Jade Moede]]
|editor=[[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''The Pretenders must avoid becoming the Mecannibals' next meal... by providing them with proper seasoning?'''

==Synopsis==
[[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] and [[Cloudburst]] are about to become the [[Mecannibal]]s' next meal. But although the Mecannibals forcibly yank the [[Autobot]]s from their shells via an electro-magnet, the Autobots are able to fight for their lives by radio-controlling their shells. All this does is buy the Autobots some time, so Cloudburst suggests that the Mecannibals not eat them just yet... because they'll taste so much better if they can get the proper seasonings! So they make a deal: the [[Pretender]]s will get the proper seasonings in exchange for their freedom. Naturally, the hungry Mecannibals let the Autobots go to fetch the seasonings, but they do hold [[Berko]] prisoner in order to ensure that the Autobots return to make good on their culinary skills once their mission is complete.

And so, the Autobots travel to [[Femax]], a world led by female warriors, and where men are treated as slaves. Because men on Femax are seen as feeble and weak, the Femaxian "[[First One]]" challenges Cloudburst to a series of trials designed to prove that he is an able fighter. Cloudburst passes these trials, proving not only his warrior skills, but also his viability to the "First One" as a potential mate. This makes matters awkward for Cloudburst, and he reveals to the First One that he isn't even a biological being. The First One promptly responds by lopping off Cloudburst's head. This leaves Landmine alone to reason with the First One, which he does despite his general inclinations, and the First One actually listens, agreeing to give the Autobots the crystals they need to season the Mecannibals' food and to restore Cloudburst's head atop his shoulders.

When the Autobots attempt to leave the planet, they are stopped by [[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]] and [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]], but this delay is short-lived, as [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] shows up out of nowhere to take out the two [[Decepticon]]s. Sky Lynx informs the Pretenders that the humans they have been dealing with are in fact [[binary bonding|binary bonded]] to these Decepticons, which gives them some interesting information to share with the Mecannibals upon their return to the [[Mecannibals' ship]].

Upon their return, the Autobots change the terms of their deal. Rather than fixing a meal for the Mecannibals using the special seasonings they've just retrieved, the Autobots insist on having all the robots eaten by them restored using the parts recycled through their digestive tracts. If the Mecannibals don't agree, Sky Lynx gets to go primal on [[Hi-Test (G1)|Hi-Test]] and [[Throttle (G1)|Throttle]], who the Mecannibals have apparently found indispensable in finding new sources of food for them. As they leave, the Autobots reveal that Hi-Test and Throttle are actually robots (they say), and to "have a nice day".

The Pretenders return to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], their mission to get [[microchip]]s unfulfilled, and Hi-Test, Throttle, and their [[Powermaster]] partners are pursued by the Mecannibals.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Cloudburst]] (2)
*[[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] (3)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (7)
|c2=
*[[Dreadwing (G1)|Dreadwing]] (9)
*[[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]] (11)
*[[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] (12)
|c3=
*[[Berko]] (4)
|h4=[[Nebulan]]s|c4=
*[[Hi-Test (G1)|Hi-Test]] (5)
*[[Throttle (G1)|Throttle]] (6)
|h5=Others|c5=
*[[Master Mouth]] (1)
*[[Cruncher]] (8)
*[[Shandikar]] (10)
*[[First One]] (13)
}}

==Quotes==
"Wait! Before you take that first bit, Master Mouth, consider -- is this truly the '''best''' fare you can provide your faithful crew?" 
"What're you talkin' about, food?!" 
"As presently served, we are doomed to be just another forgettable '''snack'''. But marinate us in savory mercury sauce, garnish us with succulent lead sulfide crystals, sprinkle us with flavorful iron filings... and we become a '''dining experience!'''"
:— '''Cloudburst''' (who knows WAY too much about this) attempts to reach '''Master Mouth''' through his stomach

"We must '''reason''' with them -- show them we're not a threat!" 
"Reason's gonna be the death of me yet!"
:— '''Cloudburst''' and '''Landmine'''

"Look, your Firstness, Cloudburst and I don't want any trouble, but if you want to play rough, we--" 
"--'''humbly apologize''' for our intrusion, your grace." 
"Apologize? To '''them?!'''" 
"You see, Landmine agrees."
:— '''Landmine''' and '''Cloudburst'''

"But you... you are different. You are strong and clever. Handsome. Fearless. I've never met a man like you. You can be my people's '''Second One'''." 
"What's a Second One?" 
[''going in for the kiss''] "My mate." 
"Y-you don't understand! Where I come from, there are no women, no men... no mates!"
:— the '''First One''' and '''Cloudburst''' have a lil' heart-to-fuel pump chat.

"Y'know, for a human she's not bad." 
"Yes, she is a very compassionate, caring woman." 
"No, I mean anyone who can lop your head off with '''one''' blow is okay by me!"
:— '''Landmine''' and '''Cloudburst''': comic and straight man

==Notes==
===Sex===
Cloudburst says that his people have no males or females, and certainly no mating. ([[Aunty]]? Who's that?) So what's up with [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], who shows up in the movie adaptation and Marvel UK's future strips? [[Simon Furman]] would later get around this by having [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] being [[Prime's Rib!|built by the Autobots to appease human feminists]]. [[Fun Publications]] would get around this with [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] by [[Games of Deception|not caring]].

However, the letters page for this very issue already had an answer! It said that Transformers have "no need" for gender as they don't reproduce sexually, and that describing themselves in gender terms "is a convention the Transformers probably picked up from hanging around Earthlings too long." "Most have characteristics that are commonly associated with males, so they are referred to as “he’s”. On a rare occasion, one might come across as female and is referred to as a “she”. Arcee fits into this latter category." (We can be nice and assume when Transformers that haven't met humans are saying "he" or "him", it's a translation of the local lingo)

===Continuity errors===
*So robots who have been messily bitten apart, chewed up, and "digested" into their basic components, not counting their cast-off "robot skeletons", can somehow be reassembled and magically brought back to life. ''Riiiiiight''. This ''surely'' has nothing to do with backpedaling on the kid-unfriendly horror of robo-cannibalism.
*The Mecannibals give up on their wares and large parts of their ship to get their robot-spotters back unharmed. Yet upon finding out they themselves are robots, they decide to eat them rather than utilize them as before to replace everything they have lost to get them back.

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Nomates.jpg|upright=1.2|thumb|Or maybe Cloudburst is just very scared of commitment.]]
*Apparently, the Autobots possess the ability to translate alien languages, but it doesn't kick in with new languages instantly, requiring some time to decipher.
*Landmine claims to have fought 50 [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticon]]s at once.
*As Cloudburst heads back to Earth at the issue's end, Sky Lynx is alongside him, but apparently heads elsewhere as he never appears in the series again.

===Real-life references===

===UK Printing===
'''Issue #217'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Race with the Devil]]"
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''[[Visionaries]]'' - "The Balance of Power" and ''[[Combat Colin]]''
'''Issue #218'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "Race with the Devil"
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Visionaries'' - "The Balance of Power" and ''Combat Colin''
'''Issue #219'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Survivors!]]"
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Visionaries'' - "The Balance of Power" and ''Combat Colin''
'''Issue #220'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "Survivors!"
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Visionaries'' - "The Balance of Power" and ''Combat Colin''
*'''[[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]:''' [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]
*'''Classic Covers Calendar:''' May [[Grudge Match!|#136]]
*The Calendar was a month too late having been switched with June in [[Race with the Devil|#216]]. The ''Combat Colin'' strip explains that this was due to Professor Madprof.

===Covers (5)===
*'''US issue #53 cover:''' First One beheading Cloudburst, by [[Jim Lee]].
*'''UK issue #217 cover:''' Dreadwind over a defeated Darkwing, by [[Jez Hall]].
*'''UK issue #218 cover:''' Sky Lynx and [[Dogfight (G1)|Dogfight]], by [[Lee Sullivan]].
*'''UK issue #219 cover:''' [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] and monsters, by [[John Stokes]].
*'''UK issue #220 cover:''' First One holding Cloudburst's severed head, by John Stokes.
<gallery>
File:MarvelUS-53.jpg|'''US issue #53''' - A wonderful work of artistic merit. That lives under my mattress.
File:MarvelUK-217.jpg|'''UK issue #217''' - Yes, and I'd do it again if I could!
File:MarvelUK-218.jpg|'''UK issue #218''' - Thanks Sky Lynx. We'll let you know.
File:MarvelUK-219.jpg|'''UK issue #219''' - Skids, you ''suck''.
File:MarvelUK-220.jpg|'''UK issue #220''' - ...of course the BRITISH are allowed to show beheadings on covers.
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
====US====
*Campbell's soup - inside front cover
*''F.I.S.T.'' fantasy telephone game - between pages 4 & 5
*Quickshot joystick / Tak-a-toys - between pages 5 & 6
*American Comics - between pages 7 & 8 and between pages 8 & 9
*''How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way'' and ''X-Men'' videos - between pages 8 & 9
*Mile High Comics - between pages 16 & 17 and between pages 17 & 18
*Bullpen Bulletins and checklist - between pages 19 & 20
*''How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way'' and ''X-Men'' videos - between pages 20 & 21
*[[Letters page|Transmissions]]
*Marvel subscription service
*Morning Funnies cereal - inside back cover
*Clearasil acne medicine (back cover)

====UK====
????

===Reprints===
*'''''[[Transformers: Last Stand]]'' TPB cover:''' [[Swindler]], [[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]], [[Snarler]], [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] and half a Mecannibal, by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''''Transformers: Last Stand'' Hardback cover:''' A damaged [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]] battling Snarler and [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]], by [[Frank Quitely]].
*'''[[Classic Transformers Volume 4|''Classic Transformers'' Volume 4]] cover:''' Panels from US issues [[Skin Deep|#59]] and [[Yesterday's Heroes!|#60]], pencils by José Delbo, inks by Dave Hunt and colours by Nel Yomtov.
*'''[[The Transformers Classics, Vol. 5|''The Transformers Classics,'' Vol. 5]] cover:''' [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] by [[Guido Guidi]].
*'''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection|''Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection:Volume 15: Time Wars'']]''': [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] profile pic over [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] blasting the [[Wrecker]]s from issue #204; art by [[Lee Sullivan]] (pencils #204), [[Stephen Baskerville]] (inks, #204) and [[Don Figueroa]]? (Highbrow).

<gallery>
File:Titan-LastStandSC.jpg|'''''Transformers: Last Stand'' TPB''' (Titan Books, 2005)
File:Titan-LastStandHC.jpg|'''''Transformers: Last Stand'' HC''' (Titan Books, 2005)
File:Classic Transformers Vol4.jpg|'''''Classic Transformers'' Volume 4''' (IDW Publishing, 2009)
File:TFClassicsVol5.jpg|'''''The Transformers Classics,'' Vol. 5''' (IDW Publishing, 2012)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v15.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 15: Time Wars''''' (Hachette Partworks, 2019)
</gallery>

[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Recipe for Disaster!

2020-05-10T12:18:05Z

Timrollpickering: /* Gender */ Furman may well have seen the letters page (it was published six months before Prime's Rib) and just considered it insufficient given the Arcee-Hot Rod relationship

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #53
|prev=Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?
|next=King Con!
|title="Recipe for Disaster!"
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #217–220
|prev2=Race with the Devil
|next2=Survivors!
|image=MarvelUS-53.jpg
|caption=She also cut off his arm so as to unobstruct our view of her metal brazier. (Y'know, to light a small fire in.)
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=February [[1989]]
|coverdate=June 1989
|writer=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|penciler=[[José Delbo]]
|inker=[[Dave Hunt]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Jade Moede]]
|editor=[[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''The Pretenders must avoid becoming the Mecannibals' next meal... by providing them with proper seasoning?'''

==Synopsis==
[[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] and [[Cloudburst]] are about to become the [[Mecannibal]]s' next meal. But although the Mecannibals forcibly yank the [[Autobot]]s from their shells via an electro-magnet, the Autobots are able to fight for their lives by radio-controlling their shells. All this does is buy the Autobots some time, so Cloudburst suggests that the Mecannibals not eat them just yet... because they'll taste so much better if they can get the proper seasonings! So they make a deal: the [[Pretender]]s will get the proper seasonings in exchange for their freedom. Naturally, the hungry Mecannibals let the Autobots go to fetch the seasonings, but they do hold [[Berko]] prisoner in order to ensure that the Autobots return to make good on their culinary skills once their mission is complete.

And so, the Autobots travel to [[Femax]], a world led by female warriors, and where men are treated as slaves. Because men on Femax are seen as feeble and weak, the Femaxian "[[First One]]" challenges Cloudburst to a series of trials designed to prove that he is an able fighter. Cloudburst passes these trials, proving not only his warrior skills, but also his viability to the "First One" as a potential mate. This makes matters awkward for Cloudburst, and he reveals to the First One that he isn't even a biological being. The First One promptly responds by lopping off Cloudburst's head. This leaves Landmine alone to reason with the First One, which he does despite his general inclinations, and the First One actually listens, agreeing to give the Autobots the crystals they need to season the Mecannibals' food and to restore Cloudburst's head atop his shoulders.

When the Autobots attempt to leave the planet, they are stopped by [[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]] and [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]], but this delay is short-lived, as [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] shows up out of nowhere to take out the two [[Decepticon]]s. Sky Lynx informs the Pretenders that the humans they have been dealing with are in fact [[binary bonding|binary bonded]] to these Decepticons, which gives them some interesting information to share with the Mecannibals upon their return to the [[Mecannibals' ship]].

Upon their return, the Autobots change the terms of their deal. Rather than fixing a meal for the Mecannibals using the special seasonings they've just retrieved, the Autobots insist on having all the robots eaten by them restored using the parts recycled through their digestive tracts. If the Mecannibals don't agree, Sky Lynx gets to go primal on [[Hi-Test (G1)|Hi-Test]] and [[Throttle (G1)|Throttle]], who the Mecannibals have apparently found indispensable in finding new sources of food for them. As they leave, the Autobots reveal that Hi-Test and Throttle are actually robots (they say), and to "have a nice day".

The Pretenders return to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], their mission to get [[microchip]]s unfulfilled, and Hi-Test, Throttle, and their [[Powermaster]] partners are pursued by the Mecannibals.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Cloudburst]] (2)
*[[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] (3)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (7)
|c2=
*[[Dreadwing (G1)|Dreadwing]] (9)
*[[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]] (11)
*[[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] (12)
|c3=
*[[Berko]] (4)
|h4=[[Nebulan]]s|c4=
*[[Hi-Test (G1)|Hi-Test]] (5)
*[[Throttle (G1)|Throttle]] (6)
|h5=Others|c5=
*[[Master Mouth]] (1)
*[[Cruncher]] (8)
*[[Shandikar]] (10)
*[[First One]] (13)
}}

==Quotes==
"Wait! Before you take that first bit, Master Mouth, consider -- is this truly the '''best''' fare you can provide your faithful crew?" 
"What're you talkin' about, food?!" 
"As presently served, we are doomed to be just another forgettable '''snack'''. But marinate us in savory mercury sauce, garnish us with succulent lead sulfide crystals, sprinkle us with flavorful iron filings... and we become a '''dining experience!'''"
:— '''Cloudburst''' (who knows WAY too much about this) attempts to reach '''Master Mouth''' through his stomach

"We must '''reason''' with them -- show them we're not a threat!" 
"Reason's gonna be the death of me yet!"
:— '''Cloudburst''' and '''Landmine'''

"Look, your Firstness, Cloudburst and I don't want any trouble, but if you want to play rough, we--" 
"--'''humbly apologize''' for our intrusion, your grace." 
"Apologize? To '''them?!'''" 
"You see, Landmine agrees."
:— '''Landmine''' and '''Cloudburst'''

"But you... you are different. You are strong and clever. Handsome. Fearless. I've never met a man like you. You can be my people's '''Second One'''." 
"What's a Second One?" 
[''going in for the kiss''] "My mate." 
"Y-you don't understand! Where I come from, there are no women, no men... no mates!"
:— the '''First One''' and '''Cloudburst''' have a lil' heart-to-fuel pump chat.

"Y'know, for a human she's not bad." 
"Yes, she is a very compassionate, caring woman." 
"No, I mean anyone who can lop your head off with '''one''' blow is okay by me!"
:— '''Landmine''' and '''Cloudburst''': comic and straight man

==Notes==
===Gender===
Cloudburst says that his people have no males or females, and certainly no mating. ([[Aunty]]? Who's that?) So what's up with [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], who shows up in the movie adaptation and Marvel UK's future strips? [[Simon Furman]] would later get around this by having [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] being [[Prime's Rib!|built by the Autobots to appease human feminists]]. [[Fun Publications]] would get around this with [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] by [[Games of Deception|not caring]].

However, the letters page for this very issue already had an answer! It said that Transformers have "no need" for gender as they don't reproduce sexually, and that describing themselves in gender terms "is a convention the Transformers probably picked up from hanging around Earthlings too long." "Most have characteristics that are commonly associated with males, so they are referred to as “he’s”. On a rare occasion, one might come across as female and is referred to as a “she”. Arcee fits into this latter category." (We can be nice and assume when Transformers that haven't met humans are saying "he" or "him", it's a translation of the local lingo)

===Continuity errors===
*So robots who have been messily bitten apart, chewed up, and "digested" into their basic components, not counting their cast-off "robot skeletons", can somehow be reassembled and magically brought back to life. ''Riiiiiight''. This ''surely'' has nothing to do with backpedaling on the kid-unfriendly horror of robo-cannibalism.
*The Mecannibals give up on their wares and large parts of their ship to get their robot-spotters back unharmed. Yet upon finding out they themselves are robots, they decide to eat them rather than utilize them as before to replace everything they have lost to get them back.

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Nomates.jpg|upright=1.2|thumb|Or maybe Cloudburst is just very scared of commitment.]]
*Apparently, the Autobots possess the ability to translate alien languages, but it doesn't kick in with new languages instantly, requiring some time to decipher.
*Landmine claims to have fought 50 [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticon]]s at once.
*As Cloudburst heads back to Earth at the issue's end, Sky Lynx is alongside him, but apparently heads elsewhere as he never appears in the series again.

===Real-life references===

===UK Printing===
'''Issue #217'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Race with the Devil]]"
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''[[Visionaries]]'' - "The Balance of Power" and ''[[Combat Colin]]''
'''Issue #218'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "Race with the Devil"
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Visionaries'' - "The Balance of Power" and ''Combat Colin''
'''Issue #219'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Survivors!]]"
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Visionaries'' - "The Balance of Power" and ''Combat Colin''
'''Issue #220'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "Survivors!"
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Visionaries'' - "The Balance of Power" and ''Combat Colin''
*'''[[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]:''' [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]
*'''Classic Covers Calendar:''' May [[Grudge Match!|#136]]
*The Calendar was a month too late having been switched with June in [[Race with the Devil|#216]]. The ''Combat Colin'' strip explains that this was due to Professor Madprof.

===Covers (5)===
*'''US issue #53 cover:''' First One beheading Cloudburst, by [[Jim Lee]].
*'''UK issue #217 cover:''' Dreadwind over a defeated Darkwing, by [[Jez Hall]].
*'''UK issue #218 cover:''' Sky Lynx and [[Dogfight (G1)|Dogfight]], by [[Lee Sullivan]].
*'''UK issue #219 cover:''' [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] and monsters, by [[John Stokes]].
*'''UK issue #220 cover:''' First One holding Cloudburst's severed head, by John Stokes.
<gallery>
File:MarvelUS-53.jpg|'''US issue #53''' - A wonderful work of artistic merit. That lives under my mattress.
File:MarvelUK-217.jpg|'''UK issue #217''' - Yes, and I'd do it again if I could!
File:MarvelUK-218.jpg|'''UK issue #218''' - Thanks Sky Lynx. We'll let you know.
File:MarvelUK-219.jpg|'''UK issue #219''' - Skids, you ''suck''.
File:MarvelUK-220.jpg|'''UK issue #220''' - ...of course the BRITISH are allowed to show beheadings on covers.
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
====US====
*Campbell's soup - inside front cover
*''F.I.S.T.'' fantasy telephone game - between pages 4 & 5
*Quickshot joystick / Tak-a-toys - between pages 5 & 6
*American Comics - between pages 7 & 8 and between pages 8 & 9
*''How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way'' and ''X-Men'' videos - between pages 8 & 9
*Mile High Comics - between pages 16 & 17 and between pages 17 & 18
*Bullpen Bulletins and checklist - between pages 19 & 20
*''How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way'' and ''X-Men'' videos - between pages 20 & 21
*[[Letters page|Transmissions]]
*Marvel subscription service
*Morning Funnies cereal - inside back cover
*Clearasil acne medicine (back cover)

====UK====
????

===Reprints===
*'''''[[Transformers: Last Stand]]'' TPB cover:''' [[Swindler]], [[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]], [[Snarler]], [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] and half a Mecannibal, by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''''Transformers: Last Stand'' Hardback cover:''' A damaged [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]] battling Snarler and [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]], by [[Frank Quitely]].
*'''[[Classic Transformers Volume 4|''Classic Transformers'' Volume 4]] cover:''' Panels from US issues [[Skin Deep|#59]] and [[Yesterday's Heroes!|#60]], pencils by José Delbo, inks by Dave Hunt and colours by Nel Yomtov.
*'''[[The Transformers Classics, Vol. 5|''The Transformers Classics,'' Vol. 5]] cover:''' [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] by [[Guido Guidi]].
*'''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection|''Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection:Volume 15: Time Wars'']]''': [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] profile pic over [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] blasting the [[Wrecker]]s from issue #204; art by [[Lee Sullivan]] (pencils #204), [[Stephen Baskerville]] (inks, #204) and [[Don Figueroa]]? (Highbrow).

<gallery>
File:Titan-LastStandSC.jpg|'''''Transformers: Last Stand'' TPB''' (Titan Books, 2005)
File:Titan-LastStandHC.jpg|'''''Transformers: Last Stand'' HC''' (Titan Books, 2005)
File:Classic Transformers Vol4.jpg|'''''Classic Transformers'' Volume 4''' (IDW Publishing, 2009)
File:TFClassicsVol5.jpg|'''''The Transformers Classics,'' Vol. 5''' (IDW Publishing, 2012)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v15.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 15: Time Wars''''' (Hachette Partworks, 2019)
</gallery>

[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

War Zone

2020-03-16T14:05:57Z

Timrollpickering: /* Continuity notes */ it didn't happen in the comic itself

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[Transformers: Generation 2 (Fleetway)|''Transformers: Generation 2'' (Fleetway)]] #2
|prev=War Without End (issue)
|next=Devices and Desires! (Marvel)
|title="War Zone"
|image=FleetwayUKG2-02.jpg
|caption=Yes this is the only colour he was available in...
|publisher=[[Fleetway]]
|date=October [[1994]]
|coverdate=("off sale") November [[1994]]
|script=[[Simon Furman]]
|pencils=[[Robin Smith]]
|inks=[[Bambos Georgiou|Bambos]]
|colours=[[Gill Whelan]]
|letters=[[Peter Nicholls]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''Megatron shows off his new abilities.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] is weakened after his battle with [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]], so tries stalling for time whilst the other [[Autobot]]s respond to his signal, but [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] sees through the ruse immediately. His power has been boosted immensely and Prime is soon subdued.

Elsewhere, [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] slowly recovers after being defeated by Megatron. He had come to [[Earth]] to warn Prime about new Decepticons but wound up being taken out by old ones. He summons his fellow [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]].

In the ruins of [[London]], the [[Stormtrooper (G1)|Stormtroopers]] have heard of a fight and are eager for some real action, hoping for Autobots. But then on their telescopic vision they see Megatron about to crush someone. As he is no longer their leader and may be about to destroy Bludgeon they charge in and attack, unwittingly saving Optimus Prime. The battle soon draws in other Decepticons, with the [[Skyscorcher]]s leaving the Autobots, who rapidly come to the conclusion Prime is in danger.

[[Image:Windrazor-UKG2comic.jpg|left|125px|thumb|]]
The Stormtroopers, Skyscorchers and [[Firecon]]s attack Megatron while Optimus Prime tries to rise. He is suddenly helped up by Grimlock, [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] and [[Slag (G1)|Slag]]. Wanting payback, they go into action against both Megatron and the other Decepticons. The arrival of [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], and [[Skram (G2)|Skram]] turns the tide and Megatron is concerned about his [[energon]] reserves so he orders Starscream to extract him. He plans to return.

Optimus Prime calls a halt to the battle and tells the Autobots to round up the prisoners and leave as soon as possible before the humans launch an indiscriminate counter-strike. He goes to deal with Bludgeon but finds the Decepticon leader has escaped.

Grimlock tells Prime that there are bigger fish to fry. He has discovered that, while the Autobots were offline, a "[[Cybertronian (faction)|whole new generation of Decepticons]] arise!" Later at [[Autobase]] on an asteroid, Grimlock explains how the new Decepticons have spread all over the galaxy, colonising worlds and turning them into little [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertrons]]. The Dinobots had caused problems and run into the leader, [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]], and barely escaped. Grimlock proposes an immediate huge strike but Prime says to wait until he gives the order. Privately, he wonders if ''this'' is at the root of his visions of an apocalypse or if it is something else...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (3)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] (4)
*[[Skram (G2)|Skram]] (12)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (13)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (14)
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (17)
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (18)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] (2)
*[[Rage (G1)|Rage]] (5)
*[[Drench (G1)|Drench]] (6)
*[[Aquablast]] (7)
*[[Hydradread]] (8)
*[[Eagle Eye (G2)|Hawk]] (9)
*[[Windrazor (G2)|Tornado]] (10)
*[[Terradive (G2)|Terradive]] (11)
*[[Sparkstalker]] (15)
*[[Flamefeather (G1)|Flamefeather]] (16)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] (19)
|h3=[[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian]]|c3=
*[[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] (20)
}}

==Quotes==

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
*Everyone is drawn and coloured in their ''Generation 2'' modes. Because the Dinobots were only released in a single colour each in the UK this means Grimlock is now blue, Snarl dark red and Slag green where they were once grey. This became especially noticeable when the comic later moved over to reprints of the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|Marvel ''Generation 2'' comic]], complete with their colours.

===Continuity errors===
*All characters are given their European toy names—e.g. "Hawk" not "Eagle Eye".
*The term "Decepticon" is used consistently for the [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronians]].

===Continuity notes===
*The teams shown reflect the toys available in the UK and so [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] and [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] are not present.
*Optimus Prime asks Megatron: "How did you get out? [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] reported our spacecraft, the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] - and all aboard her - destroyed." This suggests that something similar to the events of "[[All or Nothing!]]" took place in the Fleetway ''Generation 2'' comic continuity.
*Similarly Megatron states his new body was created with help from human scientists, again suggesting something similar to "[[Realignments]]".
*Conversely Grimlock has discovered the Cybertronians independently of Optimus Prime, which is not how events panned out in the American "[[War Without End!]]".
*The Decepticons show little respect for Megatron, with [[Windrazor (G2)|Windrazor]] sneering ''to his face'' that he's past it, but they do show quite a lot of loyalty towards Bludgeon. Pity for Bludgeon that ''these'' 'Cons weren't around [[The Power and the Glory|later]]...
*During the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Generation 1 comics]], the Firecons never had the chance to go up against Slag. This issue finally sees the Dinobot and a Firecon trade their [[Fire-breath|flame throwers]].

===Real-life references===

===Other trivia===
[[Image:UKG2Freestickers2.JPG|200px|right|thumb|]]
*The issue had a competition to win a complete set of all the ''Generation 2'' toys then on sale. To enter readers had to find a number of Autobot insignia hidden in the artwork and send the correct number in.
*The inside front and back covers are gatefolds, containing profiles of [[Manta Ray (G2)|Piranha]], [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], and [[Ransack (G2)|Blitz]]. All are illustrated with the relevant [[package art]].
*Another gatefold on the centre pages contains a [[Media:GiantBattleGame.jpg|"Giant Battle Game!"]] in which the Autobots and Decepticons race from opposite sides of the board to capture the Warworld in the centre.
*The issue came with a set of free stickers.
*In 2014, art from this issue would decorate a large plastic cup sold at Walmart for a dollar.

===Covers (1)===
<gallery>
File:FleetwayUKG2-02.jpg|'''Issue #2'''
</gallery>

*'''Issue #2 cover:''' Blue Grimlock, possibly by [[Robin Smith]].

===Reprints===
None as of yet.
[[Category:Fleetway issues]]

Wanted: Galvatron â€” Dead or Alive!

2019-10-24T15:41:17Z

Timrollpickering: /* Real-life references */ 114 not 113

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #113–114
|prev=King of the Hill!
|next=Burning Sky!
|title="Wanted: Galvatron — Dead or Alive!"
|image=MarvelUK-113.jpg
|caption=Rodimus realises that Galvatron has eaten the last muffin!
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=
|coverdate=[[May 16|16th]]–[[May 23|23rd May]] [[1987]]
|script= [[Simon Furman]]
|art= [[Geoff Senior]] (113)
|pencils= [[Will Simpson]] (114)
|inks= [[Tim Perkins]] (114)
|colours= [[Steve White]]
|letters= [[Annie Halfacree]] (113), [[Richard Starkings]] (114)
|editor= [[Ian Rimmer]]?
|chronology=[[Marvel Comics timeline#1987|1987]]/[[Marvel Comics timeline#Original future|Original future (2007)]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]] ([[Primax 984.20 Gamma|Marvel UK]])
}}
'''Rodimus Prime offers a bounty on the missing Galvatron which attracts the attention of Death's Head.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Deathshead113timejump.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|"I wore a fifteen pound skirt of bees for that woman, but it just wasn't enough."]]
In the year [[2007]], unable to find any trace of [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] after he threw him out of [[Unicron]], [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] in desperation places a bounty of 10,000 [[Shanix]] on him, dead or alive. On the planet [[Elpasos]] this attracts the attention of [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]], a bounty hunter (he prefers to be called a freelance peacekeeping agent).

Determined to claim the reward, after attacking a [[Elpasos barkeep|barkeep]] over the price of three quarts of [[oil]], Death's Head tracks down [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and beats out of them the details of how they and Galvatron [[Time travel|travelled back in time]]. Realising that Galvatron has probably fled back to the past, Death's Head decides to [[Time-jump mechanism|follow him]].

====First Blood!====
Rodimus, [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]], [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]], and [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] are cornered and shot by a [[Airborne hunter squad|squad of Decepticon planes]], resulting in the [[Ferak|squad leader]] standing over Rodimus, taunting him to beg for his life. However it's really an ambush and a hidden set of Autobots leap into action, quickly turning the battle around. When the squad leader begs for his own life to Rodimus, his request is brutally denied.

Later Rodimus and Kup debate about killing and the difference between Autobots and Decepticons.

Cyclonus and Scourge return to Decepticon headquarters and tell [[Nautilus]], a deep cover Autobot spy, about how Death's Head beat them up. Nautilus breaks cover and tells Rodimus Prime what he has learned. Rodimus is appalled at what he has set in motion.

In the past, [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] witnesses [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] being [[Mass substitution|displaced]] to [[Limbo]] as Death's Head arrives. Unwilling to allow any witnesses to know he is there, Death's Head blows Bumblebee apart.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] (5)
*Rodimus Prime (6)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (7)
*[[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]] (8)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] (13)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (14)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Cliffjumper]] (15)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|2007 Bumblebee]] (16)
*[[Autobot flunky]] (18)
*[[Nautilus]] (19)
*1987 Bumblebee (20)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (21)
|c2=
*[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (4)
*[[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] (9)
*[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (10)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (11)
*[[Airborne hunter squad]] (17)
|h3=[[Junkion (species)|Junkions]]|c3=
*[[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (12)
|c4=
*[[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]] (1)
*[[Elpasos barkeep]] (2)
*[[Unicron]] (3)
}}

==Quotes==
"'''Not''' bounty-hunter, yes? Don't like that term, understand? Freelance peace-keeping agent, yes? For certain financial remuneration, of course."
:—'''Death's Head'''

"I tell you, '''Cyclonus''', if that one-eyed '''freak''' ever talks to me like that again, I'll tap-dance on his brain-module!" 
"Only if you get to him before me, '''Scourge!'''"
:—'''Scourge''' and '''Cyclonus'''

"The Decepticons are evil, merciless - '''killers''', pure and simple. They kill in the name of conquest...They kill because they '''like''' it! But does that make our killing them any more justifiable? Doesn't it make us as bad as them?"
:—'''Rodimus Prime''' has a crisis of faith.

"Makes you an endangered species, eh?" 
"Huh! '''Says you!'''" 
"Yep."
:—'''Death's Head''' clobbers '''Bumblebee'''

==Notes==

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Rodimusprimerequestdenied.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Quoting ''The Transformers: The Movie'' before it became a fad!]]
*This is the first part of a story arc that continues in "[[Burning Sky!]]", "[[Hunters]]", "[[Fire on High!]]" and "[[Vicious Circle!]]", and the first "post-[[The Transformers: The Movie|movie]]" story, showing that while 1986 animated movie (or a version thereof) appears to have taken place, the comic is not going to be using the [[The Transformers (cartoon)#Season 3|cartoon season 3]] status quo.
*During ''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers (comic)|G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]'', Bumblebee was destroyed and rebuilt into Goldbug. However, the crossover was not considered part of UK continuity (and, indeed, wasn't reprinting the UK comic for several years). As a result, Simon Furman needed a different way of changing Bumblebee into Goldbug in order to match up with future US reprints. Hence, Death's Head's actions here. (Goldbug's origins are actually one of the biggest points of divergence between the US and UK comics).
*Nobody can remember Galvatron travelling to Earth's past, despite (at the very least) Ultra Magnus and Bumblebee being around and active participants of those events. This is largely consistent across most of the UK time travel stories which treat 1986-1989 almost as a parallel universe, rather than the past of the "future" universe. The only real exception is some stuff that happens in "[[Time Wars]]" (and that's a whole other can of messy [[time travel]] related worms).

===Transformers references===
*There's a callback to the movie here, when Rodimus does Optimus' "you who are without mercy" scene... and then shoots the Decepticon dead. This quickly sets up for the reader that Rodimus is not the same type of guy as Optimus. (And it's also a sneaky nod to ''Judge Dredd'' story ''The Apocalypse War'', where Dredd gives exactly the same response to someone's "beg" for mercy.)
*The [[2005 IDW continuity]] version of [[Ferak]] (who in Marvel continuity tangled with [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] way back in "[[The Smelting Pool!]]") was given a [[robot mode]] that strongly resembled the leader of the airborne hunter squad pictured above in ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|The Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'', where his background information hinted that they were the same individual. In [[2015]], the Facebook version of [[Ask Vector Prime]] would retroactively identify the squad's [[alternate mode]]s as [[hunter-seeker skyship]]s and confirm that their leader was indeed Ferak, who had survived his encounter with Blaster.

===Real-life references===
*Wreck-Gar is uncharacteristically quite quiet in issue #114, dropping only one of the many "British Junkionisms" that he would fling about with abandon in later stories. Here, he refers to ''{{w|Bob's Full House}}'', a BBC quiz show from the late 1980s. On the cover for this issue, he drops another, with "What's yours called?" referencing a contemporary advert for the {{w|Renault 5}} car.
*After Death's Head beats the mech-fluid out of him, the barkeep says "That'll do nicely", referencing a contemporary advert for {{w|American Express}}.

===Errors===
*On the cover of UK issue #114, most of Rodimus Prime's wheels clearly are unattached to the body at their hubs. The body is just resting on top of the wheels.
*Bumblebee is shown as being functional in 2007 as part of the Autobot ambush, despite being destroyed in 1987 and rebuilt as [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]] (although as he is later rebuilt again back into [[Pretender]] Bumblebee, maybe this isn't an error after all?).

===Trivia===
*The story starts on Elpasos, the first Marvel Transformers story partially set on a planet other than [[Earth]] or [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. The US continuity would have to wait until [[Nebulos]] in "[[Ring of Hate!]]".
*[[Fallen Angel|Like]] [[Gone but Not Forgotten!|some]] [[Burning Sky!|other]] [[Worlds Apart!|issues]], a free version of issue #113 (with an altered corner box) was given out at the chain of British steakhouses Berni Inn.
*[[James Roberts]] became hooked on Transformers due to issue #113, and after growing up to write Transformers comics professionally, he would pay homage to the issue that started it all by including the number 113 in many of his stories. Often it is just used to casually number or measure things (characters might travel 113 kliks, or something might occur for the 113th time), but a few of the more notable or recurrent uses of the number include [[Dominus Ambus|Agent 113]], [[Room 113]] and the [[113th Battalion]].

===Back-up stories===
'''Issue #113:'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''[[Inhumanoids|The Inhumanoids]]'' - "The Battle Down Below!" and ''[[Robo-Capers]]''
'''Issue #114:'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''The Inhumanoids'' - "The Battle Down Below!" and a [[Robo-Capers issue 114|''Robo-Capers'' strip]] featuring Transformers who didn't quite make the grade.

===Covers (2)===
*'''Issue #113 cover:''' Rodimus Prime is as mad as hell and he's not going to take it any more, by [[Geoff Senior]].
*'''Issue #114 cover:''' Wreck-Gar tries to sell us a flaming Winnebago, by [[Jeff Anderson]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-113.jpg|'''Issue #113'''
File:MarvelUK-114.jpg|'''Issue #114'''
</gallery>

===Reprints===
*'''Issue #221 cover:''' [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] & [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]/[[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]] split cover by Jeff Anderson.
*'''Issue #222 cover:''' Springer and [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]] chow on Nightmare Ant, by [[Simon Coleby]].
*'''Issue #223 cover:''' the [[Air Strike Patrol]] give [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]] the business, by Geoff Senior.
*'''Issue #224 cover:''' Rodimus and Galvatron engage in some hurt/comfort slash, by Geoff Senior.
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-221.jpg|'''Issue #221''' (Marvel Comics, 1989)
File:MarvelUK-222.jpg|'''Issue #222''' (Marvel Comics, 1989)
File:MarvelUK-223.jpg|'''Issue #223''' (Marvel Comics, 1989)
File:MarvelUK-224.jpg|'''Issue #224''' (Marvel Comics, 1989)
</gallery>
*'''''[[Transformers: Fallen Angel]]'' cover:''' Death's Head, by [[Geoff Senior]] and [[Oliver Harud]].
*'''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 4|''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 4]] cover:''' Rodimus and Galvatron fight whilst Scorponok squeezes [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] and Goldbug rides Wreck-Gar, by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 8: Wanted: Galvatron – Dead or Alive ''''': [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] by ??? and [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] by [[Dan Reed]]
<gallery>
File:TitanFA.jpg|'''''Fallen Angel''''' (Titan Books, 2003)
File:Classicuk4.jpg|'''''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 4''' (IDW Publishing, 2013)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v8.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection Vol. 8''''' (Hachette Partworks Ltd, 2017)
</gallery>

[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]