Editing Relatives

[[Image:PrimeDirective4 Cover SunstreakerSideswipe.jpg|right|300px|thumb|You, Artist! Make me shinier!]]
Throughout the [[Transformer|Transformers]] multiverse are many Transformers who consider themselves family and refer to each other as such. The most common case is when two Transformers regard each other as siblings.

Given that Transformers are not organic life and likely do not [[Reproduction|reproduce sexually]], the origin, distinction, and exact meaning of many of these terms is frequently unclear. 

== Possible explanations ==
The [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] ''[[More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|More Than Meets The Eye]]'' guide provides a partial possible answer. According to the guide, when a spark naturally splits as it's being introduced to a protoform, it creates two robots who are "brothers", such as Sideswipe and Sunstreaker. When such a spark division is artificially induced, the less balanced and self-reliant pair created are referred to as "clones". (This definition of "brother" may or may not apply to RID Prime and Magnus, whose brotherhood was said to result from the special circumstance of having been created simultaneously by Alpha Trion).

However, the "[[Beast Era]]" widened the issue of reproduction with Rattrap referring to his "great-aunt" [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] and in general the practice of Maximals and Predacons referring to the Autobots and Decepticons as their respective "ancestors", as well as themselves as being their "descendants", implying a direct genetic (for want of a better term) lineage. Various sources of debatable canonicity suggest that [[Optimus Primal]] is specifically descended from [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], usually through the phrase "his ancestor Optimus Prime." In the absence of sexual reproduction, the use and meaning of these genealogical references is difficult to explain. One possible explanation might be a situation such as when [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] is brought to life. Her [[spark]] and [[protoform]] are heavily damaged, and [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] allows some of his parts to be used as replacements while [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] guides the procedure. {{storylink|The Spark}} To compare to humans, this is something like assisting with childbirth and donating blood or organs. It seems unlikely that this happened enough to cause two large societies to consider themselves "descendants" of two other, ancient large societies. 

Other family designations exist as well. [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] has "parents" who were lost in his crash on [[Quintessa]], according to [[The Story of Wheelie, the Wild Boy of Quintesson|some background material]]. The Mini-Con [[Twirl]] very specifically calls [[Falcia]] her "mother" (which Falcia ''hates'') and seems to treat [[Redline]] like a father, since the two's spark frame energies went into constructing her physical form. {{storylink|Linkage Part 7}} In the ''Armada'' cartoon, [[Side Swipe (Armada)|Side Swipe]] refers to [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] as his brother after Hot Shot saves his life, suggesting at least an understanding of the concept; on the other hand, the ''Armada'' cartoon is originally Japanese, and in Japan, 'brother' and 'sister' can be used as terms of affection or respect to an unrelated person. The [[Unicron Trilogy]] universe has also used the term "cousin" for certain Transformers on occasion. The ''Victory'' manga from the Japanese Generation 1 era features Decepticon wives and children. Even the [[Transformers (2007)|live-action movie]] features an [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]] and [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] who are brothers, and it is mentioned in [[Transformers Autobots/Decepticons|the related Nintendo DS game]] that Megatron "took the spark" of their father.

IDW has [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] mentioning that his ''"batch proto-initiator '''told''' me there'd be moments like this''...", when he was wondering if he should take the humans and investigate the bunker in Nebraska. {{storylink|Infiltration issue 3}}

==Notable siblings==
===Generation 1 / Beast Era===
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]
*[[Fastlane]] and [[Cloudraker (G1)|Cloudraker]]
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]
*[[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] and [[Twin Twist]]
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], [[Karmen]] and [[Toaster]] in Marvel UK continuity<ref>[http://www.transfans.net/comics_guide_detail.php?id=461&amp;page=22 Letters Page to Marvel UK 310 at Transfans.net]</ref>
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] and [[Bluster]] in IDW continuity
*[[Pounce]] and [[Wingspan]]
*[[Leadfoot|Hot Foot]] and [[Manta Ray (G2)|Piranha]]<ref name="G2annual">Crossword clues in the [[Official Transformers Generation 2 Annual]]</ref>
*[[Electro]] and [[Volt]]<ref name="G2annual"/>
*[[Gearhead]] and [[Greasepit (G2)|Greasepit]]
*[[Roulette]], [[Shadow Striker]] and an unnamed third sister
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] in Dreamwave continuity
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], and [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] in IDW continuity<ref>Mentioned by Megatron in "All Hail Megatron" #3</ref>
*[[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] and [[Dinobot II]] were refered to as half brothers by [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] because Dinobot contains part of Rampage's [[Spark]].

;Japanese continuity
<!--List in chronological order-->
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] and [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] in Japanese toy bios
*[[Decibel]] and [[Legout]]
*[[Shōki]] and [[Yukikaze (G1)|Yukikaze]]
*[[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and [[Grand Maximus]]
*[[Leozack]] and [[Lyzack]] in the ''Victory'' manga
*[[Sixliner]] and [[Sixtrain]]
*[[Clamp Down]] and [[Deep Cover]]
*[[Galvatron (BWII)|BWII Galvatron]] and [[Megastorm]]
*[[DJ (BWII)|DJ]], [[Motorarm (BWII)|Motorarm]] and [[Gimlet]]

===Car Robots / Robots in Disguise===
*[[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (RID)|Ultra Magnus]]
*[[X-Brawn]], [[Prowl (RID)|Prowl]] and [[Side Burn (RID)|Side Burn]] — the [[Autobot Brothers]]
*[[Gas Skunk]], [[Dark Scream]] and [[Slapper (RID)|Slapper]] (Only in Japanese toy catalogs)

===Unicron Trilogy===
*[[Inferno (Energon)|Inferno]] and [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]] (Toy bio only)
*[[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] and [[Overcast (Energon)|Overcast]]
*[[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] and [[Landquake (Energon)|Landquake]]
*[[Shockblast (Energon)|Shockblast]] and [[Six Shot]]
*[[Superion Maximus]] and his [[Anonymous Maximus|brother]]
*[[Signal Flare (Energon)|Signal Flare]] and [[Offshoot (Energon)|Offshoot]]
*[[Hardtop (Cybertron)|Hardtop]] and [[Swindle (Cybertron)|Swindle]]
*[[Undermine]] and [[Repugnus (Cybertron)|Repugnus]]

===Live-action film series===
*[[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]], and [[The Fallen]]
*[[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]], [[Chromia (ROTF)|Chromia]] and [[Flareup (ROTF)|Flareup]]
'''Twins'''
{{main|Twin}}
*[[Tread]] and [[Trample]]
*[[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]]

===Transformers Animated===
*[[Jetstorm (Animated)|Jetstorm]] and [[Jetfire (Animated)|Jetfire]]

===Shattered Glass===
* [[Jazz (SG)|Jazz]] and [[Ricochet (SG)|Ricochet]]

==Parents and children==
[[Image:Yourmom.jpg|right|120px|thumb|Stampy, eat your roast carrot before it gets chilled.]]
*[[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] is ("more than almost like a") father to [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Elita One]] in the cartoon continuity.

*Additionally, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] may have a mother.<ref>In an advertisement for [[Pepsi Convoy]] that shows him in a refrigerator (along with [[Destron Pizza]]), a note attached to a nearby piece of tupperware reads:
[[Image:Optimusprime-mom.jpg|right|100px|thumb|Dear Son: Don't forget to close the fridge door.]]
:''Dear Convoy''
:''Warm it before you eat''
:''Mom''

:Although the ad itself is for Pepsi Convoy, he is a separate character, and it can be assumed that the note was left for Convoy/Optimus Prime himself.</ref>

*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]]'s parents are mentioned in "[[The Story of Wheelie, the Wild Boy of Quintesson]]".

*[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] is "father" to the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]] in the cartoon continuity.<ref>[[Grimlock's New Brain|Nosecone: "Are...are you my father?"]]</ref>

*[[Quickswitch]] is [[Sixshot]]'s son. <ref>Quickswitch's commercial</ref>

*Every member of the [[Dinoforce]] has [[Baby Dinoforce|children]] in the ''Victory'' manga.

*[[Speeder]] is the son of [[Dai Atlas (G1)|Dai Atlas]].

*[[Lio Junior]] is the "son" of [[Lio Convoy]].<ref>Lio Junior was created by the influence of pure energy upon Lio Convoy’s [[Energon Matrix]].</ref>

*[[Stampy]]'s parents are mentioned.

*[[Cohrada]]'s father is mentioned.

*[[Longrack (BWN)|Longrack]]'s father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-...well, a LOT of his ancestors are mentioned.<ref>Most of the main Maximals in the [[Beast Wars Neo (manga)|''Beast Wars Neo'' manga]] have families because they spring from whole races of rabbits, cobras, giraffes, etc. They were evolved into Transformers from actual organic animals in this story.</ref>

*As was mentioned above, Movie [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]] and [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] had a father, who Megatron presumably killed.

* [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]] has a mother.<ref>Sideways calls out his mother when he's about to be blasted in "[[City]]".</ref>

* [[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]] alleges that he has a mother and a father<!--... but with his claim that his father was "the first wheel", it becomes hard to believe this is anything other than old-man craziness-->.
{{-}}

==Cousins==
===Shattered Glass===
*[[Crasher (SG)|Crasher]] and [[Blurr (SG)|Blurr]]

===Beast Era===
*[[Scuba]] and [[Ikard]]

===Unicron Trilogy===
*[[Skywarp (Armada)|Skywarp]] and [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] 
*[[Swindle (Armada)|Swindle]] and [[Zapmaster]]
*[[Bulkhead (Energon)|Bulkhead]] and [[Quickstrike (Energon)|Quickstrike]]
*[[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Overhaul]] and [[Brushguard]]

==Other relatives==
*[[Rattrap]] calls [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] his "great-aunt".<ref>Rattrap said "What in the name of my great-aunt [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] is going on!?" This is an in-joke referring to [[Susan Blu]], who was not only voice director on ''Beast Wars'', but the voice of Arcee in the Generation 1 cartoon series and [[Transmutate]] in the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon.  {{storylink|Transmutate (episode)|Transmutate}}</ref>

*[[Hot Shot (RID)|Artfire]] and [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Fire Convoy]] are relatives.

*[[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] and his descendant.<ref name="pred_dofp">See "Items of note" in ''[[Dawn of Future's Past]]''</ref>

*[[Tantrum]] and his descendant.<ref name="pred_dofp" />

*[[Headstrong]] and his descendant.<ref name="pred_dofp" />

==See also==
*[[Reproduction|Familial relationships]]

==Footnote==
<references />

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