Editing 2005 IDW timeline

{{disambig2|the extensively-researched TFWiki.net chronology|the barely-researched IDW recap comic|The Transformers Continuum: The Definitive Chronology‎}}
A timeline for the events of [[IDW Publishing]]'s mainline [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] Transformers series.

''See also: [[IDW Generation 1 continuity]].''



==Timeline==
===1,000,000+ years ago===
'''~ 6.7 million BCE''' — The first ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' is launched and subsequently lost in the [[Benzuli Expanse]], ending up in the [[Dead Universe]]. <ref>6.2 million metacycles ago, with 1 metacycle = 13 months</ref> Notable crew include [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]],  {{storylink|Spotlight: Galvatron}} [[Nova Prime]], his strategist [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]],  {{storylink|Spotlight: Optimus Prime}}, [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]] and [[Grindcore (G1)|Grindcore]].  {{storylink|Spotlight: Cyclonus}}  Oh, and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]].  {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 14|Rebirth}}

'''? BCE''' — After Nova Prime and Jhiaxus disappear, [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] locks away Jhiaxus's experiment, [[Monstructor]], in an inter-dimensional prison.  {{storylink|Spotlight: Optimus Prime}}

[[Image:Apexthrone.JPG|right|thumb|200px|"I could make a giant purple griffin out of stolen automobiles..."]]

'''? BCE''' — The [[Autobot|Autobots]] evolve into a corrupt galactic police force and spark a riot when shutting down an energon-mining operation.  One of the miners, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], escapes in a shuttle and joins the illegal gladiatorial games in the city of [[Kaon]]. Megatron takes over the games and is approached by [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], an emissary of Senator [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] to cause terror throughout Cybertron. Megatron unites his gladiators under a common banner — the [[Decepticon|Decepticons]], but they are captured by [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]'s forces. [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and Soundwave's forces massacre the Senate, and release the Decepticons from prison. Megatron badly beats/kills Sentinel Prime, and the Decepticons occupy Kaon.  The Autobots withdraw to [[Iacon]].  {{storylink|Megatron Origin}}

'''? BCE''' — The Decepticons destroy a popular racetrack, putting [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] out of the spotlight when [[Zeta Prime]] orders the races suspended. Blurr gets caught in Autobot/Decepticon crossfire, and a young [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus]] convinces him to turn his self-confidence to the Autobot cause.  {{storylink|Spotlight: Blurr}}
{{-}}

===100,000+ years ago===
'''~650,000 BCE''' —  [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] begins planning [[Regenesis]], and begins distilling [[Energon (fuel)|energon]] into a catalyst which he then launches at various planets, including prehistoric [[Earth]]. <ref>"Six Hundred Thousand Meta-Cycles Ago"</ref> {{storylink|Spotlight: Shockwave}}


===10,000 years ago===

[[Image:Shockwaveg1idw.jpg|right|thumb|200px|WE DISAGREE]]

'''~8000 BCE''' — Shockwave openly leaves the Decepticons to begin stabilizing his Regenesis planets. However, he is followed by the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dynobots]], out for revenge; and on Earth — the first of the planets — they engage him in combat. While he defeats them, he is deactivated by a failsafe set by [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], as the Dynobots' ship triggers a volcanic eruption which buries all six in what would later become [[wikipedia:Eureka,_Nevada|Eureka, Nevada]].<ref>Grimlock was trapped in lava for 10,000 years, from Simon Furman's blog, [http://simonfurman.wordpress.com/2008/08/07/script-wrap-19/ Maximum Dinobots #2 Script (W)rap]</ref>  {{storylink|Spotlight: Shockwave}}

'''? (subsequent)''' — [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], on discovering Shockwave's absence, assigns Bludgeon to investigate his projects  {{storylink|Spotlight: Shockwave|Spotlight: Shockwave}} — and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] to watch over Bludgeon.  {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}}

'''?''' — [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] is rescued from the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacon]]s by an [[Jazz (G1)|unknown Autobot]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Jazz}}

'''?''' — [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] crashlands on an unnamed planet and spends a period of time there watching over young aliens named [[Kita]] and [[Coll]] until Kita dies when Cliffjumper is discovered by Decepticons. {{storylink|Spotlight: Cliffjumper}}

'''?''' — The Dynobots attack a Decepticon-held Energon silo in [[Sub-Sector-Nine]].  {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots issue 1}}

'''?''' — A Decepticon named [[Drift (G1)|Deadlock]] leaves [[Turmoil]]'s command when he feels disillusioned by what the civil war had become, and he stumbles across a third, neutral faction of Transformers. {{storylink|Spotlight: Drift}}

===100+ years ago===
'''~1550 CE''' — [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] renders Cybertron largely uninhabitable.<ref>700 stellar-cycles ago, so if a stellar cycle is ~7.5 months, then presumptively ~437 years ago.</ref> {{storylink|Stormbringer (comics)|Stormbringer}} 

'''Unknown'''
*In the final years of Cybertron's habitation, [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] uses [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] to take control of [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]].  Beachcomber attempts to assassinate [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], leaving him adrift in space.  The Decepticons began a massive offensive against the demoralized Autobots.  {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}
{{-}}

===1900–2000===
'''Unknown''' 
* [[Sixshot]] is challenged by the [[Reaper]]s, but refuses to join them.  {{storylink|Spotlight: Sixshot|Spotlight: Sixshot}}
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] leads a team to secure the [[Magnificence]].  [[Doubledealer]], posing as an Autobot, sabotages the raid.  Hot Rod hides the Magnificence.  
* Hot Rod infiltrates the Decepticon penal colony [[Styx]] to rescue "Dealer," who befriends him.  {{storylink|Spotlight: Hot Rod}}

[[Image:SpotlightSoundwave Bludgeon defeatsLaserbeakRavage.jpg|right|thumb|200px|He did the nasty in the recent pasty.]]

'''1984''' — [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] investigates [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon's]] activities on [[Earth]] and is deactivated when Bludgeon, after some of Shockwave's Regenesis ore — which he calls "Ultra-Energon" — triggers the eruption of [[wikipedia:Mount_St._Helens|Mount St. Helens]]<small> (4 years later than in the real world.)</small>  {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}}

'''1985''' — Soundwave, [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] are excavated by [[Skywatch]]. Interest is taken in the cassettes, found in "robot mode," but Soundwave, in cassette player mode, is apparently discarded.  {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}}

'''~1988''' — [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] tracks the Decepticon criminal [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] to [[Nebulos]], but despite damages, he escapes. <ref>29 stellar cycles ago, or 18 years</ref>  {{storylink|Spotlight: Ultra Magnus}}
{{-}}

===Current era===
'''2002''' — Current era of Transformer activity on Earth begins.

====2006====
* Shockwave's hand is discovered in an excavation in Nevada.  {{storylink|Spotlight: Shockwave}}
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] lures [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] to the planet [[Gorlam Prime]] and implants a device in his brain. {{storylink|Spotlight: Nightbeat}} 

=====Infiltration=====
[[Image:Infiltration6 takeyourpunishment.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Like a shot through the torso could kill a Transformer!]]
[[Image:Wolverinemanmachine.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Don't forget that this happened!]]
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s Infiltration unit on Earth discovers Shockwave's Regenesis ore, dubbing it "Ore-13."  {{storylink|Infiltration}}
* Thunderwing is reactivated on Cybertron by Bludgeon using the "Ultra-Energon," and decimates Nebulos before returning to Cybertron and running out of fuel in front of Optimus Prime.  {{storylink|Stormbringer (comics)|Stormbringer}}
* Megatron arrives on Earth and blows a hole through Starscream for disloyalty.  {{storylink|Infiltration issue 6|Infiltration #6}}
* After the Thunderwing crisis, Optimus Prime travels to Earth, following Shockwave's and Bludgeon's records.  {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 4|Stormbringer #4}}
* Soundwave, trapped in alternate mode since 1984, is purchased from a pawn shop.  {{storylink|Spotlight: Soundwave}}
* Springer orders a costly mission to rescue the stranded and demented [[Kup (G1)|Kup]].  {{storylink|Spotlight: Kup}}
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] arrives on earth. Megatron initiates a plan to increase political unrest on Earth using [[Psycho-Prism|technology]] stolen from [[Doctor Doom]]. The Decepticons (except Ramjet) boost their powers by tapping into [[Spider-Man]]'s superhuman abilities. Megatron's plan is thwarted by the Autobots and [[Avengers]], helped in part by Ramjet's increasing disloyalty to Megatron. {{storylink|New Avengers / Transformers|Man and Machine}}

=====Escalation=====
* The Machination captures Sunstreaker, along with Hunter O'Nion. Hunter undergoes strange experimental surgery.  Scorponok anticipates getting a new body.
* The Decepticons escalate tension between Brasnya and Russia.  The Autobots intervene.  The ''Ark-32'' arrives with reinforcements.  During the battle, Prime is nearly killed, and encounters the form of Nova Prime within infraspace.  
* Ramjet initiates an ambitious plan to take control of the Decepticons.  {{storylink|Spotlight: Ramjet}}
* Ironhide, Ratchet, Jimmy and Verity investigate Sunstreaker's disappearance.  Ironhide is severely damaged in the process and left behind.
* Excavation of Shockwave and the Dinobots continues, now under Skywatch supervision.  Skywatch activates Ravage and Laserbeak.
* Megatron summons Sixshot to Earth.  The Reapers follow. 
* Megatron kills Ramjet before his plan can be carried out.  {{storylink|Spotlight: Ramjet}}
* Galvatron travels to Cybertron and defeats [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]'s unit to retrieve Thunderwing's body, which he takes to Gorlam Prime.  {{storylink|Spotlight: Galvatron}}
* Optimus Prime meets with [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] to learn about [[Nova Prime]].  [[Monstructor]] attacks but is defeated and taken into Autobot custody.  Prime returns to Earth.   {{storylink|Spotlight: Optimus Prime}}

=====Devastation=====
[[Image:Sixshot-devastation3a.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[Scale]]?!]]
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] is found drifting in space and returned to the Autobot fold.  [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] is freed from Decepticon control.  {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}
* [[Banzai-Tron (G1)|Banzaitron]] initiates an attack on the Autobot prison facility at [[Garrus-9]].  The Monstructor team escapes.  [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] is sent after them.  {{storylink|Spotlight: Arcee}}
* The Decepticons reactivate Starscream to deal with an erratic Megatron.  
* The Autobots' position is compromised so they move the ''Ark-19'', but are shot down by Sixshot. They battle, but Sixshot is called back to deal with the threat of the Reapers.  
* Wheeljack and Hot Rod attempt to rescue Ironhide but are attacked by [[Sunstreaker clone]]s. With Hardhead's help, they defeat them and rescue Ironhide.
* Skywatch deploys Ravage and Laserbeak to find other Transformers, but their signal is blocked by Soundwave, still trapped in stereo mode.
* Hunter awakens at Machination headquarters and finds Sunstreaker's head.  He undergoes the Headmaster process as [[Abraham Dante]] does the same with [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]. As a headmaster, he escapes the facility, but the Machination take Sunstreaker's real head. 
* In the [[Dead Universe]], [[Nova Prime]] orders [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] to Earth to deal with the Reapers, whom Sixshot has aligned with before he's shut down by Starscream. The other Decepticons engage the Reapers, losing the [[Battlecharger]]s, before being covertly assisted by Galvatron, who returns to the Dead Universe with the body of Sixshot.
* The Autobots learn of the incident at Garrus-9 and leave Earth while Hot Rod and Sunstreaker remain.
* Skywatch is notified of the battle and prepares to deploy [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]].  {{storylink|Devastation (IDW)|Devastation}}

=====Revelation=====
[[Image:SpotlightCyclonus DeadUniversetransformers.jpg|right|thumb|200px|]]
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] arrives on Cybertron and attacks Hound's crew as revenge for the devastation wrought by the war. His attack is interrupted by Ultra Magnus, and he is forced to retreat to [[Corata-Vaz]]. After activating the [[Nega-Core]], Cyclonus is again set upon, and activates the Nega-core's guardian, Thunderwing. He is forced to return to the Dead Universe as his body has been in the "living" world too long.  {{storylink|Spotlight: Cyclonus}}
* Optimus and his crew arrive at Garrus-9. They meet with Jetfire and Fortress Maximus and head back to the ''Ark-32''.  {{storylink|Spotlight: Cyclonus}}
* Nemesis Prime, Jhiaxus, Galvatron, [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]] and [[Grindcore (G1)|Grindcore]] cross over to begin their transition.  {{storylink|Spotlight: Cyclonus}}
* Nightbeat and Hardhead travel to [[Gorlam Prime]] to investigate Nightbeat's missing memories, and they encounter a large group of [[Micromaster|Micromasters]] trying to impede their progress. The pair makes it to the Dead Universe portal and Jhiaxus takes control of Nightbeat, forcing Hardhead to kill him, and dive into the portal himself.  {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}}
* Jetfire decides to use [[Pretender]] technology to enable [[Cloudburst]], [[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]], [[Groundbreaker]], and [[Waverider]] to survive the  Benzuli Expanse. {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}}
* Optimus receives a transmission from Dealer, who says that he's been monitoring the current situation, and he thinks that all of the answers they seek lie in the [[Magnificence]].  {{storylink|Spotlight: Hardhead}}  Hot Rod agrees and both travel to [[Ki-Aleta]], the planet where Hot Rod had hidden it earlier.  Using the oracle, Hot Rod discovers that Dealer betrayed him, and sends the traitor to his death moments before he could do the same to him.  The Magnificence later provides useful info to Ultra Magnus about the machinations of Nemesis Prime. {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}}
* Straxus and Grindcore mine energon in China. {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}} They are prevented doing this by Hound's team, primarily Sideswipe. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}
* Galvatron and Cyclonus attack the ''[[Mirror-Manifold]]'', the ship of Cloudburst and crew. {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}}  They are beamed out seconds before their ship explodes by the Technobots in the ''[[Nightbird (ship)|Nightbird]]'', who present them with their own personal Pretender carapaces.  Using these, they battle Galvatron and Cyclonus, defeating one and allowing the other to escape. Using their shells as temporary shields, they cross into the Dead Universe and manage to seal the gate to the Dead Universe{{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}
* Nemesis Prime arrives on Garrus-9, and is faced by Optimus Prime.  Optimus is attacked, using the [[Darkness (G1)|Darkness]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Doubledealer}}  However, the Darkness reaches out to Optimus as a successor.  Nemesis continues the attack but is blasted in the back by Galvatron and falls dead.  The Darkness enters Optimus Prime.  Galvatron offers Prime a choice: kill himself in the nearby Solar Pool, or willingly pass on the Darkness to him.  Prime does both, passing on the Darkness '''and''' tossing Galvatron into the pool. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}
*Arcee manages to track down Jhiaxus on Gorlam Prime, and with some help from an undead Hardhead, defeats him. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}
*At some future point, the residents of Gorlam Prime evolve into fully mechanical beings and rename their planet Cybertron. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

=====Maximum Dinobots=====
[[Image:Dynobots divided MaximumDinos.jpg|right|thumb|200px|It's all fun and games until someone remembers the Monsterbots exist.]]
* Grimlock awakens in Skywatch's care, but he escapes and after refusing an offer to join forces with Scorponok {{storylink|Spotlight: Grimlock}}, he and the other Dynobots end up fighting [[Sunstreaker clone]]s in [[Fallon, Nevada]] in an event orchestrated by Scorponok and the Machination.  
* Hot Rod takes on Scorponok and fails, while Sunstreaker and Hunter try to reclaim Sunstreaker's original head.  
* The Dynobots are rescued by the [[Monsterbot]]s, but begin to have misgivings about Grimlock's leadership, feelings which come to a head when it appears [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] has died from a blast by Scorponok.  
* Soundwave, Shockwave, Laserbeak and Ravage plot together and free themselves from Skywatch's control.
* Shockwave involves himself in the battle with Scorponok, and both are ultimately are defeated by Grimlock and the Dynobots.
* Ultra Magnus arrives to take them all into custody (including Grimlock but not the Dynobots).  Hunter is reunited with Verity and Jimmy, who Ratchet managed to resuscitate after their battle with Sixshot.  {{storylink|Maximum Dinobots}}

====2007====
*At some point between 2007 and 2010, Galvatron frees himself from the solar pool, fully fused with the Darkness. He tracks down the now dying Dead Universe transformers trapped in the living universe. He finds Cyclonus and a dying Scourge. Using his new powers, he revives Scourge, using him to create a personal guard in the form of the Sweeps {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 14}}
=====All Hail Megatron=====
[[Image:SpotlightDrift Deadlockisdead.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Finally!  A character we all can enjoy!]]
* Megatron and [[Deluge (Decepticon)|Deluge]] create the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]]s, with the many failed tests becoming the [[Insecticon swarm|"Swarm"]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}}
* Perceptor cures Kup's madness using [[Pretender]] technology, but remakes Kup a puppet for Prowl at his insistence. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15|All Hail Megatron #15}}
* Kup leads a team to rescue captured Autobots and receive assistance from a former Decepticon, now known as Drift. Kup forms a special unit and asks Drift to join.  Perceptor is gravely injured.  {{storylink|Spotlight: Drift}} 
* Hot Rod is attacked by a revived Bludgeon and the Monster Pretenders, and is rescued by Kup's unit. At the same time, Perceptor upgrades himself into a sniperer. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 15|All Hail Megatron #15}}
:'''One year after ''Devastation'':'''

*[[Sixshot]] raids an Autobot [[Orvus Base|orbital base]], looking for scientific information. The [[Throttlebot]]s escape with it. {{storylink|Spotlight: Metroplex}}
* Sunstreaker makes a deal with [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] to help him take out Megatron in exchange for the Autobots abandoning Earth.
* The Autobots are led into a Decepticon trap and are soundly defeated. Megatron takes the [[Matrix (G1)|Matrix]] and exiles them to Cybertron. Optimus Prime is left in critical condition.
* The Earth-based Decepticons, who have now bolstered their ranks with the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]], [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]], Soundwave, Ravage, Rumble and Laserbeak, cause rampant destruction in [[New York City]] and easily defeat a squad of attack aircraft.{{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}}
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Colonel Daniel Witwicky]] is brought to New York to aid in its defence.
* Military troops move into Central Park and are wiped out singlehandedly by Frenzy.
* The Decepticons begin destroying routes out of the city, including Devastator destroying underground tunnels. Laserbeak broadcasts pictures to the helpless military top brass. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 2|All Hail Megatron #2}}
* Reports reach Colonel Witwicky that more cities have fallen, including Washington DC, and Air Force One is now lying in ruins on the Lincoln Memorial.{{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 3|All Hail Megatron #3}}
{{stub|All Hail Megatron #4-#16}}

=====Post-All Hail Megatron''=====
{{spoiler|...For All Mankind|December 10}}
* Reverse-engineering Cybertronian tech, Skywatch develops weaponry and battle suits to capture Transformers.  [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] and [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] make it to Earth, but are amongst those captured.
{{storylink|...For All Mankind}}

====2010====
:'''Three years after ''All Hail Megatron'':'''
{{spoiler|...For All Mankind|December 10}}
[[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] attacks a power station in search of energon, but is captured by Skywatch.  When they threaten lethal force, Prowl transforms to defend but is captured as well.  Wheeljack creates a device to counter Skywatch's immobilizers and fits the remaining Autobots with them.  Hot Rod leads a rescue operation for Prowl but Ironhide is killed while escaping. Depressed, Optimus Prime resigns as Autobot leader and surrenders to Skywatch.
{{storylink|...For All Mankind}}

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Chronologies]]
[[Category:Generation 1]]