View source for Transformers Legends (comic)

{{disambig3|Legends}}

{{Nav-Legends}}

[[File:Legends web comic.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Making [[e-HOBBY#e-HOBBY exclusive fiction|e-Hobby]] comics look approachable since 2014.]]
'''''Transformers Legends''''' (トランスフォーマーレジェンズ ''Toransufōmā Rejenzu'') is a series of comedic comic strips helmed by [[Hayato Sakamoto]] and published online to promote the titular ''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Transformers Legends]]'' toyline, with special ''Bonus Edition'' (出張版 ''Shutchōban'') chapters of the comic packed with the toys themselves. Initially showcasing the misadventures of the ''[[Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers|Beast Wars]]'' cast re-imagined as adult ''Transformers'' fans themselves, ''Legends'' eventually spiraled into one of the most convoluted narratives in the history of the mammoth [[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]].

The comic represents something of a second pass at a hard pivot towards Japan's "{{w|otaku}}" market of adult collectors in the face of the brand's dwindling popularity with children after [[TakaraTomy]]'s disastrous [[Transformers: Kiss Players (franchise)|first attempt]] in the mid-2000s, unfortunately once again trafficking in quite a few of the [[Transformers Legends (comic)#Reception|questionable tropes]] endemic to the genre. This time TakaraTomy seemingly found their audience, with the comic running for five years from [[2014]] to [[2019]]. 

''Legends'' ultimately concluded when TakaraTomy began a brand unification with Hasbro starting with ''[[Power of the Primes (franchise)|Power of the Primes]]'', deciding to mainly sell Hasbro toys as is with minimal changes to packaging. It was eventually succeeded by the more action-oriented ''[[Generations Selects Special Comic]]'' promoting Hasbro and TakaraTomy's joint ''[[Generations Selects (franchise)|Generations Selects]]'' imprint.

{{chapters
|title=Main ''Transformers Legends'' comic
|content=
*[[Legends Vol. 1|#1]]
*[[The Generation Gap|#2]]
*[[The Youth Gap|#3]]
*[[Legends Vol. 4|#4]]
*[[Legends Vol. 5|#5]]
*[[Legends Bonus Vol.|Bonus (Transformers Celebration 2014)]]
*[[TF4 Toy Party|#6]]
*[[TF4 Toy Party|#7]]
*[[Tokyo Toy Show 2014 Report|#8]]
*[[Legends Vol. 9|#9]]
*[[Legends Vol. 10|#10]]
*[[Legends Vol. 11|#11]]
*[[Prank|#12]]
*[[Legends Vol. 13|#13]]
*[[Legends Vol. 14|#14]]
*[[LG01 Rattrap|LG01]]
*[[LG02 Optimus Primal|LG02]]
*[[Legends Vol. 15|#15]]
*[[LG03 Tankor|LG03]]
*[[LG04 Roadbuster|LG04]]
*[[LG05 Whirl|LG05]]
*[[Merry X'mas!!|Bonus (Christmas)]]
*[[Legends Vol. 16|#16]]
*[[Legends Vol. 17|#17]]
*[[LG06 Sky-Byte|LG06]]
*[[LG07 Jetfire|LG07]]
*[[LG08 Swerve & Tailgate|LG08]]
*[[2015's Swerve|#18]]
*[[Transformers 2015 Tailgate/G1 Mini-Con Chapter|#19]]
*[[LG09 Brainstorm|LG09]]
*[[Transformers 2015 Brainstorm Chapter|#21]]
*[[LG10 Arcee|LG10]]
*[[Transformers Legends: Arcee Chapter|#20]]
*[[LG11 Chromia|LG11]]
*[[LG12 Windblade|LG12]]
*[[Windblade Sequel|#22]]
*[[Deckss × Q-Transformers Collaboration Event Report|Bonus (Deckss × Q-Transformers)]]
*[[Legends Vol. 23|#23]]
*[[LG13 Megatron|LG13]]
*[[LG-EX Black Convoy|LGEX (Black Convoy)]]
*[[LG-EX Armada Megatron|LGEX (Armada Megatron)]]
*[[TAV21 Optimus Prime Now on Sale!|#24]]
*[[LG13 Megatron Sequel|#25]]
*[[LG14 Ultra Magnus Prologue Part 1: Resurrection Chapter|#26]]
*[[LG14 Ultra Magnus Prologue Part 2: Mysterious Knowledgeable Grandpa Chapter|#27]]
*[[LG14 Ultra Magnus Prologue Part 3: Autumn Megatron Festival Chapter|#28]]
*[[LG14 Ultra Magnus|LG14]]
*[[Ultra Magnus Sequel|#29]]
*[[Go! Adventure|#30]]
*[[LG15 Nightbird Shadow|LG15]]
*[[LG16 Slipstream|LG16]]
*[[LG17 Blackarachnia|LG17]]
*[[Transformers Legends: Chromia Chapter|#31]]
*[[LG-15 Nightbird Shadow Sequel|#32]]
*[[LG-16 Slipstream Sequel|#33]]
*[[LG-18 Armada Starscream Super Mode Prologue 1|#34]]
*[[LG-18 Armada Starscream Super Mode Prologue 2|#35]]
*[[LG18 Armada Starscream Super Mode|LG18]]
*[[LG19 Springer Prologue|#36]]
*[[LG19 Springer|LG19]]
*[[LG-EX Deadlock|LGEX (Deadlock)]]
*[[LG-EX Rattrap|LGEX (Rattrap)]]
*[[LG-EX Waspinator|LGEX (Waspinator)]]
*[[LG-EX Rhinox|LGEX (Rhinox)]]
*[[LG20 Skids|LG20]]

<center>'''Headmaster Chapter:'''</center>
*[[Headmaster Chapter Prologue|#37]]
*[[LG21 Hardhead|LG21]]
*[[LG22 Skullcruncher|LG22]]
*[[LG23 Galvatron|LG23]]
*[[LG24 Shockwave & Cancer Prologue|#38]]
*[[LG24 Shockwave|LG24]]
*[[LG25 Blurr|LG25]]
*[[LG-26 Scourge Prologue|#39]]
*[[LG26 Scourge|LG26]]
*[[LG27 Blaster|LG27]]
*[[LG28 Rewind|LG28]]
*[[LG29 Wheelie|LG29]]
*[[LG30 Weirdwolf|LG30]]
*[[LG31 Fortress Maximus|LG31]]
*[[LG32 Chromedome|LG32]]
*[[LG33 Highbrow|LG33]]
*[[LG34 Mindwipe|LG34]]
*[[LG-EX Convobat|LGEX (Convobat)]]
*[[LG35 Super Ginrai|LG35]]
*[[LG36 Soundwave|LG36]]
*[[LG37 Ravage|LG37]]
*[[LG38 Laserbeak|LG38]]
*[[LG39 Brainstorm|LG39]]
*[[LG40 Astrotrain|LG40]]
*[[LGEX Headmaster Set Chapter|#40]]
*[[Lio Dad|#41]]
*[[LG41 Leo Prime|LG41]]
*[[LG-43 Trypticon Project Chapter|#42]]
*[[LG42 Godbomber|LG42]]
*[[LGEX Black Convoy Prologue|#43]]
*[[LG-EX Black Convoy (2017)|LGEX (Headmaster Black Convoy)]]
*[[LG-EX Magna Convoy|LGEX (Magna Convoy)]]
*[[LG43 Trypticon Mobilization Chapter: Decepticon Civil War|#44]]
*[[LG43 Trypticon|LG43]]

<center>'''Targetmaster Chapter:'''</center>
*[[Targetmaster Chapter Prologue|#45]]
*[[LG44 Sharkticon|LG44]]
*[[LG45 Targetmaster Hot Rod|LG45]]
*[[LG46 Targetmaster Kup|LG46]]
*[[Mutant Targetmaster Birth Chapter|#46]]
*[[LG47 Kickback|LG47]]
*[[LG48 Brawn|LG48]]
*[[LG49 Targetmaster Triggerhappy|LG49]]
*[[Transformers Legends Special Chapter|Bonus (Kre-O)]]
*[[LG50 Sixshot|LG50]]
*[[LG51 Doublecross Prologue|#47]]
*[[LG51 Targetmaster Doublecross|LG51]]
*[[LG52 Targetmaster Misfire|LG52]]
*[[LG53 Broadside|LG53]]
*[[LG-EX God Ginrai|LGEX (God Ginrai)]]
*[[TF Legends Late Xmas Present Chapter|#48]]
*[[LG54 Bumblebee & Exo-Suit Spike|LG54]]
*[[Slugslinger's Ambition|#49]]
*[[LG55 Targetmaster Slugslinger|LG55]]
*[[LG56 Perceptor|LG56]]
*[[LG57 Octane|LG57]]
*[[LG58 Autobot Clones|LG58]]
*[[LG59 Blitzwing Prologue: Big-sensei|#50]]
*[[LG59 Blitzwing|LG59]]
*[[LG60 Overlord|LG60]]
*[[LG-EX Metroplex|LGEX (Metroplex)]]
*[[LG61 Decepticon Clones|LG61]]
*[[LG62 Targetmaster Windblade|LG62]]
*[[LG63 G2 Megatron|LG63]]
*[[LG64 Seaspray & Lione|LG64]]
*[[Jumpstarter Chapter|#51]]
*[[LG65 Targetmaster Twin Twist|LG65]]
*[[LG66 Targetmaster Topspin|LG66]]
*[[LG-EX Greatshot|LGEX (Greatshot)]]
*[[LG-EX Grand Maximus|LGEX (Grand Maximus)]]
*[[Targetmaster Chapter Finale: Legends World in Imminent Danger! Part One|#52]]
*[[Targetmaster Chapter Finale: Legends World in Imminent Danger! Part Two|#53]]

<center>'''The Road to Legends' Revival Chapter:'''</center>
*[[The Road to Legends' Revival Chapter 1|Revival 1]]
*[[The Road to Legends' Revival Chapter 2|Revival 2]]
*[[The Road to Legends' Revival Chapter 3|Revival 3]]
*[[LG-EX Repugnus|LGEX (Repugnus)]]
*[[LG-EX Grotusque|LGEX (Grotusque)]]
*[[LG-EX Blue Big Convoy|LGEX (Blue Big Convoy)]]
*[[The Road to Legends' Revival Chapter 4: LG-EX Big Powered Prologue Part One|Revival 4]]
*[[The Road to Legends' Revival Chapter 5: LG-EX Big Powered Prologue Part Two|Revival 5]]
*[[LG-EX Sonicbomber|LGEX (Sonic Bomber)]]
*[[LG-EX Roadfire|LGEX (Roadfire)]]
*[[LG-EX Daiatlas|LGEX (Dai Atlas)]]
*[[Transformers Legends Final Chapter "Epiloge"|Epilogue]]
}}

{{chapters
|title=Additional ''Transformers Legends'' comics
|content=
<center>'''''—Spin Off—'''''</center>
*[[Decepticon Jaeger Deadlock|Deadlock]]
*[[Cybertron Convobat|Convobat]]&nbsp;([[Cybertron Convobat prequel comic|prequel]])
*[[Cybertron Magna Convoy|Magna&nbsp;Convoy]]&nbsp;([[Cybertron Magna Convoy prequel comic|prequel]])
*[[Blue Big Convoy comic|Blue Big Convoy]]
<center>'''Other:'''</center>
*"[[The Beast Wars Road Map|The&nbsp;Beast&nbsp;Wars&nbsp;Road&nbsp;Map]]"
*"[[Rescue the Monorail!]]"
}}

''Legends'' begins as a {{w|yonkoma|four-panel}} black-&-white comic strip set in a world known as the "[[Legends World]]", where ''Transformers'' is a franchise of toys and fiction—essentially the real world, but instead of people it's populated by [[super deformed]] ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' characters who don't consider themselves Transformers. The main characters of the comics are the ''Beast Wars'' [[Maximal]]s, reimagined as a group of {{w|salaryman|salarymen}} working at the "[[Axalon Trading Company]]" in Japan. They retain their quirky speech patterns from the jovial Japanese dub of the show. Early jokes revolve around the characters being ''Transformers'' fans themselves, each representing a different facet of the [[fandom]], the main cast being:

*[[Rattrap (Legends)|Rattrap]], the company's new recruit who grew up with and unconditionally loves ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]''
*[[Rhinox (Legends)|Rhinox]], a middle-aged man who doesn't care for anything newer than the [[The Transformers (franchise)|Generation 1]] of his childhood
*[[Optimus Primal (Legends)|Optimus Primal]], the serious-minded boss who has no interest in toys himself, but does buy them for his son [[Optimus Minor|Minor]]
*[[Silverbolt (Legends)|Silverbolt]], a young excitable part-timer and fan of the recent [[live-action film series]]
*[[Tigatron (Legends)|Tigatron]], a moe otaku who only likes ''Transformers'' franchises with cute girls, like ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (franchise)|Kiss Players]]''
*[[Waspinator (Legends)|Waspinator]], an employee of [[Tera-Kura Co.]], fan of all things ''Transformers'' and expert on minor trivia, he serves to fill the other characters (and readers) in on the more obscure portions of the franchise

Other recurring characters include the lazy, irresponsible [[Cheetor (Legends)|Cheetor]], hungry [[Dinobot (Legends)|Dinobot]], and gender-ambiguous {{w|Office lady|office ladies}} [[Airazor (Legends)|Airazor]] and [[Nightscream (Legends)|Nightscream]]. Later strips introduce the Axalon Co.'s rivals, the "[[Tera-Kura Co.]]" led by [[Megatron (Legends)|Megatron]]. Various other inhabitants of the Legends World are versions of ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars II]]'', ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (franchise)|Beast Wars Neo]]'', and ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 franchise)|Car Robots]]'' characters.

In its earliest days, the comic revolved primarily around the Axalon employees' everyday misadventures at and around their office, with the full-color toy pack-in strips (Bonus Editions) serving as spotlight adventures for the relevant characters. Over time, the online strips were increasingly used to provide "prologue" and "sequel" chapters for the pack-in comics (often in full color and several pages themselves), creating ongoing serialized storylines. When the toyline began releasing ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' moulds and dramatically increased its output, the accompanying comics became more story-heavy than ever before, and told a continuing storyline that saw large numbers of characters from the [[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Generation 1 cartoon universe]] take up residence in Legends World. Online chapters became almost entirely reserved for linking story material, with the original-format four-panel gag strips a very infrequent occurrence.

==Creative team==
The series is written and drawn by Hayato Sakamoto, but many others have collaborated with him.

{{collist|3|
* [[Josh Perez]] (color)
* [[Yuki Ohshima|Yūki Ōshima]] (original plan cooperation, color, pencil, design)
* [[Gufu Kandagawa]] (color, ink, additional art)
* [[Usakomu]] (color)
* [[Ichi zero three]] (color)
* [[Tasuku Tajima]] (color, ink)
* [[DAI-XT]] (color)
* [[Kinotukimi]] (color)
* [[Kokoa]] (color)
* [[Mieko Furuki]] (color, ink)
* [[Kamizono]] (color, ink)
* [[Derrick J. Wyatt]] (cooperation)
* [[James Roberts]] (cooperation)
* [[Marcelo Matere]] (cooperation)
* [[Tori O'Regan]] (cooperation)
* [[Andrew Hall]] (cooperation)
* [[Atsunori Takano]] (cooperation)
* [[Kouji Nimura]] (cooperation)
* [[Bā San]] (cooperation)
* [[Hisashi Yuki]] (original plan, supervision)
}}

==Continuity and timeline==
The Legends World exists in a complicated place in the [[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]. Outside of traditional space and time, the Legends World is an ongoing narrative that is visited by Cybertronians from various eras, often decades apart. For simplicity's sake, the major eras involved are listed below.

*[[2004]]:
** In early ''Legends'' comics, [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] and [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] arrive in the Legends World from 2004. This era takes place four years after the events of ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 cartoon)|Car Robots]]'' and is roughly parallel to the events of ''[[Robotmasters (franchise)|Robotmasters]]''. Jetfire returned to 2004 with Legends natives [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] and [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]], introducing them to the timeline. {{storylink|LG07 Jetfire}} [[Scourge (RID)|Scourge]] also arrives in the Legends World from roughly the same era, and departs with Sky-Byte. {{storylink|LG-EX Black Convoy}} However, the two of them resurface circa 2021. {{storylink|Ruination Chapter, Part Two}}

*[[2021]]: 
** The majority of dimension-hopping characters from the Headmasters/Targetmasters chapters of Legends come from this era. {{storylink|Headmaster Chapter Prologue}} This is the period of time between the ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce]]'' and ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (cartoon)|Victory]]'' anime. The ''[[Transformers Unite Warriors|Unite Warriors]]'' comics take place in the same era, and several characters cross back and forth between ''Unite Warriors'' and ''Legends'' at this time. {{storylink|Ruination Chapter, Part Two}} When the Legends World was destroyed, these characters returned to 2021. {{storylink|Targetmaster Chapter Finale: Legends World in Imminent Danger! Part Two|Targetmaster Finale, Part Two}}

*[[2035]] - 2038:
** Next, several characters emerge from the 2030s, the furthest point in the Japanese G1 timeline prior to the Beast Era (as of ''Legends''{{'}} publication). This is the post-''G-2'' era, briefly chronicled in several e-HOBBY pack-in comics. The resurrection of [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] {{storylink|LG14 Ultra Magnus Prologue Part 1: Resurrection Chapter}} and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] being overthrown by [[Galvatron II]] date to this era. {{storylink|Legends Vol. 23}} When the Legends world was destroyed, these characters also returned to their original era, thereby arriving in the Japanese cartoon continuity roughly 15 years after other characters who left the collapsing world at the same time. The local inhabitants of the Legends World primarily ended up in this time period after departing. {{storylink|Targetmaster Chapter Finale: Legends World in Imminent Danger! Part Two|Targetmaster Finale, Part Two}}

*Other:
** Several examples also exist of "one-off" travels from different universal streams or time periods. The [[Quintesson]]s of 11 million years ago invaded the Legends World in the present stories with their military hardware drones, including a young [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]. [[Slipstream (Animated)|Slipstream]] also arrived from the ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Animated]]'' continuity, as did  an alternate universe [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] & [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] from ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]''. The cast of ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' also briefly touched upon the Legends World after their series ended.

*Origin:
** Finally, the Legends World itself emerged from an ontological paradox. The universe was created in the 2030s by the [[Jumpstarter]]s [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] and [[Twin Twist (G1)|Twin Twist]], with the assistance of the [[Zodiac]], [[proton energy]], and the telepathic power of [[Katsu Don]] and the [[Zamojin (species)|Zamojin]]. The Jumpstarters agreed to help Katsu Don create this world because, in 2004, they had already met and befriended Legends natives Whirl and Roadbuster. Thus, Topspin and Twin Twist knew the Legends World was destined to be created because it had already happened. Trippy, right?

==Reception==
[[File:TFLegendsAutobotsHalloweenCostumes.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|Not the [[An Uneventful Night|Combiner Hunters]]' proudest moment.]]
Describing ''Legends''{{'}} reception is...''complicated'', to say the least.

Since the ''Legends'' manga was distributed as toy pack-ins, it’s hard to measure its overall success in numbers. In terms of fan reactions, domestic fans in Japan generally lapped it up. While G1 callbacks are par for the course in modern ''Transformers'' media, ''Legends'' regularly went the extra mile in granularity, with regular continuity and story callbacks not just to major fiction like the [[The Transformers: The Movie|movie]], but specific cartoon episodes; the comic's tendency to tie the long-running [[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon timeline|timeline]] together with various continuity fixes and [[retcon]]s endeared it to nostalgic Japanese fans in a major way. The comedic stylings of the office segments called back the popular gag dub of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)#Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers|Beast Wars]]'' while also playing on classic Japanese workplace comedy tropes: crazy scenarios, bumbling bosses and exasperated underlings, and so on.

It's not surprising then that western fan reactions were much more mixed. Its nostalgic pulls relied heavily upon an in-depth knowledge of pre-existing Japanese ''Transformers'' fiction, and the language barrier cannot be overstated: no complete fan translation into English exists, so most western fans were reacting to comics they couldn't actually read and relying on summaries from those who could. The comic is infamous for much of its humor becoming increasingly sexual in nature as time went on, with narratives regularly finding excuses for its [[Female Transformer|female cast]] to wear skimpy outfits and end up in compromising poses. It's important to note here that this sort of thing is sadly pretty par for the course for Japanese nerd media, something its target demographic of toy-buying adult ''otaku'' had long since become desensitized to.

Much more unpleasant is the comic's consistent use of transphobic and homophobic humor, following on from similar jokes in the ''Beast Wars'' dub. Notably, [[Airazor (Legends)|Airazor]] and [[Nightscream (Legends)|Nightscream]] are depicted as ''{{w|otokonoko}}'' "office ladies", whose female presentation while being male is the focus of entire strips, consisting primarily of characters reacting in shock and confusion upon realizing that "feminine" characters were "actually" men. While these depictions ''are'' rooted in the characters' original characterizations in early Japanese media, and thus can be interpreted as the author taking their existing personalities to their natural conclusion, this sort of blatant queerphobic humor is ''much'' harder to accept in a world where both the franchise and its audience have expanded and become far more inclusive. Unfortunately, however, this sort of thing is also very common in Japanese nerd media—to say nothing of nerd media in general—and again flew over the head of many Japanese readers as being anything worth reacting negatively to.

Finally, it's important to consider where the source of this content was coming from. While creator Hayato Sakamoto was the primary writer and artist, it shouldn't be forgotten that Takara had to sign off on the whole thing, right up until the end of the ''Legends'' toyline, implying the contents of the comic didn't matter to them as long as the product was being sold, if not suggesting that Takara actively encouraged it. That said, while trends like these would continue into Sakamoto's ''[[Transformers Unite Warriors]]'' spin-off series, its successor ''[[Generations Selects Special Comic]]'' expunged itself of almost all sexual content and comedy in general, largely replacing the "cheesecake" fanservice with "deep fandom lore" fanservice even after Sakamoto took the reins of the project.

==Notes==
*As is to be expected, the characterizations for the cast are derived from the Japanese version of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)#Japan|Beast Wars]]'' and ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)#Japanese release|Beast Machines]]''. In most instances, these characterizations were ''extremely'' different from their Western counterparts. As such, some of the "gags" might fly over the heads of those unacquainted with the radically different Japanese version of the show.
*In the above promotional image, a version of [[Depth Charge (Legends)|Depth Charge]] accompanied by an [[Megatron (Armada)/toys|''Armada'' Megatron]] toy (suggesting that he may have been a fan of the [[Unicron Trilogy continuity family|Unicron Trilogy]]) can be glimpsed, but he doesn't appear in the comic itself until near to the very end of the epilogue chapter.

==External links==
*[http://tf.takaratomy.co.jp/products/tf_lg/tf_lg_comic ''Transformers Legends'' web issues] at the TakaraTomy website
*[https://mangadex.org/title/0ddf9ab6-081a-4d19-a3d0-72630555d70c/transformers-legends Ongoing unofficial English translation of ''Transformers Legends''] by BlazingTL on MangaDex

{{DEFAULTSORT:Legends (comic)}}
[[Category:Manga]]
[[Category:Legends franchise| ]]