Prime Directive - Revision history

Saix at 07:32, 3 July 2025

2025-07-03T07:32:49Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:32, 3 July 2025
Line 17:		Line 17:
	*[[Prime Directive issue 6\|#6]]		*[[Prime Directive issue 6\|#6]]
	}}		}}
	~~{{TOCclear}}~~
	==Overview==		==Overview==
	Prior to the events in the series, the Transformers had been gone from [[Earth]] for several years, having all vanished and thought destroyed in the destruction of their ''[[Ark II]]'' ship. The ship was carrying the victorious [[Autobot]]s and their captive [[Decepticon]]s back to [[Cybertron (planet)\|Cybertron]], but exploded soon after launch. Afterward, the sinister [[Lazarus]] collected their inert forms and found a way to control them, planning to sell them on the black market. However, the U.S. government has plans of its own... as do the Transformers themselves.		Prior to the events in the series, the Transformers had been gone from [[Earth]] for several years, having all vanished and thought destroyed in the destruction of their ''[[Ark II]]'' ship. The ship was carrying the victorious [[Autobot]]s and their captive [[Decepticon]]s back to [[Cybertron (planet)\|Cybertron]], but exploded soon after launch. Afterward, the sinister [[Lazarus]] collected their inert forms and found a way to control them, planning to sell them on the black market. However, the U.S. government has plans of its own... as do the Transformers themselves.

Chris McFeely: /* Production and release */

2025-04-15T10:40:53Z

Production and release

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:40, 15 April 2025
Line 28:		Line 28:
	Back then, rumors were circulating that Dreamwave was manipulating the market through a special deal with Diamond to ensure their success, or that [[Hasbro]] had set up an account to order large numbers of the ''Transformers'' comics. In fact, however, Hasbro had apparently ordered less than 200 copies per issue, and primarily because they were not guaranteed free copies from their contract with Dreamwave.<ref name ="litgtfspec">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14153 Lying in the Gutters ''Transformers'' Special], July 2002</ref> Later that year, other companies also reported high sales of "nostalgia" titles, thus further challenging those rumors.<ref name="litgnostal">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14245 Lying in the Gutters], October 2002.</ref>		Back then, rumors were circulating that Dreamwave was manipulating the market through a special deal with Diamond to ensure their success, or that [[Hasbro]] had set up an account to order large numbers of the ''Transformers'' comics. In fact, however, Hasbro had apparently ordered less than 200 copies per issue, and primarily because they were not guaranteed free copies from their contract with Dreamwave.<ref name ="litgtfspec">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14153 Lying in the Gutters ''Transformers'' Special], July 2002</ref> Later that year, other companies also reported high sales of "nostalgia" titles, thus further challenging those rumors.<ref name="litgnostal">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14245 Lying in the Gutters], October 2002.</ref>

	Each issue had two regular covers available in equal quantities, one featuring the Autobots, and one the Decepticons. The centre pages of each issue were a pull-out poster illustrated by [[James Raiz]]; two different posters were avaialble each issue, one with the Autobot cover, one with the Decepticons. This made twelve posters total, which could be combined into one giant super-poster.		Each issue had two regular covers available in equal quantities, one featuring the Autobots, and one the Decepticons. The centre pages of each issue were a pull-out poster illustrated by [[James Raiz]], [[Alan Wang]] and [[Kenny Li]]; two different posters were avaialble each issue, one with the Autobot cover, one with the Decepticons. This made twelve posters total, which could be combined into [http://www.transfans.co.uk/interviews/images/raizextra5b.jpg one giant super-poster], four issues wide by three high, featuring over 600 characters from multiple Transformers continuities.

	==Continuity==		==Continuity==

Chris McFeely: /* Production and release */

2025-01-21T15:22:23Z

Production and release

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:22, 21 January 2025
Line 27:		Line 27:

	Back then, rumors were circulating that Dreamwave was manipulating the market through a special deal with Diamond to ensure their success, or that [[Hasbro]] had set up an account to order large numbers of the ''Transformers'' comics. In fact, however, Hasbro had apparently ordered less than 200 copies per issue, and primarily because they were not guaranteed free copies from their contract with Dreamwave.<ref name ="litgtfspec">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14153 Lying in the Gutters ''Transformers'' Special], July 2002</ref> Later that year, other companies also reported high sales of "nostalgia" titles, thus further challenging those rumors.<ref name="litgnostal">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14245 Lying in the Gutters], October 2002.</ref>		Back then, rumors were circulating that Dreamwave was manipulating the market through a special deal with Diamond to ensure their success, or that [[Hasbro]] had set up an account to order large numbers of the ''Transformers'' comics. In fact, however, Hasbro had apparently ordered less than 200 copies per issue, and primarily because they were not guaranteed free copies from their contract with Dreamwave.<ref name ="litgtfspec">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14153 Lying in the Gutters ''Transformers'' Special], July 2002</ref> Later that year, other companies also reported high sales of "nostalgia" titles, thus further challenging those rumors.<ref name="litgnostal">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14245 Lying in the Gutters], October 2002.</ref>

			Each issue had two regular covers available in equal quantities, one featuring the Autobots, and one the Decepticons. The centre pages of each issue were a pull-out poster illustrated by [[James Raiz]]; two different posters were avaialble each issue, one with the Autobot cover, one with the Decepticons. This made twelve posters total, which could be combined into one giant super-poster.

	==Continuity==		==Continuity==

Saix: /* References */clean up, replaced: ==Footnotes== → ==References==, {{reflist}} → {{reflist|2}}

2023-05-18T18:33:16Z

References: clean up, replaced: ==Footnotes== → ==References==, {{reflist}} → {{reflist|2}}

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:33, 18 May 2023
Line 73:		Line 73:
	*'''Publisher:''' {{w\|lang=ja\|ジャイブ\|JIVE Ltd.}} (JIVE American Comics Series)		*'''Publisher:''' {{w\|lang=ja\|ジャイブ\|JIVE Ltd.}} (JIVE American Comics Series)

	==~~Footnotes~~==		==References==
	{{reflist}}		{{reflist\|2}}


	[[Category:Dreamwave Generation 1 comic series]]		[[Category:Dreamwave Generation 1 comic series]]

Sabrblade at 14:34, 27 September 2022

2022-09-27T14:34:45Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:34, 27 September 2022
Line 21:		Line 21:
	Prior to the events in the series, the Transformers had been gone from [[Earth]] for several years, having all vanished and thought destroyed in the destruction of their ''[[Ark II]]'' ship. The ship was carrying the victorious [[Autobot]]s and their captive [[Decepticon]]s back to [[Cybertron (planet)\|Cybertron]], but exploded soon after launch. Afterward, the sinister [[Lazarus]] collected their inert forms and found a way to control them, planning to sell them on the black market. However, the U.S. government has plans of its own... as do the Transformers themselves.		Prior to the events in the series, the Transformers had been gone from [[Earth]] for several years, having all vanished and thought destroyed in the destruction of their ''[[Ark II]]'' ship. The ship was carrying the victorious [[Autobot]]s and their captive [[Decepticon]]s back to [[Cybertron (planet)\|Cybertron]], but exploded soon after launch. Afterward, the sinister [[Lazarus]] collected their inert forms and found a way to control them, planning to sell them on the black market. However, the U.S. government has plans of its own... as do the Transformers themselves.

			==Production and release==
	"Prime Directive", originally only titled ''Generation 1'', was the first mass-market ''Transformers'' comic in nearly a decade, an absence reflected in the storyline.		"Prime Directive", originally only titled ''Generation 1'', was the first mass-market ''Transformers'' comic in nearly a decade, an absence reflected in the storyline.

Line 27:		Line 28:
	Back then, rumors were circulating that Dreamwave was manipulating the market through a special deal with Diamond to ensure their success, or that [[Hasbro]] had set up an account to order large numbers of the ''Transformers'' comics. In fact, however, Hasbro had apparently ordered less than 200 copies per issue, and primarily because they were not guaranteed free copies from their contract with Dreamwave.<ref name ="litgtfspec">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14153 Lying in the Gutters ''Transformers'' Special], July 2002</ref> Later that year, other companies also reported high sales of "nostalgia" titles, thus further challenging those rumors.<ref name="litgnostal">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14245 Lying in the Gutters], October 2002.</ref>		Back then, rumors were circulating that Dreamwave was manipulating the market through a special deal with Diamond to ensure their success, or that [[Hasbro]] had set up an account to order large numbers of the ''Transformers'' comics. In fact, however, Hasbro had apparently ordered less than 200 copies per issue, and primarily because they were not guaranteed free copies from their contract with Dreamwave.<ref name ="litgtfspec">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14153 Lying in the Gutters ''Transformers'' Special], July 2002</ref> Later that year, other companies also reported high sales of "nostalgia" titles, thus further challenging those rumors.<ref name="litgnostal">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14245 Lying in the Gutters], October 2002.</ref>

			==Continuity==
	"Prime Directive" established a new G1 continuity that drew on elements of [[The Transformers (cartoon)\|the cartoon]] but also incorporated some elements of the old [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)\|Marvel comics]] (most notably, the mention of [[Spike Witwicky (G1)\|Spike Witwicky]]'s brother [[Buster Witwicky (G1)\|Buster]], who originally only appeared in the Marvel comics) and generally does not fit well into any particular previous story. A second ''Generation 1'' volume called ''[[War and Peace]]'' followed, and an [[Transformers: Generation 1 (Dreamwave)\|ongoing series]] after that.		"Prime Directive" established a new G1 continuity that drew on elements of [[The Transformers (cartoon)\|the cartoon]] but also incorporated some elements of the old [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)\|Marvel comics]] (most notably, the mention of [[Spike Witwicky (G1)\|Spike Witwicky]]'s brother [[Buster Witwicky (G1)\|Buster]], who originally only appeared in the Marvel comics) and generally does not fit well into any particular previous story. A second ''Generation 1'' volume called ''[[War and Peace]]'' followed, and an [[Transformers: Generation 1 (Dreamwave)\|ongoing series]] after that.

			==Reception==
	Many fans found the series impressive for the great amount of care and detail put into the artwork. The glossy print and computer coloring were worlds beyond the newsprint paper and dotted coloring of the Marvel Comics series. Others felt that the storyline was needlessly decompressed (almost two whole issues pass before any of the Transformers actually speak), that the visual storytelling was [[dull surprise\|unclear]], and that the overall pacing suffered for the sake of needlessly dramatic splash pages.		Many fans found the series impressive for the great amount of care and detail put into the artwork. The glossy print and computer coloring were worlds beyond the newsprint paper and dotted coloring of the Marvel Comics series. Others felt that the storyline was needlessly decompressed (almost two whole issues pass before any of the Transformers actually speak), that the visual storytelling was [[dull surprise\|unclear]], and that the overall pacing suffered for the sake of needlessly dramatic splash pages.

Line 61:		Line 64:

	==International printings==		==International printings==

	'''Japan'''		'''Japan'''

Line 72:		Line 74:

	==Footnotes==		==Footnotes==
	~~<references />~~		{{reflist}}


	[[Category:Dreamwave Generation 1 comic series]]		[[Category:Dreamwave Generation 1 comic series]]

S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent 47 at 15:21, 23 October 2020

2020-10-23T15:21:31Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:21, 23 October 2020
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{~~disambig2~~\|~~the first Dreamwave G1 mini-series\|the 2018 Star Trek crossover called "~~Prime's Directive~~"\|Star Trek vs. Transformers~~}}		{{disambig3\|Prime Directive}}
	[[File:PrimeDirectiveTPB.jpg\|thumb\|upright=1.4\|What is [[Cosmos (G1)\|Cosmos]] doing on this cover? Why are glass shards flying away? Why is [[Spike Witwicky (G1)\|Spike]] only shown as a mysterious silhouette? Ah, Dreamwave covers. Always full of mystery.]]		[[File:PrimeDirectiveTPB.jpg\|thumb\|upright=1.4\|What is [[Cosmos (G1)\|Cosmos]] doing on this cover? Why are glass shards flying away? Why is [[Spike Witwicky (G1)\|Spike]] only shown as a mysterious silhouette? Ah, Dreamwave covers. Always full of mystery.]]

Cyberlink420 at 18:51, 25 February 2019

2019-02-25T18:51:43Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:51, 25 February 2019
Line 69:		Line 69:
	*'''Date published:''' [[December 17]], [[2003]]		*'''Date published:''' [[December 17]], [[2003]]
	*'''Translator:''' [[Hiroto Ishikawa]], [[Katsuya Akitomo]]		*'''Translator:''' [[Hiroto Ishikawa]], [[Katsuya Akitomo]]
	*'''Publisher:''' ~~[http://~~ja~~.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A3%E3%82%A4%E3%83%96~~ JIVE Ltd.] (JIVE American Comics Series)		*'''Publisher:''' {{w\|lang=ja\|ジャイブ\|JIVE Ltd.}} (JIVE American Comics Series)

	==Footnotes==		==Footnotes==

MistaTee: /* Notes */ Hachette note

2019-01-18T22:58:55Z

Notes: Hachette note

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:58, 18 January 2019
Line 35:		Line 35:

	==Notes==		==Notes==
	*"Prime Directive" was also the name of the original [[Transformers (film)\|''Transformers'' movie]] script, and a working title for [[IDW Publishing]]'s ''[[Transformers: Movie Prequel\|Movie Prequel]]'' mini-series.		* "Prime Directive" was also the name of the original [[Transformers (film)\|''Transformers'' movie]] script, and a working title for [[IDW Publishing]]'s ''[[Transformers: Movie Prequel\|Movie Prequel]]'' mini-series.
	*The "Prime Directive" trade paperback collections ~~are~~ the only official ~~release~~ of the eight-page [[Transformers Volume 2 Preview\|preview story]] for the second ''Generation 1'' volume, ''[[War and Peace]]''... which doesn't actually have a lot to do with the actual story of ''War and Peace'', due to a sudden change of writers.		* The "Prime Directive" trade paperback collections ''were'' the only official releases of the eight-page [[Transformers Volume 2 Preview\|preview story]] for the second ''Generation 1'' volume, ''[[War and Peace]]''... which doesn't actually have a lot to do with the actual story of ''War and Peace'', due to a sudden change of writers. The Hachette ''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection\|Definitive G1 Collection]]'' would eventually reconnect ''War and Peace'' with its Preview.

	==Collections==		==Collections==

Cyberlink420 at 17:12, 18 January 2019

2019-01-18T17:12:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:12, 18 January 2019
Line 2:		Line 2:
	[[File:PrimeDirectiveTPB.jpg\|thumb\|upright=1.4\|What is [[Cosmos (G1)\|Cosmos]] doing on this cover? Why are glass shards flying away? Why is [[Spike Witwicky (G1)\|Spike]] only shown as a mysterious silhouette? Ah, Dreamwave covers. Always full of mystery.]]		[[File:PrimeDirectiveTPB.jpg\|thumb\|upright=1.4\|What is [[Cosmos (G1)\|Cosmos]] doing on this cover? Why are glass shards flying away? Why is [[Spike Witwicky (G1)\|Spike]] only shown as a mysterious silhouette? Ah, Dreamwave covers. Always full of mystery.]]

	'''"Prime Directive"''' ~~was~~ a six-part ''Transformers'' story arc published by [[Dreamwave Productions]] in 2002, released as their initial ''[[Transformers: Generation 1 (Dreamwave)\|Transformers: Generation 1]]'' miniseries and set in the main [[Dreamwave Generation One continuity]]. It centers on the revival of the [[Transformer]]s after a catastrophe several years prior. Four of the six individual issues topped Diamond Comic Distributors' sales charts for the month they were released in (with one issue losing to another Dreamwave ''Transformers'' title and the other one to a special publicity stunt by [[Marvel Comics]]), an accomplishment no other ''Transformers'' comic title has achieved before or afterwards.		'''"Prime Directive"''' is a six-part ''Transformers'' story arc published by [[Dreamwave Productions]] in 2002, released as their initial ''[[Transformers: Generation 1 (Dreamwave)\|Transformers: Generation 1]]'' miniseries and set in the main [[Dreamwave Generation One continuity]]. It centers on the revival of the [[Transformer]]s after a catastrophe several years prior. Four of the six individual issues topped Diamond Comic Distributors' sales charts for the month they were released in (with one issue losing to another Dreamwave ''Transformers'' title and the other one to a special publicity stunt by [[Marvel Comics]]), an accomplishment no other ''Transformers'' comic title has achieved before or afterwards.

	On initial release, the story arc was untitled - the cover logos merely read ''Transformers'', while the inside front cover logo expanded this to "Dreamwave Productions presents The Transformers Generation 1" and the formal indicia listed it as "TRANSFORMERS: Generation 1, Issue (n), Vol. 1". It was finally given the title "Prime Directive" when the miniseries was collected in trade paperback form.		On initial release, the story arc was untitled - the cover logos merely read ''Transformers'', while the inside front cover logo expanded this to "Dreamwave Productions presents The Transformers Generation 1" and the formal indicia listed it as "TRANSFORMERS: Generation 1, Issue (n), Vol. 1". It was finally given the title "Prime Directive" when the miniseries was collected in trade paperback form.

Mammalian Verisimilitude: This has always bugged me. The STORY may be called "Prime Directive". The SERIES is just Transformers: Generation 1

2019-01-18T16:39:56Z

This has always bugged me. The STORY may be called "Prime Directive". The SERIES is just Transformers: Generation 1

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:39, 18 January 2019
Line 2:		Line 2:
	[[File:PrimeDirectiveTPB.jpg\|thumb\|upright=1.4\|What is [[Cosmos (G1)\|Cosmos]] doing on this cover? Why are glass shards flying away? Why is [[Spike Witwicky (G1)\|Spike]] only shown as a mysterious silhouette? Ah, Dreamwave covers. Always full of mystery.]]		[[File:PrimeDirectiveTPB.jpg\|thumb\|upright=1.4\|What is [[Cosmos (G1)\|Cosmos]] doing on this cover? Why are glass shards flying away? Why is [[Spike Witwicky (G1)\|Spike]] only shown as a mysterious silhouette? Ah, Dreamwave covers. Always full of mystery.]]

	'''''Prime Directive'''~~'' is~~ a six-part ~~miniseries~~ published by [[Dreamwave Productions]] in 2002, and set in the main [[Dreamwave Generation One continuity]]. It centers on the revival of the [[Transformer]]s after a catastrophe several years prior. Four of the six individual issues topped Diamond Comic Distributors' sales charts for the month they were released in (with one issue losing to another Dreamwave ''Transformers'' title and the other one to a special publicity stunt by [[Marvel Comics]]), an accomplishment no other ''Transformers'' comic title has achieved before or afterwards.		'''"Prime Directive"''' was a six-part ''Transformers'' story arc published by [[Dreamwave Productions]] in 2002, released as their initial ''[[Transformers: Generation 1 (Dreamwave)\|Transformers: Generation 1]]'' miniseries and set in the main [[Dreamwave Generation One continuity]]. It centers on the revival of the [[Transformer]]s after a catastrophe several years prior. Four of the six individual issues topped Diamond Comic Distributors' sales charts for the month they were released in (with one issue losing to another Dreamwave ''Transformers'' title and the other one to a special publicity stunt by [[Marvel Comics]]), an accomplishment no other ''Transformers'' comic title has achieved before or afterwards.

	~~While~~ the ~~series~~ was ~~simply titled '~~''''Transformers: Generation 1~~''''' when it was released~~, it was ~~dubbed ''~~Prime Directive'' when collected in trade paperback form.		On initial release, the story arc was untitled - the cover logos merely read ''Transformers'', while the inside front cover logo expanded this to "Dreamwave Productions presents The Transformers Generation 1" and the formal indicia listed it as "TRANSFORMERS: Generation 1, Issue (n), Vol. 1". It was finally given the title "Prime Directive" when the miniseries was collected in trade paperback form.

	{{chapters\|title=''Prime Directive'' issues:		{{chapters\|title="Prime Directive" issues:
	\|next=War and Peace		\|next=War and Peace
	\|content=		\|content=
Line 21:		Line 21:
	Prior to the events in the series, the Transformers had been gone from [[Earth]] for several years, having all vanished and thought destroyed in the destruction of their ''[[Ark II]]'' ship. The ship was carrying the victorious [[Autobot]]s and their captive [[Decepticon]]s back to [[Cybertron (planet)\|Cybertron]], but exploded soon after launch. Afterward, the sinister [[Lazarus]] collected their inert forms and found a way to control them, planning to sell them on the black market. However, the U.S. government has plans of its own... as do the Transformers themselves.		Prior to the events in the series, the Transformers had been gone from [[Earth]] for several years, having all vanished and thought destroyed in the destruction of their ''[[Ark II]]'' ship. The ship was carrying the victorious [[Autobot]]s and their captive [[Decepticon]]s back to [[Cybertron (planet)\|Cybertron]], but exploded soon after launch. Afterward, the sinister [[Lazarus]] collected their inert forms and found a way to control them, planning to sell them on the black market. However, the U.S. government has plans of its own... as do the Transformers themselves.

	''Prime Directive'', originally only titled ''Generation 1'', was the first mass-market ''Transformers'' comic in nearly a decade, an absence reflected in the storyline.		"Prime Directive", originally only titled ''Generation 1'', was the first mass-market ''Transformers'' comic in nearly a decade, an absence reflected in the storyline.

	The mini-series marked a brief phase of highly successful Dreamwave ''Transformers'' comics: Following an introduction in the form of a [[Prime Directive Preview\|six-page preview issue]], the first regular issue, released in April 2002, debuted at #1 of Diamond Comic Distributors' sales charts, an accomplishment repeated by issues 2, 3 and 6. Issue 4 ranked second behind Dreamwave's own ''[[Transformers: Armada (Dreamwave)\|Transformers: Armada]]'' [[Dreamwave Armada issue 1\|#1]], whereas issue 5 was beaten by Marvel's ''[[Fantastic Four]]'' #60 (which sold for a mere 9¢ as part of a one-off publicity stunt), with 705,109 copies ordered versus ''Generation 1'' #5's 122,829 copies. ''Generation 1'' peaked with issue 3 in June 2002, with 131,586 copies ordered, although issues 1, 2 and 5 saw a second printing run, and issue 1 even saw a ''third'' printing run.		The mini-series marked a brief phase of highly successful Dreamwave ''Transformers'' comics: Following an introduction in the form of a [[Prime Directive Preview\|six-page preview issue]], the first regular issue, released in April 2002, debuted at #1 of Diamond Comic Distributors' sales charts, an accomplishment repeated by issues 2, 3 and 6. Issue 4 ranked second behind Dreamwave's own ''[[Transformers: Armada (Dreamwave)\|Transformers: Armada]]'' [[Dreamwave Armada issue 1\|#1]], whereas issue 5 was beaten by Marvel's ''[[Fantastic Four]]'' #60 (which sold for a mere 9¢ as part of a one-off publicity stunt), with 705,109 copies ordered versus ''Generation 1'' #5's 122,829 copies. ''Generation 1'' peaked with issue 3 in June 2002, with 131,586 copies ordered, although issues 1, 2 and 5 saw a second printing run, and issue 1 even saw a ''third'' printing run.
Line 27:		Line 27:
	Back then, rumors were circulating that Dreamwave was manipulating the market through a special deal with Diamond to ensure their success, or that [[Hasbro]] had set up an account to order large numbers of the ''Transformers'' comics. In fact, however, Hasbro had apparently ordered less than 200 copies per issue, and primarily because they were not guaranteed free copies from their contract with Dreamwave.<ref name ="litgtfspec">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14153 Lying in the Gutters ''Transformers'' Special], July 2002</ref> Later that year, other companies also reported high sales of "nostalgia" titles, thus further challenging those rumors.<ref name="litgnostal">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14245 Lying in the Gutters], October 2002.</ref>		Back then, rumors were circulating that Dreamwave was manipulating the market through a special deal with Diamond to ensure their success, or that [[Hasbro]] had set up an account to order large numbers of the ''Transformers'' comics. In fact, however, Hasbro had apparently ordered less than 200 copies per issue, and primarily because they were not guaranteed free copies from their contract with Dreamwave.<ref name ="litgtfspec">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14153 Lying in the Gutters ''Transformers'' Special], July 2002</ref> Later that year, other companies also reported high sales of "nostalgia" titles, thus further challenging those rumors.<ref name="litgnostal">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14245 Lying in the Gutters], October 2002.</ref>

	''Prime Directive'' established a new G1 continuity that drew on elements of [[The Transformers (cartoon)\|the cartoon]] but also incorporated some elements of the old [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)\|Marvel comics]] (most notably, the mention of [[Spike Witwicky (G1)\|Spike Witwicky]]'s brother [[Buster Witwicky (G1)\|Buster]], who originally only appeared in the Marvel comics) and generally does not fit well into any particular previous story. A second ''Generation 1'' volume called ''[[War and Peace]]'' followed, and an [[Transformers: Generation 1 (Dreamwave)\|ongoing series]] after that.		"Prime Directive" established a new G1 continuity that drew on elements of [[The Transformers (cartoon)\|the cartoon]] but also incorporated some elements of the old [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)\|Marvel comics]] (most notably, the mention of [[Spike Witwicky (G1)\|Spike Witwicky]]'s brother [[Buster Witwicky (G1)\|Buster]], who originally only appeared in the Marvel comics) and generally does not fit well into any particular previous story. A second ''Generation 1'' volume called ''[[War and Peace]]'' followed, and an [[Transformers: Generation 1 (Dreamwave)\|ongoing series]] after that.

	Many fans found the series impressive for the great amount of care and detail put into the artwork. The glossy print and computer coloring were worlds beyond the newsprint paper and dotted coloring of the Marvel Comics series. Others felt that the storyline was needlessly decompressed (almost two whole issues pass before any of the Transformers actually speak), that the visual storytelling was [[dull surprise\|unclear]], and that the overall pacing suffered for the sake of needlessly dramatic splash pages.		Many fans found the series impressive for the great amount of care and detail put into the artwork. The glossy print and computer coloring were worlds beyond the newsprint paper and dotted coloring of the Marvel Comics series. Others felt that the storyline was needlessly decompressed (almost two whole issues pass before any of the Transformers actually speak), that the visual storytelling was [[dull surprise\|unclear]], and that the overall pacing suffered for the sake of needlessly dramatic splash pages.
Line 36:		Line 36:
	==Notes==		==Notes==
	*"Prime Directive" was also the name of the original [[Transformers (film)\|''Transformers'' movie]] script, and a working title for [[IDW Publishing]]'s ''[[Transformers: Movie Prequel\|Movie Prequel]]'' mini-series.		*"Prime Directive" was also the name of the original [[Transformers (film)\|''Transformers'' movie]] script, and a working title for [[IDW Publishing]]'s ''[[Transformers: Movie Prequel\|Movie Prequel]]'' mini-series.
	*The ''Prime Directive'' trade paperback collections are the only official release of the eight-page [[Transformers Volume 2 Preview\|preview story]] for the second ''Generation 1'' volume, ''[[War and Peace]]''... which doesn't actually have a lot to do with the actual story of ''War and Peace'', due to a sudden change of writers.		*The "Prime Directive" trade paperback collections are the only official release of the eight-page [[Transformers Volume 2 Preview\|preview story]] for the second ''Generation 1'' volume, ''[[War and Peace]]''... which doesn't actually have a lot to do with the actual story of ''War and Peace'', due to a sudden change of writers.

	==Collections==		==Collections==