Manga: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 12:15, 26 December 2025

The very first *Transformers* manga ever.

Manga (漫画 or まんが) is the Japanese word for comics and print cartoons.^[1] Manga are usually black and white comic books which are read from right to left, published in Japan by various comic magazines or packaged with toys and DVDs. There has almost always been a manga to accompany the newest Transformers toyline, sometimes taking place in the same continuity as the concurrent animated series, and sometimes presenting a different take on the story.

Until the publication of Viz Media's official English translation of the original Generation 1 TV Magazine stories in 2020, no Transformers manga series had ever been made available outside of Japan. Unofficial English translations by fans appeared online for years, most notably at the websites TF Pulp and TF Archive.

The following Japanese magazines have published Transformers manga or illustrated text material:

Transformers manga series and specials

Generation 1

TV Magazine

Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers
The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers (featuring Transformers 2010 characters)
The Great Transformer War
"The Decisive Battle of Planet Beast!" (Transformers/Beastformers special)
The Headmasters
Super-God Masterforce
Victory
Zone
The Battlestars

Comic BomBom

"A Birth of Planet Saybertron" (illustrated text story)
"Full Throttle Scramble Power!"
Famicom How-to Manga: Transformers: Mystery of Convoy
Transformers (Mystery of Convoy) (strategy guide)

Beastformers

Robotmasters

Robotmasters (online and catalog manga)
Robotmasters (3D diorama manga)

Binaltech Asterisk

Asterisk Story

Kiss Players

Kiss Players
15 Go! Go!

e-HOBBY

United

"A New Battle!"
"The Fierce Fighting on Planet Nebulos"
Transformers United EX (illustrated text stories)

Generations

Unite Warriors

Unite Warriors Offshot (illustrated text stories)
Unite Warriors (manga)

Other Generation 1 publications

PDTF Comic
The Transformers (MC Axis pack-in manga)
The Battle of the Star Gate
Transformers: All Spark
"Yokohama Decepticon Secret Base"

Generation 2

G-2 (pack-in manga)
"The New Battle!!"

Beast Wars

"The Maximal Brainwashing Operation"
Beast Wars II
Beast Wars Neo
Beast Wars Metals
Beast Wars Reborn (illustrated text stories)

The Cool/The Cool Extra

Aligned

Prominent continuity-hopping publications

Miscellaneous

Go-Bots

Rescue Hero Go-Bots

Henkei! Henkei!

Henkei! Henkei! (pack-in manga)
Henkei! Henkei! (Comic BunBun series)
Visualize (illustrated text stories)

Transformers GT

Transformers GT: Mission GT-R

Comedy manga

Kre-O

Kre-O Transformers

Shattered Glass

"Solar Requiem"

Cloud

Spacetime World: Guardians of Time (illustrated text stories)

Primus Vanguard storyline

"Cybertron Convobat prequel comic" (online manga)
"Cybertron Convobat" (pack-in manga)
"Cybertron Magna Convoy prequel comic"
"Cybertron Magna Convoy"
"Blue Big Convoy comic"

Dialect Girl

Transformers × Dialect Girl: My Toys

Mazinger Z versus Transformers

Mazinger Z versus Transformers

Collected editions

Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: The Comics (graphic novel collection)
Transformers: The Manga (English-language translation series)

References

↑ In Japan, the term is used regardless of a publication's national origin, while in English the term is primarily used to describe publications of Japanese origin specifically.

External links

Manga at Wikipedia
TF Pulp - Contains translations of Transformers manga from various generations.
TF Archive - Contains translations of Transformers manga from various generations.

[1] In Japan, the term is used regardless of a publication's national origin, while in English the term is primarily used to describe publications of Japanese origin specifically.

[1]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[Image:G1MangaPrologue01.jpg|right|300px|thumb|The very first ''Transformers'' manga ever.]]
-'''Manga''' (漫画 or まんが) is the Japanese word for comics and print cartoons. Manga are usually black and white comic books which read from right to left. They are published in Japan by various comic magazines or packaged with toys and DVDs. There has almost always been a manga to accompany the newest ''Transformers'' toyline, sometimes taking place in the same continuity as the concurrent animated series, and sometimes presenting a different take on the story.
+'''Manga''' (漫画 or まんが) is the Japanese word for [[comics]] and print cartoons.<ref>In Japan, the term is used regardless of a publication's national origin, while in English the term is primarily used to describe publications of Japanese origin specifically.</ref> Manga are usually black and white comic books which are read from right to left, published in Japan by various comic magazines or packaged with toys and DVDs. There has almost always been a manga to accompany the newest ''Transformers'' toyline, sometimes taking place in the same continuity as the concurrent animated series, and sometimes presenting a different take on the story.
-To date, no ''Transformers'' manga series has ever been made available outside of Japan.  Unofficial English translations by fans have been appearing online for years, most notably at the websites ''TF Pulp'' and ''TF Archive''.
+Until the publication of [[Viz Media]]'s [[Transformers: The Manga|official English translation]] of the original Generation 1 [[TV Magazine]] stories in 2020, no ''Transformers'' manga series had ever been made available outside of Japan. Unofficial English translations by fans appeared online for years, most notably at the websites ''TF Pulp'' and ''TF Archive''.
 The following Japanese magazines have published ''Transformers'' manga or illustrated text material:
-*''[[Comic Bom Bom]]''
+*''[[Comic BomBom]]''
-*''[[Comic Bun Bun]]''
+*''[[Comic BunBun]]''
 *''[[Dengeki Daioh]]''
 *''[[Dengeki Hobby|Dengeki Hobby Magazine]]''
@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 *''[[Super Robot Magazine]]''
 *''[[TV Magazine]]''
+*''[[Square Enix|Young Gangan]]''
 ==Transformers manga series and specials==
-===Generation 1===
+===[[The Transformers (franchise)|Generation 1]]===
 ====''TV Magazine''====
-* ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (manga)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]''
+*''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (manga)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]''
-* ''[[The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers]]'' (featuring ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (franchise)|Transformers 2010]]'' characters)
+*''[[The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers]]'' (featuring ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers 2010 (franchise)|Transformers 2010]]'' characters)
-* ''[[The Great Transformer War]]''
+*''[[The Great Transformer War]]''
-* "[[Great Decisive Battle of Planet Beast!]]" (''Transformers''/''[[Beastformer]]s'' special)
+*"[[The Decisive Battle of Planet Beast!]]" (''Transformers''/''[[Beastformers (franchise)|Beastformers]]'' special)
-* ''[[Transformers: The Headmasters (manga)|The Headmasters]]''
+*''[[Transformers: The Headmasters (manga)|The Headmasters]]''
-* ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (manga)|Super-God Masterforce]]''
+*''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (manga)|Super-God Masterforce]]''
-* ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (manga)|Victory]]''
+*''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (manga)|Victory]]''
-* ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (manga)|Zone]]''
+*''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (manga)|Zone]]''
-* ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: The Battlestars (manga)|The Battlestars]]''
+*''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: The Battlestars (manga)|The Battlestars]]''
-*''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: The Comics]]'' (graphic novel collection)
+====''Comic BomBom''====
+*"[[A Birth of Planet Saybertron]]" (illustrated text story)
-====''Comic Bom Bom''====
+*"[[Full Throttle Scramble Power!]]"
-* "[[A Birth of Planet Saybertron]]" (illustrated text story)
+*[[Famicom How-to Manga: Transformers: Mystery of Convoy]]
-* "[[Full Throttle Scramble Power!]]"
+*''[[Transformers (Mystery of Convoy)]]'' (strategy guide)
-* [[Famicom How-to Manga: Transformers: Mystery of Convoy]]
+====''[[Beastformers (franchise)|Beastformers]]''====
-* ''[[Transformers (Mystery of Convoy)]]'' (strategy guide)
-====e-Hobby====
-* "[[Hybrid Style Convoy Black Version]]"
-* "[[64 Cybertron Urban Defense Robot GADEP]]"
-* "[[Destron Leader Megatron Black Ver.]]"
-* "[[Destron Aerospace Warrior Sunstorm]]"
-* "[[MP-1B Cybertron Commander / Convoy Black Ver.]]"
-* "[[MP-3G Destron Air Commander / Starscream Ghost Ver.]]"
-* "[[Nissan GT-R / Ultra Magnus (Brilliant Pearl White)]]"
-* "[[Destron Doppelgänger Black Rodimus Convoy]]"
-* "[[Solar Requiem]]"
-* "[[Badlands (issue)|Badlands]]"
-====Other Generation 1 publications====
-* ''[[Transformers PD Type]]''
-* ''[[The Transformers (MC Axis manga)|The Transformers]]'' ([[MC Axis]] pack-in comics)
-* ''[[Transformers: The Battle of the Star Gate|The Battle of the Star Gate]]''
-* "[[A Tale of the Pretenders]]"
-* ''[[Transformers: All Spark]]''
-====''Beastformers''/''Laser Beasts''====
 *"[[The Water Gem of Stillness]]"
 *"[[Legend of the Three Wise Ones]]"
 *"[[Beastformers VS Laser Beasts]]"
-===''Generation 2''===
+====''[[Robotmasters (franchise)|Robotmasters]]''====
-* ''[[Transformers: G-2 (pack-in manga)|G-2]]'' (pack-in comics)
+*''[[Robotmasters (comic)|Robotmasters]]'' (online and catalog manga)
-* "[[The New Battle!!]]"
+*''[[Robotmasters (3D diorama comic)|Robotmasters]]'' (3D diorama manga)
-===''Beast Wars''===
+====''[[The Transformers: Binaltech Asterisk|Binaltech Asterisk]]''====
-* "[[The Maximal Brainwashing Operation]]"
+*''[[Asterisk Story]]''
-* ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (manga)|Beast Wars II]]''
-* ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (manga)|Beast Wars Neo]]''
-* ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Metals (manga)|Beast Wars Metals]]''
-* ''[[Beast Wars Reborn]]'' (illustrated text stories)
-===Rescue Heroes Go-Bots===
+====''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (franchise)|Kiss Players]]''====
-*[[Kid Transformers: Rescue Heroes Go-Bots (manga)|Rescue Heroes Go-Bots]]
+*''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (manga)|Kiss Players]]''
+*''[[Information Administration Teletraan 15 Go! Go!|15 Go! Go!]]''
-===Unicron Trilogy===
+====[[e-HOBBY]]====
-* ''[[Linkage (comic)|Linkage]]''
+*"[[Hybrid Style Convoy Black Version]]"
-* [[Energon Volume 4]]
+*"[[64 Cybertron Urban Defense Robot GADEP]]"
-* "[[Optimus Prime VS Scourge]]"
+*"[[Destron Leader Megatron Black Ver.]]"
-* ''[[Transformers: Galaxy Force (manga)|Galaxy Force]]''
+*"[[Destron Aerospace Warrior Sunstorm]]"
+*"[[MP-1B Cybertron Commander / Convoy Black Ver.]]"
+*"[[MP-3G Destron Air Commander / Starscream Ghost Ver.]]"
+*"[[Nissan GT-R / Ultra Magnus (Brilliant Pearl White)]]"
+*"[[Destron Doppelgänger Black Rodimus Convoy]]"
+*"[[Badlands (issue)|Badlands]]"
+*"[[Decepticon Dark Commander Grand Scourge]]"
+====''[[Transformers United|United]]''====
+*"[[A New Battle!]]"
+*"[[The Fierce Fighting on Planet Nebulos]]"
+*''[[Transformers United EX]]'' (illustrated text stories)
-===''Robotmasters''===
+====''[[Transformers Generations (series)|Generations]]''====
-* ''[[Robotmasters (pack-in manga)|Robotmasters]]'' (pack-in comic)
+*"[[A Tale of the Pretenders]]"
-* ''[[Robotmasters (online manga)|Robotmasters]]'' (online comic)
+*"[[Metrowars]]"
-* ''[[Robotmasters (3D diorama manga)|Robotmasters]]'' (3D diorama comic)
+*"[[Metrowars 2]]"
+*"[[Starscream's New Power]]"
+*"[[Train Wars]]"
+*"[[Controverse]]"
+*"[[Train Wars 2]]"
+*"[[Rodimus Wars]]"
+*"[[Reborn]]"
+*"[[Headmasters VS Masterforce]]"
+*"[[Rescue the Monorail!]]"
-===''Binaltech Asterisk''===
+====''[[Transformers Unite Warriors|Unite Warriors]]''====
-*''[[Asterisk Story]]''
+*''[[Unite Warriors Offshot]]'' (illustrated text stories)
+*''[[Transformers Unite Warriors|Unite Warriors]]'' (manga)
-===''Kiss Players''/''15 Go! Go!''===
+====Other Generation 1 publications====
-* ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (manga)|Kiss Players]]''
+*''[[PDTF Comic]]''
-* ''[[Information Administration Teletraan 15 Go! Go!|15 Go! Go!]]''
+*''[[The Transformers (MC Axis manga)|The Transformers]]'' ([[MC Axis]] pack-in manga)
+*''[[Transformers: The Battle of the Star Gate|The Battle of the Star Gate]]''
+*''[[Transformers: All Spark]]''
+*"[[Yokohama Decepticon Secret Base]]"
-===''Henkei! Henkei!''===
+===''[[Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]''===
-* ''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (pack-in manga)|Henkei!  Henkei!]]'' (pack-in comics)
+*''[[Transformers: G-2 (pack-in manga)|G-2]]'' (pack-in manga)
-* ''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (Comic Bun Bun)|Henkei!  Henkei!]]'' (''Comic Bun Bun'' series)
+*"[[The New Battle!!]]"
-===Live action movies===
+===''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]''===
-*"[[Keroro Gunsō X Transformers]]"
+*"[[The Maximal Brainwashing Operation]]"
+*''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (manga)|Beast Wars II]]''
+*''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (manga)|Beast Wars Neo]]''
+*''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Metals (manga)|Beast Wars Metals]]''
+*''[[Beast Wars Reborn]]'' (illustrated text stories)
-===''Animated''===
+===[[Unicron Trilogy]]===
-*''[[Transformers Animated: The Cool|The Cool]]''
+*''[[Linkage (comic)|Linkage]]''
+*[[Energon Volume 4]]
+*"[[Optimus Prime VS Mysterious Supreme Commander Scourge"|Optimus Prime VS Scourge]]"
+*''[[Transformers: Galaxy Force (manga)|Galaxy Force]]''
-===Alternity===
+===[[Live-action film series|Live action movie series]]===
-*''[[Transformers: Alternity|Alternity]]''
+*"[[Keroro Gunsō × Transformers]]"
+*''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: Unite for the Universe]]''
+*"[[The Creation Revoltech!]]"
+*''[[Movie Trilogy]]''
-===''United''===
+===''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]''===
-*"[[A New Battle!]]"
+*''[[Transformers Animated: The Cool|The Cool/The Cool Extra]]''
-*"[[The Fierce Fighting on Planet Nebulos]]"
-*''[[Transformers United EX]]'' (illustrated text stories)
-===''Transformers GT''===
+===[[Aligned]]===
+*"[[Birth! Black Knight Bumblebee]]"
+*"[[Return! The Most Evil Duo]]"
+*"[[Decepticon Jaeger Deadlock]]"
-*"[[Transformers GT: Mission GT-R]]"
+===Prominent [[continuity]]-hopping publications===
+====Alternity====
+*''[[Transformers: Alternity]]''
+====[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]====
+*''[[Transformers Legends (comic)|Transformers Legends]]''
+====[[Generations Selects (franchise)|Generations Selects]]====
+*''[[Generations Selects Special Comic]]''
 ===Miscellaneous===
-* ''[[Q-Robo Transformer]]''
+====''[[Go-Bots continuity family|Go-Bots]]''====
-* ''[[Ridiculous Legend Transformers]]''
+*''[[Kids' Transformers: Rescue Hero Go-Bots (manga)|Rescue Hero Go-Bots]]''
+====''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (franchise)|Henkei! Henkei!]]''====
+*''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (pack-in manga)|Henkei! Henkei!]]'' (pack-in manga)
+*''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (Comic BunBun)|Henkei! Henkei!]]'' (''Comic BunBun'' series)
+*''[[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers -Visualize-|Visualize]]'' (illustrated text stories)
+====''[[Transformers GT: Mission GT-R (franchise)|Transformers GT]]''====
+*''[[Transformers GT: Mission GT-R (comic)|Transformers GT: Mission GT-R]]''
+====Comedy manga====
+*''[[Ridiculous Legend Transformers]]''
+*''[[Q-Robo Transformer]]''
+====[[Kre-O]]====
+*''[[Kre-O Transformers (comic)|Kre-O Transformers]]''
+====[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]]====
+*"[[Solar Requiem]]"
+====Cloud====
+*''[[Transformers Cloud|Spacetime World: Guardians of Time]]'' (illustrated text stories)
+====[[Primus Vanguard]] storyline====
+*"[[Cybertron Convobat prequel comic]]" (online manga)
+*"[[Cybertron Convobat]]" (pack-in manga)
+*"[[Cybertron Magna Convoy prequel comic]]"
+*"[[Cybertron Magna Convoy]]"
+*"[[Blue Big Convoy comic]]"
+====Dialect Girl====
+*''[[Transformers × Dialect Girl: My Toys]]''
+====[[Mazinger Z]] versus Transformers====
+*''[[Mazinger Z versus Transformers]]''
+==Collected editions==
+*''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: The Comics]]'' (graphic novel collection)
+*''[[Transformers: The Manga]]'' (English-language translation series)
 ==See also==
+*[[Comics|An overview of Transformers comics in all languages]]
 *[[Story page]]s
+==References==
+{{reflist}}
 ==External links==
-*[[wikipedia:Manga|Manga at Wikipedia]]
+*{{w|Manga|Manga at Wikipedia}}
 *[http://www.allspark.com/content/blogsection/5/37/ TF Pulp] - Contains translations of Transformers manga from various generations.
 *[http://tfarchive.com/comics/japanese/ TF Archive] - Contains translations of Transformers manga from various generations.
-[[Category:Manga]]
+[[Category:Manga| ]]