Dark Matrix

The Dark Matrix is an entity from the Marvel Comics portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.

The Dark Matrix (also called the Anti-Matrix or Corrupted Matrix) is an entity that emerged and became distinct from the Creation Matrix. Corrupted by a series of impure users, the Matrix developed a malevolent sentience dedicated to the proliferation of evil and suffering in the universe. In some instances, the Dark Matrix could even exist independently to the Matrix itself, allowing it to spread its influence even further. The ultimate blasphemy against the Cybertronian God Primus, the Dark Matrix is a threat to all that lives, but especially the Transformers.

Fiction

Marvel The Transformers comics

When Optimus Prime was killed during the conflict over the Hydrothermocline, Ratchet was unable to repair the Autobots' fallen leader. Unaware that the life-giving Creation Matrix was a physical object (despite Ratchet having his hands in Prime's chest for several days), the Autobots believed its power was lost. A funeral was held for Prime, where his body was launched into space. Funeral for a Friend

Time passed, and Prime's coffin-craft crashed down on a distant moon called VsQs. The impact brought forth an awareness in the Creation Matrix. When another dying being crashed nearby, the Matrix restored it. This being had been a Deathbringer, however, an entity that provided the sweet release of death to the terminally ill. Empowered by the Matrix, however, the Deathbringer's function broadened in scope, bringing death to all life. This corrupted function brought it to Earth, and conflict with the Autobots. The Deathbringer was tricked into destroying itself by Op, but the damage had been done -- its corrupted purpose intrigued the Matrix, which now had a taste for violence and evil. Dark Creation Deathbringer

Time passed, and another creature made contact with the Matrix. Insignificant in size and scale at first, the creature was nevertheless evil, a predator that killed for sport instead of for food or defense. As the Matrix examined the creature, it became fascinated with it, and this time augmented a vessel deliberately to experience more of evil. The Matrix-spawn grew in size and hunger, murdering a science team from the nearby planet Cameron that came to investigate the Matrix power source.

Soon the Transformers, Autobot and Decepticon alike, converged on VsQs in search of the Matrix. The Matrix-spawn attacked Windsweeper, but when Thunderwing recognized the connection between the creature and the Matrix, the Matrix bade its spawn to retreat. Jazz of the Autobots accidentally stumbled upon the creature's lair, where the physical Matrix now rested. The three-way struggle continued, as Thunderwing fought the Matrix-spawn and the Autobots attempted to secure the Matrix. Thunderwing proved victorious, killing the creature and claiming the Matrix from the weakened Autobots. He returned to the Ark in the Autobots' own shuttle, in preparation of using the Matrix's power to obliterate Prime and the Autobots personally. Dark Creation

Thunderwing believed himself to be in full control of the Matrix, and indeed used its power to cut through the Autobots on the Ark with relative ease, confident they could not strike back against their sacred lifeforce. He was shocked, then, when Optimus slipped under his guard and struck back without the Matrix protecting Thunderwing. Still, Prime hesitated to actually damage the Matrix, giving Thunderwing the advantage again as he beat the Autobot leader senseless. Prime begged for a villainous monologue, though, and Thunderwing gave in, despite the dark voice of the Matrix whispering in his mind to kill and destroy. Thunderwing was then caught off-guard by the Autobot reinforcements who arrived, and suffered damage. Furious, the Dark Matrix consciousness manifested overtly for the first time. It created a demonic shadow-field surrounding and protecting its vessel, while exerting full control over Thunderwing's actions, wearing him like a shell.

In the chaos that followed, Optimus Prime tried to reach Thunderwing's mind, but the Matrix laughed off his attempts at parley. Only when a fellow Decepticon, Thunderwing's loyal warrior Spinister, expressed the same concerns and was shot down by the Matrix did Thunderwing realize he was no longer in control of his own actions. As Thunderwing began to fight against the Dark Matrix's control, Nightbeat used the shuttle's grappling harpoon to skewer Thunderwing. By turning off the artificial gravity and setting the shuttle to self-destruct, he sent Thunderwing and the Matrix adrift in space. All Fall Down

The Dark Matrix was not destroyed, however. Instead, it hungered for revenge. Out of Time! It repaired Thunderwing's body over time until he was ready for travel. No longer demonstrating even a shred of independence, Thunderwing acted as the Matrix's vessel as it pursued its enemies to Cybertron. The Void!

Unicron had arrived on the planet, and intended to consume his hated foe's physical form. Primus's spiritual form had assumed a vessel as well, Emirate Xaaron, but ultimately he alone did not have the power to oppose Unicron. His bluff failed, and Primus was destroyed along with Xaaron. The Dark Matrix arrived during the war to confront Unicron, attacking the Chaos-Bringer merely because he stood in the way of it experiencing vengeance against the Transformers. However, Unicron soon realized the Matrix's purity was his bane, and without it the creature had no hope of opposing him. The shadowy Matrix creature was shredded in a hurricane of force that destroyed Thunderwing as well.

The Matrix itself remained, however, and Optimus Prime once again attempted to reclaim it. The Dark Matrix consciousness fought against him, rejecting its past, but Prime persevered and cleansed the Matrix with his own faith and inner goodness. Prime plunged down Unicron's maw with the purified Matrix aglow, and destroyed the Planet-Eater from the inside out. Although Unicron died, the Matrix was also destroyed in the eruption it caused. On the Edge of Extinction!