Transformers: More than Meets the Eye: Difference between revisions
From MediaWiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
Deceptitran (talk | contribs) m BOT: replacing (1) links to "Gutcruncher" with "Gutcruncher (G1)" |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{stub|Omitted Action Master vehicles and accessories; careful check for errors. We're getting close now!}} | |||
{{disambig3|More Than Meets the Eye}} | {{disambig3|More Than Meets the Eye}} | ||
{{disambig2|the Dreamwave-produced bio series|the Marvel-produced bio series|Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)}} | |||
[[Image:Mtmte-oiler.jpg|right|300px|thumb|True to form, [[Oiler|Oiler]] looks like he's about to pass out.]] | |||
[[Image:Mtmte-oiler.jpg|right|300px|thumb|True to form, Oiler looks like he | |||
'''''More Than Meets The Eye''''' is the first of a series of profile books published by [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave Productions]] in 2003. The book introduced readers to every character within the ''[[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]'' continuity. A sequel series was published for ''[[More Than Meets the Eye (Armada)|Armada]]'', and the same was planned for ''[[Unreleased Dreamwave issues|Energon]]''. | '''''More Than Meets The Eye''''' is the first of a series of profile books published by [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave Productions]] in 2003. The book introduced readers to every character within the ''[[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]]'' continuity. A sequel series was published for ''[[More Than Meets the Eye (Armada)|Armada]]'', and the same was planned for ''[[Unreleased Dreamwave issues|Energon]]''. | ||
| Line 36: | Line 18: | ||
==Issue #1== | ==Issue #1== | ||
[[Image:DW MTMTE 1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Bumblebee has the odd feeling of being followed.]] | [[Image:DW MTMTE 1.jpg|right|200px|thumb|[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] has the odd feeling of being followed.]] | ||
Issue #1 opens with a one-page intro story in which [[Megatron (BW)|''Beast Wars'' Megatron]] (or the Dreamwave universe's version of him) gains access to [[Vector Sigma|Vector Sigma]], with the intent of reading all these files. | Issue #1 opens with a one-page intro story in which [[Megatron (BW)|''Beast Wars'' Megatron]] (or the Dreamwave universe's version of him) gains access to [[Vector Sigma|Vector Sigma]], with the intent of reading all these files. <br /> | ||
'''Originally published:''' [[April 30|April 30]], 2003 | '''Originally published:''' [[April 30|April 30]], 2003 | ||
<div style="-moz-column-count:3; -webkit-column-count:{{{1}}}; column-count:3;"> | |||
* [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] | * [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] | ||
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] | * [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] | ||
| Line 100: | Line 82: | ||
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] | * [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] | ||
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] | * [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] | ||
* [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] | * [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]</div> | ||
==Issue #2== | ==Issue #2== | ||
[[Image:DW MTMTE 2.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Dudes, we | [[Image:DW MTMTE 2.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Dudes, we're free - FREE!]] | ||
'''Originally published:''' [[May 29|May 29]], 2003 | '''Originally published:''' [[May 29|May 29]], 2003 | ||
<div style="-moz-column-count:3; -webkit-column-count:{{{1}}}; column-count:3;"> | |||
* [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]: | * [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]: | ||
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] | * [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] | ||
| Line 167: | Line 149: | ||
* [[Gnaw|Gnaw]] | * [[Gnaw|Gnaw]] | ||
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]] | * [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]] | ||
* [[Grand Slam|Grand Slam]] | * [[Grand Slam|Grand Slam]]</div> | ||
==Issue #3== | ==Issue #3== | ||
[[Image:DW MTMTE 3.jpg|right|200px|thumb|By Primus, they | [[Image:DW MTMTE 3.jpg|right|200px|thumb|By Primus, [[Fandom|they're]] everywhere! Don't let them touch you with their fat greasy hands!]] | ||
'''Originally published:''' [[June 25|June 25]], 2003 | '''Originally published:''' [[June 25|June 25]], 2003 | ||
<div style="-moz-column-count:3; -webkit-column-count:{{{1}}}; column-count:3;"> | |||
* [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] | * [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] | ||
* [[Greasepit (G1)|Greasepit]] with his [[Gas station|gas station]] | * [[Greasepit (G1)|Greasepit]] with his [[Gas station|gas station]] | ||
| Line 187: | Line 169: | ||
* [[Gunrunner (G1)|Gunrunner]] (2 pages) | * [[Gunrunner (G1)|Gunrunner]] (2 pages) | ||
* [[Gusher|Gusher]] | * [[Gusher|Gusher]] | ||
* [[Gutcruncher | * [[Gutcruncher|Gutcruncher]] with his [[Stratotronic Jet|Stratotronic Jet]] | ||
* [[Guzzle (G1)|Guzzle]] | * [[Guzzle (G1)|Guzzle]] | ||
* [[Half-Track (G1)|Half-Track]] | * [[Half-Track (G1)|Half-Track]] | ||
| Line 233: | Line 215: | ||
* [[Longtooth|Longtooth]] (2 pages) | * [[Longtooth|Longtooth]] (2 pages) | ||
* [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] with [[Push-Button|Push-Button]] | * [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] with [[Push-Button|Push-Button]] | ||
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (3 pages - includes Cybertronian forms) | * [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (3 pages - includes Cybertronian forms)</div> | ||
==Issue #4== | ==Issue #4== | ||
| Line 240: | Line 222: | ||
<div style="-moz-column-count:3; -webkit-column-count:{{{1}}}; column-count:3;"> | |||
* [[Meltdown (G1)|Meltdown]] | * [[Meltdown (G1)|Meltdown]] | ||
* [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] with [[Six-Gun|Six-Gun]], [[Slammer|Slammer]] and [[Scamper|Scamper]] (3 pages) | * [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] with [[Six-Gun|Six-Gun]], [[Slammer|Slammer]] and [[Scamper|Scamper]] (3 pages) | ||
| Line 294: | Line 276: | ||
* [[Slog|Slog]] (2 pages) | * [[Slog|Slog]] (2 pages) | ||
* [[Wildfly|Wildfly]] (2 pages) | * [[Wildfly|Wildfly]] (2 pages) | ||
* [[Monstructor|Monstructor]] | * [[Monstructor|Monstructor]]</div> | ||
==Issue #5== | ==Issue #5== | ||
[[Image:DW MTMTE 5.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Shockwave makes any cover awesome!]] | [[Image:DW MTMTE 5.jpg|right|200px|thumb|[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] makes any cover awesome!]] | ||
'''Originally published:''' [[September 4|September 4]], 2003 | '''Originally published:''' [[September 4|September 4]], 2003 | ||
<div style="-moz-column-count:3; -webkit-column-count:{{{1}}}; column-count:3;"> | |||
* [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]]: | * [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]]: | ||
* [[Blades|Blades]] | * [[Blades|Blades]] | ||
| Line 366: | Line 348: | ||
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (2 pages) | * [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (2 pages) | ||
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] | * [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] | ||
* [[Sidetrack|Sidetrack]] | * [[Sidetrack|Sidetrack]]</div> | ||
==Issue #6== | ==Issue #6== | ||
| Line 373: | Line 355: | ||
<div style="-moz-column-count:3; -webkit-column-count:{{{1}}}; column-count:3;"> | |||
* [[Siren|Siren]] with [[Quig|Quig]] | * [[Siren|Siren]] with [[Quig|Quig]] | ||
* [[Sixshot|Sixshot]] (2 pages) | * [[Sixshot|Sixshot]] (2 pages) | ||
| Line 431: | Line 413: | ||
* [[Swindler|Swindler]] | * [[Swindler|Swindler]] | ||
* [[Tailgate|Tailgate]] | * [[Tailgate|Tailgate]] | ||
* [[Tailspin|Tailspin]] | * [[Tailspin|Tailspin]]</div> | ||
==Issue #7== | ==Issue #7== | ||
| Line 438: | Line 420: | ||
<div style="-moz-column-count:3; -webkit-column-count:{{{1}}}; column-count:3;"> | |||
* [[Tailwind|Tailwind]] | * [[Tailwind|Tailwind]] | ||
* [[Takedown|Takedown]] | * [[Takedown|Takedown]] | ||
| Line 497: | Line 479: | ||
* Powermaster [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] with [[Ginrai|Ginrai]] | * Powermaster [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] with [[Ginrai|Ginrai]] | ||
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] with [[Fracas|Fracas]] | * [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] with [[Fracas|Fracas]] | ||
* Pretender [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (2 pages) | * Pretender [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (2 pages)</div> | ||
==Issue #8== | ==Issue #8== | ||
[[Image:DW MTMTE 8.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]] | [[Image:DW MTMTE 8.jpg|right|200px|thumb|]] | ||
'''Originally published:''' [[December 3|December 3]], 2003 | '''Originally published:''' [[December 3|December 3]], 2003<br /> | ||
Includes a one-page conclusion to the Megatron story begun in issue 1. | Includes a one-page conclusion to the Megatron story begun in issue 1. | ||
<div style="-moz-column-count:3; -webkit-column-count:{{{1}}}; column-count:3;"> | |||
* [[Ark (G1)|The ''Ark'']] (2 pages) | * [[Ark (G1)|The ''Ark'']] (2 pages) | ||
* [[Autobot|Autobots]] (3 pages) | * [[Autobot|Autobots]] (3 pages) | ||
| Line 568: | Line 550: | ||
* [[Vector Sigma|Vector Sigma]] | * [[Vector Sigma|Vector Sigma]] | ||
* [[Wrecker|Wreckers]] | * [[Wrecker|Wreckers]] | ||
* Glossary (2 pages) | * Glossary (2 pages)</div> | ||
==Omissions== | ==Omissions== | ||
[[Image:WingthingDreamwave.jpg|right|150px|thumb| | [[Image:WingthingDreamwave.jpg|right|150px|thumb|"Don't worry pal, I know who you are."]] | ||
* Though [[:Category:Action Master partners|partners]] and [[:Category:Action Master Vehicles|vehicles]] were omitted. Thus the guide omits the following US characters entirely: [[Fistfight|Fistfight]], [[Scorpulator|Scorpulator]], [[Tyrannitron|Tyrannitron]], and [[Wingthing|Wingthing]]. This becomes goofier with the collected editions; due to their choice of [[20th Anniversary Lithograph|artwork]], Wingthing appears on the back cover but not in the actual books. | * Though [[:Category:Action Master partners|partners]] and [[:Category:Action Master Vehicles|vehicles]] were omitted. Thus the guide omits the following US characters entirely: [[Fistfight|Fistfight]], [[Scorpulator|Scorpulator]], [[Tyrannitron|Tyrannitron]], and [[Wingthing|Wingthing]]. This becomes goofier with the collected editions; due to their choice of [[20th Anniversary Lithograph|artwork]], Wingthing appears on the back cover but not in the actual books. | ||
| Line 597: | Line 579: | ||
[[Image:Mtmte-yeahright.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Surrrrrre he can turn into that truck.]] | [[Image:Mtmte-yeahright.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Surrrrrre he can turn into that truck.]] | ||
[[Image:RavageCassetteDreamwaveMTMTE.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The perfect disguise: a panther box.]] | [[Image:RavageCassetteDreamwaveMTMTE.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The perfect disguise: a panther box.]] | ||
[[Image:StarscreamBioPicMTMTEDreamwave.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Pat Lee | [[Image:StarscreamBioPicMTMTEDreamwave.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Pat Lee's Starscream. Wait, why's everyone laughing?]] | ||
* Not an error per se, but the alphabetization is inconsistent. Earlier subgroups like the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]], and the combiner teams are alphabetized by their subgroup names, while the [[Micromaster|Micromaster]] teams are split up by individuals. One theory is that Dreamwave figured the profile issues with nothing but Micromasters would sell less than those with the more well known characters, so they scattered them instead. | * Not an error per se, but the alphabetization is inconsistent. Earlier subgroups like the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]], and the combiner teams are alphabetized by their subgroup names, while the [[Micromaster|Micromaster]] teams are split up by individuals. One theory is that Dreamwave figured the profile issues with nothing but Micromasters would sell less than those with the more well known characters, so they scattered them instead. | ||
| Line 611: | Line 593: | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
*''More Than Meets The Eye'' was originally to be outsourced by Dreamwave and meant to be written by [[Destination Entertainment|Destination Entertainment]], under the title of ''Transformers: Profiles''. Destination's rather grandiose original plans involved weaving their own take on the Dreamwave timeline passively throughout all the character profiles, seizing this opportunity to shape some of the then-contemporary fiction since presumably they were being kept well away from contributing anything in the main books. | *''More Than Meets The Eye'' was originally to be outsourced by Dreamwave and meant to be written by [[Destination Entertainment|Destination Entertainment]], under the title of ''Transformers: Profiles''. Destination's rather grandiose original plans involved weaving their own take on the Dreamwave timeline passively throughout all the character profiles, seizing this opportunity to shape some of the then-contemporary fiction since presumably they were being kept well away from contributing anything in the main books.<br />Destination's timeline was to have been a remarkably convoluted creation, having each original year of Transformers characters originating with each millennium of the war (with even the very definition of millennium here being stretched to "every million Cybertronian years"). The 1984 characters being originated in the first millennium, the 1985 ones in the second, and so on, despite this idea ''already'' being contradicted by books Dreamwave [[The War Within|had already published]] at the time.<ref>[http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=563 Destination's original interview previewing Profiles at Newsarama]</ref> (and not making even remotely one lick of sense either way, as it would mean that, for instance, Kup would have been younger than Bumblebee). <br /> Additionally, explanations as to how characters such Galvatron, Goldbug and Powermaster Optimus Prime could exist at the same time as their original counterparts were not forthcoming. Needless to say, three months later Destination was removed from the project and the entire endeavor was re-solicited as a far more modest and uncomplicated series of ''Transformers: Universe''-style profiles.<ref>[http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=711 Newsarama reports that Profiles has "transformed" into More Than Meets The Eye]</ref> | ||
*During the time that the Dreamwave were releasing the individual issues it became known that they only ever had the rights to release Transformers comics in North America. With immediate effect supply of Transformers comics to foreign countries was stopped. This left international Transfans with only a partially completed run of MTMTE, and having to resort to other methods to acquire the remainder. | *During the time that the Dreamwave were releasing the individual issues it became known that they only ever had the rights to release Transformers comics in North America. With immediate effect supply of Transformers comics to foreign countries was stopped. This left international Transfans with only a partially completed run of MTMTE, and having to resort to other methods to acquire the remainder. | ||
| Line 618: | Line 600: | ||
==Collections== | ==Collections== | ||
[[Image:MTMTECollectionCoversDW.JPG|right|250px|thumb|Unsurprisingly, Megatron | [[Image:MTMTECollectionCoversDW.JPG|right|250px|thumb|Unsurprisingly, Megatron's Bio is actually in Volume 1.]] | ||
Dreamwave released two trade paperbacks (TPB) of the entire collection. Volume 1 contained issues 1-4, Volume 2 contained issues 5-8. No changes were made to the order of articles, and as such the same criticisms apply. Both volumes are quite rare, and as a result can be expensive to acquire. It is much more easier to obtain the original individual issues. | Dreamwave released two trade paperbacks (TPB) of the entire collection. Volume 1 contained issues 1-4, Volume 2 contained issues 5-8. No changes were made to the order of articles, and as such the same criticisms apply. Both volumes are quite rare, and as a result can be expensive to acquire. It is much more easier to obtain the original individual issues. | ||
* DW Volume 1: [[October 27|October 27]], 2004 (ISBN-10: 0973381760, ISBN-13: 978-0973381764) | * DW Volume 1: [[October 27|October 27]], 2004 (ISBN-10: 0973381760, ISBN-13: 978-0973381764) | ||
* DW Volume 2: [[December 8|December 8]], 2004 (ISBN-10: 0973381779, ISBN-13: 978-0973381771) | * DW Volume 2: [[December 8|December 8]], 2004 (ISBN-10: 0973381779, ISBN-13: 978-0973381771) | ||
[[IDW Publishing|IDW Publishing]] have reprinted the ''Generation 1'' guides. Despite the considerably different IDW-specific plots (such as the [[Dead Universe|Dead Universe]], Galvatron's new origin, and the considerably different history, geography and political landscape of Cybertron) the collections have been released unchanged from the Dreamwave originals (and thus reference the DW plots of the Great Shutdown, Shockwave's inventions of the Triple Changers, Duocons etc). | [[IDW Publishing|IDW Publishing]] have reprinted the ''Generation 1'' guides. Despite the considerably different IDW-specific plots (such as the [[Dead Universe|Dead Universe]], Galvatron's new origin, and the considerably different history, geography and political landscape of Cybertron) the collections have been released unchanged from the Dreamwave originals (and thus reference the DW plots of the Great Shutdown, Shockwave's inventions of the Triple Changers, Duocons etc). | ||
*IDW Volume 1: [[September 29|September 29]], 2008 (ISBN-10: 1600102506 ISBN-13: 978-1600102509) | *IDW Volume 1: [[September 29|September 29]], 2008 (ISBN-10: 1600102506 ISBN-13: 978-1600102509) | ||
| Line 632: | Line 613: | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references/> | |||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
*[http://www.tfarchive.com/comics/dreamwave/guide/?s=mtmte Guide at TFArchive.com] | *[http://www.tfarchive.com/comics/dreamwave/guide/?s=mtmte Guide at TFArchive.com] | ||
[[Category:Dreamwave titles]] | [[Category:Dreamwave titles]] | ||
[[Category:Profile books]] | [[Category:Profile books]] | ||
Revision as of 16:27, 21 March 2009
| The name or term "More Than Meets the Eye" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see More Than Meets the Eye (disambiguation). |
| This article is about the Dreamwave-produced bio series. For the Marvel-produced bio series, see Transformers Universe (Marvel comic). |
More Than Meets The Eye is the first of a series of profile books published by Dreamwave Productions in 2003. The book introduced readers to every character within the Generation 1 continuity. A sequel series was published for Armada, and the same was planned for Energon.
The series has no known physical weaknesses.
Overview
Originally conceived to be a 4-issue series, Transformers Profile Book One was scheduled to be released in December, 2002. After a name change and a delay of over four months, the series was released as eight issue in 2003. The series was also released as a 2-volume trade paperback edition in December 2004, which included introductions by the authors, and bonus artwork, though not the intro and conclusion story.
The series profiled all characters that were released by Hasbro between 1984 and 1991, as well as a few characters that appeared only within Marvel Comics/Sunbow Productions animated projects between 1984 and 1987. The series also introduces new content in order to establish parameters for stories within the Dreamwave continuity, particularly in the "special topics" issue. A number of personalities were created from scratch for the Micromasters, many of whom were little more than toys and names prior.
The profiles follow the same format as the original 1980s Marvel profile book, Transformers Universe. A characteristic quote leads off each bio, followed by Bio, Weapons/Abilities, and Weaknesses. Many profiles are told from the perspective of another character ("from the datatrax of"); Grapple, for example, narrates the profile for his friend and associate Hoist. Despite initial reports that the profile book would be re-creating the entire Transformers universe from scratch, most established characters stay close to their original profiles, with some occasional massaging when a character's popular fictional portrayals clashed with their profile.
Artwork was done by numerous artists. As such, there are stylistic differences among the various profiles. Some of the original art submissions were rejected as not being consistent with the Dreamwave "house style", i.e. that of Pat Lee. Lee's hand and/or influence is particularly visible on some of the earlier and more popular characters, who often feature his characteristic rounded, swollen limbs, tiny heads, and enormously thickened metal panels. Don Figueroa drew a huge number of profile entries as well, including many of the best known characters. Lesser known characters were apparently left to other artists, who were allowed a freer hand; however, attempts at conveying a character's personality through their profile art were generally quashed.
Issue #1
Issue #1 opens with a one-page intro story in which Beast Wars Megatron (or the Dreamwave universe's version of him) gains access to Vector Sigma, with the intent of reading all these files.
Originally published: April 30, 2003
- Airwave and his airport
- Alpha Trion
- Apeface with Spasma
- Arcee
- Astrotrain
- Axer and his Turbo Cycle
- Backstreet
- Banzai-Tron with Razor-Sharp
- Barrage
- Barricade
- Battletrap
- Beachcomber
- Beastbox
- Big Daddy
- Big Hauler
- Big Shot
- Blackjack
- Blackout
- Blaster
- Blast Master
- Blaze Master
- Blitzwing
- Bludgeon (2 pages)
- Bluestreak
- Blurr
- Bomb-Burst (2 pages)
- Bombshock
- Brainstorm with Arcana
- Brawn
- Broadside
- Bugly (2 pages)
- Bumblebee
- Buzzsaw
- Camshaft
- Carnivac (2 pages)
- Catilla (2 pages)
- Cement-Head with the Cannon Transport
- Chainclaw (2 pages)
- Chase
- Chromedome with Stylor
- Cindersaur
- Cliffjumper
- Cloudburst (2 pages)
- Cloudraker
- Combaticons
- Blast Off
- Brawl
- Onslaught
- Swindle
- Vortex
- Bruticus
Issue #2
Originally published: May 29, 2003
- Cosmos
- Countdown and his rocket base (2 pages)
- Crankcase
- Crossblades (2 pages)
- Crosshairs with Pinpointer
- Crumble
- Cyclonus
- Darkwing and Throttle
- Detour
- Dinobots:
- Grimlock (2 pages)
- Slag
- Sludge
- Snarl
- Swoop
- Direct-Hit
- Dirge
- Dogfight
- Doublecross
- Doubledealer with Knok and Skar (2 pages)
- Doubleheader (2 pages)
- Downshift
- Dreadwind with Hi-Test
- Dropshot
- Eagle Eye
- Eject
- Erector and his crane
- Excavator
- Fangry with Brisko
- Fastlane
- Finback (2 pages)
- Fireshot
- Fixit
- Fizzle
- Flak
- Flamefeather
- Flattop and his aircraft carrier
- Flywheels
- Fortress Maximus with Cog/Gasket/Grommet, Cerebros, and Spike (3 pages)
- Freewheeler
- Freeway
- Frenzy
- Full-Barrel
- Galvatron (2 pages)
- Gears
- Getaway with Rev
- Gnaw
- Goldbug
- Grand Slam
Issue #3
Originally published: June 25, 2003
- Grapple
- Greasepit with his gas station
- Greaser
- Grit
- Grotusque
- Ground Hog
- Groundbreaker (2 pages)
- Groundpounder
- Groundshaker with his ATV
- Growl
- Gunrunner (2 pages)
- Gusher
- Gutcruncher with his Stratotronic Jet
- Guzzle
- Half-Track
- Hammer
- Hardhead and Duros
- Heave
- Heavy Tread
- Highbrow and Gort
- Highjump
- Hoist
- Horri-Bull and Kreb
- Hosehead and Lug
- Hot House with his fire station
- Hot Rod
- Hound
- Hubcap
- Hubs
- Huffer
- Hydraulic
- Hyperdrive
- Iguanus (2 pages)
- Inferno
- Insecticons:
- Barrage
- Bombshell
- Chop Shop
- Kickback
- Ransack
- Shrapnel
- Venom
- Iron Works with his communications station
- Ironhide
- Jackpot with Sights
- Jazz
- Jetfire
- Joyride with Hotwire
- Kick-Off with his Turbo-Pack
- Knockout
- Krok with Gatoraider
- Kup
- Landfill with Silencer and Flintlock
- Landmine (2 pages)
- Laserbeak
- Longtooth (2 pages)
- Mainframe with Push-Button
- Megatron (3 pages - includes Cybertronian forms)
Issue #4
Originally published: July 30, 2003
- Meltdown
- Metroplex with Six-Gun, Slammer and Scamper (3 pages)
- Mindwipe and Vorath
- Mini-Spies (4 models - 2 pages)
- Mirage
- Misfire and Aimless
- Missile Master
- Moonrock
- Motorhead
- Mudslinger
- Needlenose with Sunbeam and Zigzag
- Neutro
- Nightbeat with Muzzle
- Nightflight
- Octane
- Octopunch (2 pages)
- Oiler
- Omega Supreme (2 pages)
- Optimus Prime (2 pages)
- Outback
- Overdrive
- Overflow
- Overkill
- Overload with his car carrier trailer
- Override
- Over-Run with his Attack Copter
- Perceptor
- Phaser
- Pincher (2 pages)
- Pipeline
- Pipes
- Pointblank with Peacemaker
- Pounce
- Power Punch
- Powerdashers (3 models)
- Powerglide
- Power Run
- Powertrain
- Predacons:
- Divebomb
- Headstrong
- Rampage
- Razorclaw
- Tantrum
- Predaking
- Pretender Monsters:
- Birdbrain (2 pages)
- Bristleback (2 pages)
- Icepick (2 pages)
- Scowl (2 pages)
- Slog (2 pages)
- Wildfly (2 pages)
- Monstructor
Issue #5
Originally published: September 4, 2003
- Prowl
- Punch/Counterpunch (2 pages)
- Quake with Tiptop and Heater
- Quickmix with Boomer and Ricochet
- Quickswitch (2 pages)
- Rad with Lionizer
- Raindance
- Ramhorn
- Ramjet
- Ratbat
- Ratchet
- Ravage
- Red Alert
- Red Hot
- Reflector:
- Spectro
- Spyglass
- Viewfinder
- Repugnus
- Retro
- Rewind
- Road Hugger
- Roadblock (2 pages)
- Roadburner
- Roadbuster
- Roadgrabber (2 pages)
- Road Handler
- Rodimus Prime
- Rollbar
- Roller Force
- Rollout with Glitch
- Roughstuff and his military transport
- Ruckus
- Rumble
- Runabout
- Runamuck
- Sandstorm
- Scoop with Holepunch and Tracer
- Scorponok with Zarak and Fasttrack
- Scourge
- Seacons:
- Nautilator
- Overbite
- Seawing
- Skalor
- Snaptrap
- Tentakil
- Piranacon
Issue #6
Originally published: September 24, 2003
- Siren with Quig
- Sixshot (2 pages)
- Sizzle
- Skids
- Skullcruncher with Grax
- Skullgrin (2 pages)
- Sky High (2 pages)
- Sky High
- Sky Lynx
- Skyfall with Top-Heavy
- Skyhammer (2 pages)
- Skyhopper with his helicopter
- Skystalker with his interstellar shuttle
- Skywarp
- Slamdance
- Sledge
- Slide
- Slow Poke
- Slugfest
- Slugslinger with Caliburst
- Smokescreen
- Snapdragon with Krunk
- Snarler (2 pages)
- Slapdash with Lube
- Soundwave
- Spaceshot
- Sparkstalker
- Spinister with Hairsplitter and Singe
- Splashdown (2 pages)
- Springer
- Sprocket with his Attack Cruiser
- Squawkbox
- Squawktalk
- Squeezeplay with Lokos
- Stakeout
- Starscream
- Steeljaw
- Stonecruncher
- Storm Cloud
- Stranglehold (2 pages)
- Strikedown
- Stunticons:
- Breakdown
- Drag Strip
- Dead End
- Motormaster
- Wildrider
- Menasor
- Submarauder (2 pages)
- Sunrunner
- Sunstreaker
- Surge
- Sureshot with Spoilsport
- Swerve
- Swindler
- Tailgate
- Tailspin
Issue #7
Originally published: October 29, 2003
- Terror-Tread with the Cannon Transport
- Thrust
- Thundercracker
- Thunderwing (2 pages)
- Topspin
- Tote
- Tracer
- Tracks
- Trailbreaker
- Tread Bolt
- Treadshot with Catgut
- Triggerhappy with Blowpipe
- Trip-Up
- Trypticon with Full-Tilt and Brunt
- Twin Twist
- Ultra Magnus (2 pages)
- Vanquish
- Vroom (2 pages)
- Warpath
- Waverider (2 pages)
- Weirdwolf with Monzo
- Wheelblaze
- Wheelie
- Wheeljack
- Whirl
- Whisper
- Wideload
- Windcharger
- Windsweeper
- Wingspan
- Wreck-Gar
- Blurr with Haywire
- Pretender Bumblebee (2 pages)
- Cyclonus with Nightstick
- Pretender Grimlock (2 pages)
- Hot Rod with Firebolt
- Pretender Jazz (2 pages)
- Kup with Recoil
- Powermaster Optimus Prime with Ginrai
- Scourge with Fracas
- Pretender Starscream (2 pages)
Issue #8
Originally published: December 3, 2003
Includes a one-page conclusion to the Megatron story begun in issue 1.
- The Ark (2 pages)
- Autobots (3 pages)
- Cloning Technology
- Combiners (2 pages)
- CR chambers / stasis pods
- Cybertron (6 pages)
- Iacon
- Kaon
- Protoforms
- Transformation
- Cybertronian martial arts (2 pages):
- Circuit-Su
- Crystalocution
- Diffusion
- Metallikato
- Pit fighting
- Decepticons (3 pages)
- Earth (2 pages)
- Energon
- Energon-based weaponry
- The Fallen (2 pages)
- Gladiatorial combat
- The Great Shutdown
- Guardian robots (3 pages)
- Headmasters (2 pages)
- Junk and Junkion (2 pages)
- The Matrix (2 pages)
- Micromasters
- Autobot Battlefield Headquarters
- Decepticon Anti-Aircraft Base
- Autobot Missile Launcher Transport
- Nebulon
- The Nemesis (3 pages)
- Powermasters
- Pretenders
- Quintessa and Quintessons (2 pages)
- Shockwave's experiments:
- Duocons
- Triple Changers
- Size/mass change
- Space bridge
- Sparks
- Special abilities (3 pages)
- Laser scalpels
- Teleportation
- Chemical spray
- Invisibility
- Telepathy
- Force field
- Null ray
- Super-speed
- Common enhancements
- Targetmasters
- Transwarp Drive
- Unicron (2 pages)
- Vector Sigma
- Wreckers
- Glossary (2 pages)
Omissions
- Though partners and vehicles were omitted. Thus the guide omits the following US characters entirely: Fistfight, Scorpulator, Tyrannitron, and Wingthing. This becomes goofier with the collected editions; due to their choice of artwork, Wingthing appears on the back cover but not in the actual books.
- Gasket and Grommet are not shown as separate vehicles, only in their combined form as Cog.
- Combined vehicle modes are not shown for the Mega Pretenders (Thunderwing, Vroom and Crossblades).
- Ultra Pretenders Roadblock and Skyhammer are both missing their outer vehicular shells, though both are mentioned in the text.
- Base mode is not shown for the ATV.
- Only one-half of the Cannon Transport is shown (the same half, in mobile artillery mode, is shown with both partners.) Its base and combined transport modes are not shown at all.
- Mobile artillery and combined transport modes are not shown for the Missile Launcher.
- The Tanker Truck is not shown at all, either with its respective Micromasters or in the Micromasters reference section.
- The Anti-Aircraft Base's tank mode is not shown.
- Base and flight modes are not shown for the Battlefield Headquarters.
Errors and critiques
- Not an error per se, but the alphabetization is inconsistent. Earlier subgroups like the Dinobots, the Insecticons, and the combiner teams are alphabetized by their subgroup names, while the Micromaster teams are split up by individuals. One theory is that Dreamwave figured the profile issues with nothing but Micromasters would sell less than those with the more well known characters, so they scattered them instead.
- Likewise, Micromaster bases are inconsistently shown. Some appear with their owners; of these, many are only shown in one configuration. Others only show up in the special topics issue.
- For many characters, the vehicle-mode art was not drawn by the same artist as the robot mode, leading to some glaring incongruities when the two modes appear side-by-side. For example, the angled windshield on Oiler's robot-mode chest (pictured at top) is a nearly-flat windshield on his truck mode. Optimus Prime (pictured above) has a similar problem as well as differently styled windows.
- Artwork for characters' alternate modes is, on occasion, a maddeningly literal drawing based on their toy, instead of any kind of accurate, in-universe representation of the actual object they transformed into. Ravage's tape mode, for instance, is more of a folded-up-robot mode than an actual cassette tape.
- Most of the Pretender shell penciling and colouring is ridiculously basic, but yet the Pretender Monster shells feature highly detailed pencils and colours (though their robot art suffers from the "literally being based on the toy" problem).
- Frustratingly, some of the best-known characters such as Bludgeon, Megatron, Fortress Maximus, Jetfire and Octane have some of the poorest artwork.
Notes
- More Than Meets The Eye was originally to be outsourced by Dreamwave and meant to be written by Destination Entertainment, under the title of Transformers: Profiles. Destination's rather grandiose original plans involved weaving their own take on the Dreamwave timeline passively throughout all the character profiles, seizing this opportunity to shape some of the then-contemporary fiction since presumably they were being kept well away from contributing anything in the main books.
Destination's timeline was to have been a remarkably convoluted creation, having each original year of Transformers characters originating with each millennium of the war (with even the very definition of millennium here being stretched to "every million Cybertronian years"). The 1984 characters being originated in the first millennium, the 1985 ones in the second, and so on, despite this idea already being contradicted by books Dreamwave had already published at the time.[1] (and not making even remotely one lick of sense either way, as it would mean that, for instance, Kup would have been younger than Bumblebee).
Additionally, explanations as to how characters such Galvatron, Goldbug and Powermaster Optimus Prime could exist at the same time as their original counterparts were not forthcoming. Needless to say, three months later Destination was removed from the project and the entire endeavor was re-solicited as a far more modest and uncomplicated series of Transformers: Universe-style profiles.[2]
- During the time that the Dreamwave were releasing the individual issues it became known that they only ever had the rights to release Transformers comics in North America. With immediate effect supply of Transformers comics to foreign countries was stopped. This left international Transfans with only a partially completed run of MTMTE, and having to resort to other methods to acquire the remainder.
- Additional profiles for characters such as Sunstorm (rather notably absent in the MTMTE profile books) and the Female Autobots were to be released in Generation One 2004 Datatracks Annual. However, Dreamwave went bankrupt before it would be produced.
Collections
Dreamwave released two trade paperbacks (TPB) of the entire collection. Volume 1 contained issues 1-4, Volume 2 contained issues 5-8. No changes were made to the order of articles, and as such the same criticisms apply. Both volumes are quite rare, and as a result can be expensive to acquire. It is much more easier to obtain the original individual issues.
- DW Volume 1: October 27, 2004 (ISBN-10: 0973381760, ISBN-13: 978-0973381764)
- DW Volume 2: December 8, 2004 (ISBN-10: 0973381779, ISBN-13: 978-0973381771)
IDW Publishing have reprinted the Generation 1 guides. Despite the considerably different IDW-specific plots (such as the Dead Universe, Galvatron's new origin, and the considerably different history, geography and political landscape of Cybertron) the collections have been released unchanged from the Dreamwave originals (and thus reference the DW plots of the Great Shutdown, Shockwave's inventions of the Triple Changers, Duocons etc).
- IDW Volume 1: September 29, 2008 (ISBN-10: 1600102506 ISBN-13: 978-1600102509)
- IDW Volume 2: December 25, 2008 (ISBN-10: 1600102956 ISBN-13: 978-1600102950)
