Dreamwave Generation One continuity

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The Dreamwave Generation One continuity is a rebooted Generation 1 universe, begun in 2002 by Dreamwave Productions. It freely combines elements of the cartoon and comics with new storylines, portraying events on Earth and Cybertron simultaneously. It was the first mainstream Generation 1 fiction since Marvel's Generation 2 comics were canceled in 1994.

Overview

The story begins on present-day Earth; the Autobots and Decepticons are missing following the destruction of the Ark II spacecraft two years prior. A man whom you should call Lazarus revives some Transformers and attempts to control them, but soon they free themselves and renew their war. After an initial bout of conflict, Shockwave arrives from Cybertron to bring all the Earth-bound forces home to a supposedly united Cybertron. Inevitably, that alliance falls apart, and soon the war is gearing up again on Cybertron and Earth.

The War Within series revealed the early days of the war, detailing Prime's early leadership and the chaos after he and Megatron disappeared, while the Micromasters comic portrayed the dark days leading up to the Great Shutdown.

The immediate back story seems to be similar to the Generation 1 cartoon, with two small groups of Transformers isolated on Earth after crashing there thousands or millions of years ago, though a number of details prevent it from fitting in as a continuation of the cartoon. Familiar names such as Spike and Sparkplug Witwicky and Marissa Faireborn pop up as the series progresses.

Dreamwave's universe eventually hinted at a massively complex back story for the Transformers... as well as some occasional strange and surreal plot points. For example, the Micromasters have Earth modes long before such forms actually existed on Earth... or before anyone has ever heard of the planet! This is explained as "preparation for the future," guided by a prescient Matrix and/or Vector Sigma. Another oddity is the "Great Shutdown," an event in the distant past which caused every Transformer on Cybertron to enter stasis as part of Cybertron's natural healing and regenerative cycle. Plot-wise, this device is used to explain the comparative lack of change on Cybertron while the Earth-bound Transformers slumber aboard the Ark; however, why every robot on Cybertron would shut down at the exact same moment is never made clear.

Though there is confirmation that Primus exists in this continuity, the Transformers are also hinted to have a sinister origin and history, possibly involving the Quintessons, who have had numerous dealings with them over the eons. Numerous seeds were planted for a Unicron plot thread, but Dreamwave's collapse prevented this from ever coming to fruition.

Cast

The casting choices hew closely to the toy assortments. The Ark's crew seems to consist of the original 18 Autobots, the Dinobots, and possibly the Aerialbots. The Decepticons they face on Earth likewise consist of the original 1984 cast plus the Constructicons. A council of Autobots consists of the 7 Autobot cars from 1985. The Triple Changers (Autobot and Decepticon) operate as a single battle unit. And so on.

Most characters are shown to have been on Cybertron, with most never appearing on Earth at all.

Technology

Much of Dreamwave's tech is based on the Generation 1 cartoon and comics with additional technology from Beast Wars; other aspects attempt to explain and tie together some of the unexplained points of the original Generation 1 series, such as clones and "brothers".

The Dreamwave universe holds multiple alternate modes in high reverence. The Triple Changers are repeatedly mentioned as having a great advantage due to their multiple forms, as well as being able to switch between those forms twice as fast as normal Transformers. "Shockwave's experiments" are repeatedly mentioned as being part of the source for the Triple Changers as well as the Duocons, though at one point Blitzwing's triple changing is mentioned as being a "natural evolution", with new parts spontaneously growing on him.

Media

The continuity includes the following series, listed in approximate in-fiction chronological order:

• The War Within - 6-issue mini-series. With the war going badly, the newly promoted Optimus Prime calls for abandoning Cybertron to the Decepticons.
• War Within: The Dark Ages - 6-issue mini-series. A sinister agent from Cybertron's earliest epoch arrives with plans to unleash an ancient evil.
• War Within: The Age of Wrath - 6-issue mini-series (only 3 published). Megatron has conquered the planet with an army of seemingly invincible drones.
• Transformers: Micromasters - 4-issue mini-series. With resources becoming scarce, both sides create a new generation of smaller, more efficient warriors.
• Prime Directive (Generation One volume 1) - 6-issue mini-series. On Earth, the Transformers are revived and resume their war.
• War and Peace (Generation One volume 2) - 6-issue mini-series. Shockwave has united both factions on Cybertron, but the Autobots uncover his true motives.
• "Welcome to the Jungle" - Short story from the Dreamwave Summer Special. Megatron recruits the Predacons to his cause.
• Generation One ongoing (Generation One Volume 3) - Ongoing series, canceled after 10 issues. The war slowly takes shape, with several rogue elements thrown into the mix.

The universe was also massively expanded by the More Than Meets The Eye profile books, which explained many aspects of the Transformers' technology and society. The books also gave fully fleshed personality to many characters who had previously been little more than a name and a quote.

Production

The initial mini-series was penned by Chris Sarracini, though later series eschewed much of what he established as far as possible without flat-out ignoring it. James McDonough, along with Adam Patyk, wrote the remainder of the main series. Omnipresent Transformers veteran Simon Furman provided the ancient history of the continuity with the War Within mini-series.

Art was done by a variety of artists, most prominently Pat Lee and Don Figueroa.

Continuity

The Dreamwave Generation One continuity fits really well with the Canadian Beast Wars and Beast Machines cartoons. here below is a good reading/viewing order for it. Enjoy!

DREAMWAVE COMIC CONTINUITY

4 Million years ago
The War Within DREAMWAVE 1-6
The War Within: The Dark Ages DREAMWAVE 1-6
The War Within: The Age of Wrath DREAMWAVE 1-3

        Optimus Prime returns

        The Ark crashes into Earth

3 Million years ago
Destined for nothing MICROMASTERS 1
The Gray Race MICROMASTERS 2
Recipe for hate MICROMASTERS 3
Victims of the revolution MICROMASTERS 4

1984
Pocket book TELEVIS POCKET BOOK
Parts TRANSFORMER LEGENDS

1985
Redemption Centre TRANSFORMER LEGENDS

        Grimlock, Slag and Snarl are revived

Joyride TRANSFORMER LEGENDS

        Sludge and Swoop are revived

1986
Devastator v Superion POSTER

2002
Reliving the ‘99 Ark II Tragedy GENERATION: 1#1
Transformers TRANSFORMERS PREVIEW
Generation 1 GENERATION: 1 VOL 1 #1-6
Hardwired NOVEL
Annihilation NOVEL
Fusion NOVEL

2003
New World Order GENERATION: 1 VOL 2 #1
Brothers’ burden GENERATION: 1 VOL 2 #2
Cold war GENERATION: 1 VOL 2 #3
Passive aggression GENERATION: 1 VOL 2 #4
Countdown extinction GENERATION: 1 VOL 2 #5
Revelation GENERATION: 1 VOL 2 #6

2004
Generation 1 GENERATION: 1 VOL 3 #0
Runnin’ with the devil GENERATION: 1 VOL 3 #4
Night of the Combaticons GENERATION: 1 VOL 3 #1
Black sunshine GENERATION: 1 VOL 3 #2
Skyfire GENERATION: 1 VOL 3 #3
The Omega Effect GENERATION: 1 VOL 3 #4
Original sin GENERATION: 1 VOL 3 #5
Atonement GENERATION: 1 VOL 3 #6
Welcome to the jungle DREAMWAVE SPECIAL
Infestation GENERATION: 1 VOL 3 #7
Extermination GENERATION: 1 VOL 3 #8
Lost and found GENERATION: 1 VOL 3 #9
The Route of evil GENERATION: 1 VOL 3 #10

        The Quintessons attack

Two for the price of one TRANSFORMER LEGENDS
Healers, Fighters and Transformers TRANSFORMER LEGENDS

2005

        The Aerialbots are repaired. 

Cover Poster DREAMWAVE #1
Cover Poster DREAMWAVE #1
Poster DREAMWAVE #1-2
GI: JOE/TF Poster DREAMWAVE #2
Poster DREAMWAVE
Soundwave Poster DREAMWAVE #3

                  The human race begins to visit other alien races. Optimus Prime 
        and Alpha Trion die. 

        Hotrod becomes Rodimus Prime.  Megatron becomes Galvatron. Metroplex appears.  

2007

        Bumblebee becomes Goldbug.  The Duocons appear. 
 
        Optimus Prime returns.  Rodimus Prime reverts back to Hotrod.  Then there is a period of peace. 

2011
The Rebirth HEADMASTERS.USA
The Test 3D COMIC
Comic 3D COMIC
Comic 3D COMIC

2013
Paddles TRANSFORMER LEGENDS

2018

         The Pretenders appear

2???

        Breakdown, Megazarak and Sentinel Maximus debut

8??? Descent in to evil TIMELINES COMIC
The Razor's edge TIMELINES COMIC
Theft of the Golden Disc BOTCON VIDEO
Dawn of Future's Past TIMELINES COMIC

<70,000 years ago
Beast Wars BEAST WARS
Beast Wars Maximals JAPANESE COMIC
The Web BEAST WARS
Equal Measures BEAST WARS
Chain of Command BEAST WARS
Power Surge BEAST WARS
Fallen Comrades BEAST WARS
Double Jeopardy BEAST WARS
A Better Mouse Trap BEAST WARS
Gorilla Warfare BEAST WARS
The Probe BEAST WARS
Victory BEAST WARS
Dark Designs BEAST WARS
Double Dinobot BEAST WARS
The Spark BEAST WARS
The Trigger BEAST WARS
Spider's Game BEAST WARS
Beast Wars incentive cover COVER
Unleash the beast ARTWORK
Critical Mass/Ground Zero BOTCON COMIC
Call of the Wild BEAST WARS
Dark Voyage BEAST WARS
Possession BEAST WARS
Low Road BEAST WARS
Law of the Jungle BEAST WARS
Before the Storm BEAST WARS
Other Voices BEAST WARS
Aftermath BEAST WARS
Coming of the Fuzors BEAST WARS
Tangled Web BEAST WARS
Maximal No More BEAST WARS
Other Visits BEAST WARS
Bad Spark BEAST WARS
Code of Hero BEAST WARS
Transmutate BEAST WARS
Visitations BOTCON SCRIPT
The Agenda BEAST WARS
Optimal Situation BEAST WARS
Deep Metal BEAST WARS
Changing of the Guard BEAST WARS
Beast Wars Metal BOOK
The Gathering IDW 1-4
Cutting Edge BEAST WARS
Feral Scream BEAST WARS
Predacons POSTER
Proving Grounds BEAST WARS
Go With the Flow BEAST WARS
Crossing the Rubicon BEAST WARS
Reaching the Omega Point - a prequel recap BOTCON
Herald BOTCON
Master Blaster BEAST WARS
A Meeting of Minds TRANSFORMER LEGENDS
Other Victories BEAST WARS
Covenant BOTCON
Schism BOTCON
Paradox BOTCON
Herald - the fate of Antagony BOTCON
Covenant recap BOTCON
Schism recap BOTCON
Paradox recap BOTCON
Terminus BOTCON COMIC
Reaching the Omega Point BOTCON COMIC
Beast wars WALL PAPER
Nemesis BEAST WARS
Primeval Dawn BOTCON
Ain’t no rat DREAMWAVE SPECIAL
The Ascending> IDW 1-4

????
The Reformatting BEAST MACHINES
Master Of The House BEAST MACHINES
Fires Of The Past BEAST MACHINES
Mercenary Pursuits BEAST MACHINES
Forbidden Fruit BEAST MACHINES
The Weak Component BEAST MACHINES
Revelations BEAST MACHINES
Survivor BEAST MACHINES
The Key BEAST MACHINES
The Catalyst BEAST MACHINES
End Of The Line BEAST MACHINES
Fall Out BEAST MACHINES
Savage Noble BEAST MACHINES
Prometheus Unbound BEAST MACHINES
Apelinq’s War Journals BOTCON
Wreckers: Departure BOTCON COMIC
In Darkest Knight BEAST MACHINES
A Wolf In The Fold BEAST MACHINES
Home Soil BEAST MACHINES
Wreckers:Betrayal BOTCON COMIC
Spark War BEAST MACHINES
Spark Of Darkness BEAST MACHINES
Singularity Ablyss TRANSFORMER LEGENDS
End Game BEAST MACHINES
Disclosure TRANSFORMERS UNIVERSE FEATURING THE WRECKERS
Wreckers: Finale TEXT STORY

????

The Mysterious temple in space BEAST WARS REBORN TEXT STORY
Master of the game BEAST WARS REBORN TEXT STORY
Text story TEXT STORY
Text story TEXT STORY

????

Abduction TRANSFORMERS UNIVERSE COMIC 1
Live action OTFCC
Escape TRANSFORMERS UNIVERSE COMIC 2
Homecoming TRANSFORMERS UNIVERSE COMIC 3
Script reading OTFCC