2005 IDW timeline

A timeline for the events of IDW Publishing's mainline Generation 1 Transformers series.

Timeline

1,000,000+ years ago

12 million BCE — According to legend, the very first Cybertronian realizes he can transform. Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It Cybertronian religion says that the first Transformers were created very early on by the Guiding Hand, placing the origin of the species here. Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations

10 million BCE — Also according to legend, there is a war among the gods and they only survive by becoming the transformation cog, the brain module, the Matrix, and Vector Sigma. The Cybertronians gain wisdom, immortality, and transforming skills, and form the Knights of Cybertron. Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations The Knights turn Cybertron into a paradise before leaving the planet to spread enlightenment elsewhere. The Death of Optimus Prime

? BCE — With the loss of the Knights' benign influence, Cybertron descends into a civil war for untold years. Battles spread across the cosmos to worlds such as Spindrift, with one faction being the Headmasters, Heart of Darkness #3 who Galvatron comes to prominence battling. Shockpoint The conflict is eventually brought to an end by Nova Prime, who discovers Omega Supreme and with his aid, revives the ways of peace. Primus: All Good Things Under his direction, the Cybertronian empire expands, with the Primal Vanguard serving as offworld peacekeepers. Hangers On

~ 8 million BCE — Nova Prime reveals his true dark intentions, having conspired with scientist Jhiaxus to develop a process that allows sentient minds to be merged into one in pursuit of peace via the elimination of all will save his own. This process yields Monstructor. Primus: All Good Things While Omega Supreme is occupied battling the beast, Nova Prime and Jhiaxus depart Cybertron in the first Ark to begin their work, with notable crew members Galvatron, Spotlight: Galvatron Cyclonus, Straxus, Grindcore, Spotlight: Cyclonus and Scourge. Rebirth Omega defeats Monstructor and locks him away in an inter-dimensional prison, Spotlight: Optimus Prime then entrusts guardianship of the last remaining Metrotitan to Dai Atlas. Primus: All Good Things

? BCE — Nova Prime's Ark is subsequently lost in the Benzuli Expanse, transported to the Dead Universe. All aboard perish and are resurrected as undead creatures to serve the will of D-Void. Spotlight: GalvatronGenesis

? BCE — Cybertron is in a period of time known as the Interregnum. Delta Magnus of the Primal Vanguard protects the Matrix of Leadership until a new bearer can be found. An Intimate Beheading Cybertron suffers from a lack of energy in the wake of Nova's expansion program, and tensions emerge. Apartheid exists against those who were constructed instead of forged. This will eventually end but there will still be prejudice. Chaos Theory Part 1

? BCE — A corrupt Senate governs Cybertron, with Nominus Prime as Matrix-bearer. A policy of "functionalism" is instituted, with robots expected to stick to a single job determined by their alternate mode; monoformers, those without alt mode, face shape-hate. The rich and powerful have it better than you. InteriorsChaos Theory Part 1Life After the Big Bang The Senate use the sinister network of secret facilities known as the Institute to brainwash dissenters, and subject criminals to a head-and-hand replacement ritual known as empurata. Patternism Aliens call the Cybertronians "Autobots": an insult, meaning "automatons". Chaos Theory Part 2 Megatron, a lowly miner who believes in changing the planet with non-violent actions, is left embittered after being subjected to police brutality. Chaos Theory Part 1 Police officer Orion Pax is moved by his treatise and confronts the Senate, even deciding to 'reclaim' the slur Autobot as short for "autonomous robot", but he is ignored. At the same time, some Senators make a grab for more power by ordering an attack on Nominus Prime, using it as an excuse to obtain the Matrix of Leadership and initiate the Clampdown. Chaos Theory Part 2

? BCE — The Clampdown has caused tension and dissent across Cybertron. The Decepticon movement starts, basing themselves off samizdat writings from Megatron, and the miner is quietly sent into exile offworld. Post Hoc As part of a complicated plan to eliminate the threat the Decepticons pose to their social order, Senator Proteus promises to recognize the Decepticons as a legitimate political entity if 10,000 of them register as such, actually a method of gathering names for future brainwashing. Patternism With the discovery that Nominus's Matrix is a fake, the Senate have him killed and put the endgame of their plan into play, intending to stage bombing that will be pinned on the Decepticons. The scheme is foiled by a small team led by Orion Pax, but as a repercussion, his friend Senator Shockwave is brainwashed and subjected to empurata by The Institute. An Intimate Beheading The Senate's head of security, Sentinel, is installed as the new Prime. Patternism

"I could make a giant purple griffin out of stolen automobiles..."

? BCE — possibly the Dark Epoch known as The Uprising: The Senate and their thuggish police force spark a riot when shutting down an energon-mining operation, one of many the Senate have automated at the expense of the miners. The miner who starts the riot is Megatron and he escapes in a shuttle and joins the illegal gladiatorial games in the city of Kaon. Megatron takes over the games and is approached by Soundwave, an emissary of Senator Ratbat to cause terror throughout Cybertron. Megatron unites his gladiators under the Decepticon banner and arranges their 'capture' by Sentinel Prime's forces. Once captured, Starscream and Soundwave's forces massacre the Senate, and release the Decepticons from prison so they can overrun the security force's HQ. Megatron kills Sentinel Prime, and the Decepticons occupy Kaon. The Autobots withdraw to Iacon. Megatron Origin Zeta Prime takes command.

? BCE — The Decepticons launch a series of terrorist attacks, and Zeta orders the popular races suspended. This temporarily puts Blurr out of the spotlight. Spotlight: Blurr Orion Pax, temporarily in a new body, oversees a hostage exchange with the Decepticons. This is a trick to capture the wise Alpha Trion, so the Decepticons can use him to find a Metrotitan and gain space-bridge technology. Pax prevents this. Spotlight: Orion Pax Hoist is stranded in the Rust Spot and develops a fear of solitude. Spotlight: Hoist Blurr gets caught in Autobot/Decepticon crossfire, and Orion Pax, also known as Optimus, convinces him to turn his self-confidence to the Autobot cause. Spotlight: Blurr Zeta Prime becomes increasingly more corrupt, bringing back and expanding the Institute as "The New Institute".

• Megatron holds Declaration Day.

? BCE — Zeta Prime begins draining energy from his own citizens for the fight against the Decepticons and other insurgents, causing Orion Pax to turn on him and forge an alliance with Megatron to overthrow him. Megatron kills Zeta (possibly "the gunshot that killed a civilization" Life After the Big Bang), then betrays Orion and declares himself ruler of Cybertron. Cast into the depths of Cybertron, Orion discovers the long-lost true Matrix and is turned into Optimus Prime by its power, and in turn rallies an army against him. The Decepticons are driven out of Iacon by the new Autobot army, and the war escalates further. Autocracy

? BCE — The Dark Epoch known as The Exodus: Megatron is overthrown and exiled to Junkion by Scorponok, who destroys Cybertron's last major source of energon and awakens the ancient monster Trypticon. Aided by the Quintesson Pentius, Megatron is able to return and defeat the beast alongside Grimlock, Monstrosity but the energon crisis triggers an exodus in which many neutral Cybertronians flee Cybertron for elsewhere in the cosmos, including some ten to twenty million organized by Dai Atlas and Tyrest. Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus Among the evacuees are the Circle of Light, who depart Cybertron aboard the last of the Metrotitans and establish a hidden city on the planet of Theophany. Drift issue 2

? — Wheelie is finally (reluctantly) accepted for a scouting mission and crashlands on LV-117 and spends a period of time getting beatup by giant spiders, picking his arm out of giant lizard dung, and sending a distress signal. Spotlight: Wheelie

4 million BCE:

• Optimus and Megatron face off at the Battle of Sherma Bridge (2nd Cycle 087) Chaos Theory Part 1
• Optimus Prime turns down Megatron's first and only invitation for an Autobot surrender. Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It
• Ironhide is injured saving Optimus Prime from an assassin. The Iron Age
• Fall of the First Five Cities - the Decepticons make their first five major conquests.

Unknown (subsequent):

• ? BCE — possibly the Dark Epoch known as The Remote Age: the Autobot-Decepticon war expands beyond Cybertron and encompasses many other worlds. Thousands of battles occur over the following centuries, including:
  • Simanzi Massacre - the battle over The Crucible (1st Cycle 3178), later leading to the Endless Retaliation The Gloaming
  • Clemency - the battle over the Nightmare Engine. (2nd Cycle 1874) The Gloaming
  • The Vorsk Offensive (3rd Cycle 199) Chaos Theory Part 1
  • The Battle for Hell's Point (3rd Cycle 1102) The Gloaming
  • The Siege of Massunstrad Chaos Theory Part 1
  • The battle of Rada Mor Chaos Theory Part 1
  • A battle involving the 113th Battalion, with thousands of Autobot casualties inflicted by Black Shadow. Rules of Disengagement
  • Black Shadow wipes out the population of Rigel 6. Rules of Disengagement
  • An attack on Luna 2 led by Starscream Life After the Big Bang
• The Decepticons conquer many worlds and form the Constellate, marking the peak of Decepticon power.

Total war, not Total War!.

• The conflict enters a state of total war as both sides pour all available resources into defeating the other. Optimus and Megatron seal themselves inside omniglobes to direct the war effort. Rules of Disengagement
• In response to the many worlds savaged by the Autobot-Decepticon war, the Galactic Council is formed. Cybertronians are blacklisted by them. Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations
• The Militant Monoform Movement makes a comeback Life After the Big Bang
• Soundwave oversees a series of Anti-Neutral Pogroms Life After the Big Bang
• Bludgeon gathers an "army of deviants and half-forms" Life After the Big Bang
• The Constellate eventually collapses, marking the decline or end of Decepticon imperial power. Resources such as the Worldsweeper ships are recalled to Cybertron to fight on the home front. Rules of Disengagement

100,000+ years ago

~650,000 BCE — Shockwave realises Cybertron will soon die and begins planning Regenesis, distilling energon into a catalyst which he then launches at various planets, including prehistoric Earth. Spotlight: Shockwave

500,000 BCE — Shockwave visits Arduria to check on the progress of Regenesis and finds that his energon seed rocket has caused the planet to shatter. Syndromica (1)

10,000 years ago

WE DISAGREE

? — The Dynobots attack a Decepticon-held Energon silo in Sub-Sector-Nine. Maximum Dinobots issue 1

~8390 BCE — Shockwave openly leaves the Decepticons to begin stabilizing his Regenesis planets. However, he is followed by the Dynobots, out for revenge; and on Earth — the first of the planets — they engage him in combat. While he defeats them, he is deactivated by a failsafe set by Grimlock, as the Dynobots' ship triggers a volcanic eruption which buries all six in what would later become Eureka, Nevada. Spotlight: Shockwave

? (subsequent) — Megatron, on discovering Shockwave's absence, assigns Bludgeon to investigate his projects Spotlight: Shockwave — and Soundwave to watch over Bludgeon. Spotlight: Soundwave

? — Tracks is rescued from the Predacons by an unknown Autobot. Spotlight: Jazz

? — Cliffjumper crashlands on an unnamed planet and spends a period of time there watching over young aliens named Kita and Coll until Kita dies when Cliffjumper is discovered by Decepticons. Spotlight: Cliffjumper

? — A Decepticon named Deadlock leaves Turmoil's command when he feels disillusioned by what the civil war had become, and he stumbles across the Circle of Light. Drift issue 1 His coming prompts the Circle to raise their hidden city above ground. Drift issue 4

100+ years ago

603 BCE — The Predators put down local resistance in the Skomiloch Territories. They remain while Skyquake rules a mini-empire there. Snare's personnel evaluation

~1550 CE — possibly the Dark Epoch known as The Cataclysm: Thunderwing realises that Cybertron is going to be uninhabitable very soon. Unfortunately, he uses himself as a test subject for the solution and, driven mad, he ends up destroying the planet even faster. Stormbringer

Unknown

• Shortly after Thunderwing's rampage, Soundwave uses Bombshell to take control of Beachcomber. Beachcomber attempts to assassinate Blaster, leaving him adrift in space. The Decepticons began a massive offensive against the demoralized Autobots. Spotlight: Blaster It's all for naught anyway as the planet is soon abandoned, a lifeless, radiation-saturated wreck. Stormbringer

• Battle of Caldoon 4. Megatron initiates the infiltration protocol, a step-by-step process by which Decepticons covertly infiltrate a planet's society and bring it down from within. As part of this process, three of the Warriors Elite are promoted to Phase Sixers, including Overlord - who promptly deserts from the Decepticon army. Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 2

1900–2000

Unknown

• Sixshot is challenged by the Reapers, but refuses to join them. Spotlight: Sixshot
• Hot Rod leads a team to secure the Magnificence. Doubledealer, posing as an Autobot, sabotages the raid. Hot Rod hides the Magnificence.
• Hot Rod infiltrates the Decepticon penal colony Styx to rescue "Dealer," who befriends him. Spotlight: Hot Rod
• Kup and Outback crash-land on an unknown planet covered with radioactive crystals. Outback is killed in the crash, and Kup is slowly driven insane by the radiation. Spotlight: Kup
• The massacre at Babu Yar takes place. Bullets

He did the nasty in the recent pasty.

1984 — Soundwave investigates Bludgeon's activities on Earth and is deactivated when Bludgeon, after some of Shockwave's Regenesis ore — which he calls "Ultra-Energon" — triggers the eruption of Mount St. Helens (4 years later than in the real world.) Spotlight: Soundwave

1985 — Soundwave, Ravage and Laserbeak are excavated by Skywatch. Interest is taken in the cassettes, found in "robot mode," but Soundwave, in cassette player mode, is apparently discarded. Spotlight: Soundwave

~1988

• Ultra Magnus tracks the Decepticon criminal Scorponok to Nebulos, but despite damages, he escapes. Spotlight: Ultra Magnus

• Tyrest constructs the supercomputer/judging machine Aequitas. The Aequitas trials begin, a catalog of Autobot atrocities. Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus

~1990 - Obsessed with defeating Squadron X, the Wreckers track them down to the planet Pova. After capturing them, Impactor is ordered to release them due to a technicality. Instead, he executes the prisoners, and as a consequence is himself imprisoned in Garrus-9. Springer subsequently takes over leadership of the Wreckers. The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers Bullets

1997 — Alpha Trion slowly begins cleaning Cybertron's atmosphere. Any Old Iron

Current era

2002 — Current era of Transformer activity on Earth begins. Conspiracy theorists like Hunter O'Nion notice these machines after the Buchanan crop manifestations in Iowa. Infiltration issue 1

2006

• Shockwave's hand is discovered in an excavation in Nevada. Spotlight: Shockwave News of the dig reaches the conspiracy theorists but is considered a fringe theory, the "paleo-purists". Infiltration issue 1
• Galvatron lures Nightbeat to the planet Gorlam Prime and implants a device in his brain. Spotlight: Nightbeat

Infiltration

Like a shot through the torso could kill a Transformer!

Don't forget that this happened!

• Starscream's Infiltration unit on Earth discovers Shockwave's Regenesis ore, dubbing it "Ore-13." Infiltration
• Thunderwing is reactivated on Cybertron by Bludgeon using the "Ultra-Energon," and decimates Nebulos before returning to Cybertron and running out of fuel in front of Optimus Prime. Stormbringer
• Megatron arrives on Earth and blows a hole through Starscream for disloyalty. Infiltration #6
• After the Thunderwing crisis, Optimus Prime travels to Earth, following Shockwave's and Bludgeon's records. Stormbringer #4
• Soundwave, trapped in alternate mode since 1984, is purchased from a pawn shop. Spotlight: Soundwave
• Springer orders a costly mission to rescue the stranded and demented Kup. Spotlight: Kup
• Ramjet arrives on earth. Megatron initiates a plan to increase political unrest on Earth using technology stolen from Doctor Doom. The Decepticons (except Ramjet) boost their powers by tapping into Spider-Man's superhuman abilities. Megatron's plan is thwarted by the Autobots and Avengers, helped in part by Ramjet's increasing disloyalty to Megatron. Man and Machine

Escalation

• The Machination captures Sunstreaker, along with Hunter O'Nion. Hunter undergoes strange experimental surgery. Scorponok anticipates getting a new body.
• The Decepticons escalate tension between Brasnya and Russia. The Autobots intervene. The Ark-32 arrives with reinforcements. During the battle, Prime is nearly killed, and encounters the form of Nova Prime within infraspace.
• Ramjet initiates an ambitious plan to take control of the Decepticons. Spotlight: Ramjet
• Ironhide, Ratchet, Jimmy and Verity investigate Sunstreaker's disappearance. Ironhide is severely damaged in the process and left behind.
• Excavation of Shockwave and the Dinobots continues, now under Skywatch supervision. Skywatch activates Ravage and Laserbeak.
• Megatron summons Sixshot to Earth. The Reapers follow.
• Megatron kills Ramjet before his plan can be carried out. Spotlight: Ramjet
• Galvatron travels to Cybertron and defeats Hound's unit to retrieve Thunderwing's body, which he takes to Gorlam Prime. Spotlight: Galvatron
• Wheelie's distress signal call is received... and apparently ignored. Spotlight: Optimus Prime
• Optimus Prime meets with Omega Supreme to learn about Nova Prime. Monstructor attacks but is defeated and taken into Autobot custody. Prime returns to Earth. Spotlight: Optimus Prime

Devastation

Scale?!

• Blaster is found drifting in space and returned to the Autobot fold. Beachcomber is freed from Decepticon control. Spotlight: Blaster
• Banzaitron initiates an attack on the Autobot prison facility at Garrus-9. The Monstructor team escapes. Arcee is sent after them. Spotlight: Arcee
• The Decepticons reactivate Starscream to deal with an erratic Megatron.
• The Autobots' position is compromised so they move the Ark-19, but are shot down by Sixshot. They battle, but Sixshot is called back to deal with the threat of the Reapers.
• The Decepticons have replaced a likely candidate for President of the United States with a facsimile. He and a four-star general facsimile lose contact with the Decepticons but decide to proceed on their own and continue with Alpha-Scenario as planned.
• Wheeljack and Hot Rod attempt to rescue Ironhide but are attacked by Sunstreaker clones. With Hardhead's help, they defeat them and rescue Ironhide.
• Skywatch deploys Ravage and Laserbeak to find other Transformers, but their signal is blocked by Soundwave, still trapped in stereo mode.
• Hunter awakens at Machination headquarters and finds Sunstreaker's head. He undergoes the Headmaster process as Abraham Dante does the same with Scorponok. As a headmaster, he escapes the facility, but the Machination take Sunstreaker's real head.
• In the Dead Universe, Nova Prime orders Galvatron to Earth to deal with the Reapers, whom Sixshot has aligned with before he's shut down by Starscream. The other Decepticons engage the Reapers, losing the Battlechargers, before being covertly assisted by Galvatron, who returns to the Dead Universe with the body of Sixshot.
• The Autobots learn of the incident at Garrus-9 and leave Earth while Hot Rod and Sunstreaker remain.
• Skywatch is notified of the battle and prepares to deploy Grimlock. Devastation

Revelation

• Cyclonus arrives on Cybertron and attacks Hound's crew as revenge for the devastation wrought by the war. His attack is interrupted by Ultra Magnus, and he is forced to retreat to Corata-Vaz. After activating the Nega-Core, Cyclonus is again set upon, and activates the Nega-core's guardian, Thunderwing. He is forced to return to the Dead Universe as his body has been in the "living" world too long. Spotlight: Cyclonus
• Optimus and his crew arrive at Garrus-9. They meet with Jetfire and Fortress Maximus and head back to the Ark-32. Spotlight: Cyclonus
• Nemesis Prime, Jhiaxus, Galvatron, Straxus and Grindcore cross over to begin their transition. Spotlight: Cyclonus
• Nightbeat and Hardhead travel to Gorlam Prime to investigate Nightbeat's missing memories, and they encounter a large group of Micromasters trying to impede their progress. The pair makes it to the Dead Universe portal and Jhiaxus takes control of Nightbeat, forcing Hardhead to kill him, and dive into the portal himself. Spotlight: Hardhead
• Jetfire decides to use Pretender technology to enable Cloudburst, Landmine, Groundbreaker, and Waverider to survive the Benzuli Expanse. Spotlight: Hardhead
• Optimus receives a transmission from Dealer, who says that he's been monitoring the current situation, and he thinks that all of the answers they seek lie in the Magnificence. Spotlight: Hardhead Hot Rod agrees and both travel to Ki-Aleta, the planet where Hot Rod had hidden it earlier. Using the oracle, Hot Rod discovers that Dealer betrayed him, and sends the traitor to his death moments before he could do the same to him. The Magnificence later provides useful info to Ultra Magnus about the machinations of Nemesis Prime. Spotlight: Doubledealer
• Straxus and Grindcore mine energon in China. Spotlight: Doubledealer They are prevented doing this by Hound's team, primarily Sideswipe. Spotlight: Sideswipe
• Galvatron and Cyclonus attack the Mirror-Manifold, the ship of Cloudburst and crew. Spotlight: Doubledealer They are beamed out seconds before their ship explodes by the Technobots in the Nightbird, who present them with their own personal Pretender carapaces. Using these, they battle Galvatron and Cyclonus, defeating one and allowing the other to escape. Using their shells as temporary shields, they cross into the Dead Universe and manage to seal the gate to the Dead Universe. Spotlight: Sideswipe
• Nemesis Prime arrives on Garrus-9, and is faced by Optimus Prime. Optimus is attacked, using the Darkness. Spotlight: Doubledealer However, the Darkness reaches out to Optimus as a successor. Nemesis continues the attack but is blasted in the back by Galvatron and falls dead. The Darkness enters Optimus Prime. Galvatron offers Prime a choice: kill himself in the nearby Solar Pool, or willingly pass on the Darkness to him. Prime does both, passing on the Darkness and tossing Galvatron into the pool. Spotlight: Sideswipe
• Arcee manages to track down Jhiaxus on Gorlam Prime, and with some help from an undead Hardhead, defeats him. Spotlight: Sideswipe
• At some future point, the residents of Gorlam Prime evolve into fully mechanical beings and rename their planet Cybertron. Spotlight: Sideswipe

Maximum Dinobots

It's all fun and games until someone remembers the Monsterbots exist.

• Grimlock awakens in Skywatch's care, but he escapes and after refusing an offer to join forces with Scorponok, Spotlight: Grimlock he and the other Dynobots end up fighting Sunstreaker clones in Fallon, Nevada in an event orchestrated by Scorponok and the Machination.
• Hot Rod takes on Scorponok and fails, while Sunstreaker and Hunter try to reclaim Sunstreaker's original head.
• The Dynobots are rescued by the Monsterbots, but begin to have misgivings about Grimlock's leadership, feelings which come to a head when it appears Sludge has died from a blast by Scorponok.
• Soundwave, Shockwave, Laserbeak and Ravage plot together and free themselves from Skywatch's control.
• Shockwave involves himself in the battle with Scorponok, and both are ultimately are defeated by Grimlock and the Dynobots.
• Ultra Magnus arrives to take them all into custody (including Grimlock but not the Dynobots). Hunter is reunited with Verity and Jimmy, who Ratchet managed to resuscitate after their battle with Sixshot. Maximum Dinobots

2007

All Hail Megatron

Finally! A character we all can enjoy!

• Megatron and Deluge create the Insecticons, with the many failed tests becoming the "Swarm". All Hail Megatron #7
• Perceptor cures Kup's madness using Pretender technology, but remakes Kup a puppet for Prowl at his insistence. Everything in Its Right Place
• Kup leads a team to rescue captured Autobots and receive assistance from former Decepticon Deadlock, now known as Drift. Kup forms a special unit and asks Drift to join. Perceptor is gravely injured. Spotlight: Drift
• Hot Rod is attacked by a revived Bludgeon and the Monster Pretenders, and is rescued by Kup's unit. At the same time, Perceptor upgrades himself into a sniper. Lost & Found
• Ratchet separates Sunstreaker and Hunter, but Sunstreaker remains bitter about their experience together.
• Sunstreaker makes a deal with Starscream to help him take out Megatron in exchange for the Autobots abandoning Earth. All Hail Megatron #8
• The Dark Epoch known as The Surge: Using Autobot access codes acquired from Sunstreaker, Megatron launches an all-out attack on every major Autobot outpost. Bullets
  • The Autobots on Earth are led into a Decepticon trap and are soundly defeated. Megatron takes the Matrix and exiles them to Cybertron. Optimus Prime is left in critical condition. All Hail Megatron #8
  • Skyquake's Predators assault Garrus-9. Overlord arrives, kills Skyquake and takes over leadership of the attack force. He captures the prison and begins turning it into an arena for his own amusement. Fortress Maximus is tortured and lobotomized. Last Stand of the Wreckers #1

One year after Devastation:

• Overlord restores Shockwave to operational status.Last Stand of the Wreckers #3
• Sixshot raids an Autobot orbital base, looking for scientific information. The Throttlebots escape with it. Spotlight: Metroplex

May 29 Scrapper

• The Earth-based Decepticons, who have now bolstered their ranks with the Constructicons, Insecticons, Soundwave, Ravage, Rumble, Frenzy, and Laserbeak, cause rampant destruction in New York City and easily defeat a squad of attack aircraft. All Hail Megatron #1
• Colonel Daniel Witwicky is brought to New York to aid in its defense.
• Military troops move into Central Park and are wiped out singlehandedly by Frenzy.
• The Decepticons begin destroying routes out of the city, including Devastator destroying underground tunnels. Laserbeak broadcasts pictures to the helpless military top brass. All Hail Megatron #2
• Reports reach Colonel Witwicky that more cities have fallen, including Washington DC, and Air Force One is now lying in ruins on the Lincoln Memorial. All Hail Megatron #3

Post-May 29

Skywarp's a sonofabitch, ain't he?

• As tensions rise amongst the Autobots, Kup's team crash lands on Cybertron. All Hail Megatron #4
• On Earth, Colonel Witwicky appoints a team lead by his son Spike to take out Megatron, but the team is killed by Ratbat and Spike is the only survivor. All Hail Megatron #5
• Bored, the Decepticons squabble while the Autobots decide to use their remaining energon to repair Prime. The European Union decides to end the threat by nuking New York. All Hail Megatron #6
• As the Autobots try to avoid the Swarm, Ironhide flies into a rage and beats Mirage senseless, thinking he was the one who betrayed the Autobots. All Hail Megatron #7
• The Autobots race away from the Swarm, but sharpshooter Perceptor is injured. Guilt ridden, Sunstreaker makes the ultimate sacrifice and detonates a bomb to blow up a bridge (and himself) to keep the Swarm away from the other Autobots. Just before he does so, he reveals to Ironhide that it was he who brokered the deal with Starscream that betrayed the Autobots. Upset with Megatron, Starscream plots with the Insecticons. All Hail Megatron #8
• Sarah and Bridge run into Spike, and are later joined by Charles, seeking revenge against Rumble for killing his son. With a weapon reverse-engineered from Shockwave, Spike brings Rumble down with the help of his new friends. On Cybertron, Optimus Prime is repaired, along with the remaining Autobots. All Hail Megatron #9
• Bombshell builds a space bridge and reveals that he helped hack into the Autobots' defenses using technology gained by dissecting Hunter O'Nion. Starscream teams up with the Insecticons and Constructicons to attack Megatron, but they are not successful. The Autobots on Cybertron are saved by the arrival of Omega Supreme and taken back to Earth. All Hail Megatron #10

2008

According to "Ride-Along", the events of All Hail Megatron spanned over a year, though it's unclear exactly when the transition to 2008 happened.

• The Autobots arrive on Earth and battle the Decepticons. All Hail Megatron #11
• Prime defeats Megatron with some help from Spike. The Decepticons retreat but Thundercracker stays behind to dispose of the bomb. He succeeds but is blasted by Skywarp for his efforts. Sideswipe mercifully terminates the vegetative Hunter. All Hail Megatron #12
• Optimus Prime talks Ironhide out of retiring. Old Ways
• Believing the Matrix to be purely symbolic and now devoid of any power it might have once held, Starscream prepares to dump it into space. When Shrapnel reminds him that the Autobots use it to choose their leaders, Starscream declares that with Megatron incapacitated, he will use the Matrix to lead the Decepticons to victory once more. Uneasy Lies the Head
• The military begins hunting for rogue Transformers left behind. Spike defeats Ravage but is injured. Sparkplug is made head of Skywatch and recruits Spike to work for him. The Man of Steel
• The Autobots are being hunted too, but Bumblebee breaks cover to save some humans and is injured for his efforts. Hidden

Post-All Hail Megatron

• Badly damaged by Skywarp, Thundercracker takes refuge in a ruined building and watches television to pass the time until he's rescued. As he studies human society, he has an epiphany in regards to his role in the war. Seasons in Flight
• With several Autobot outposts destroyed during the Surge, many Autobots take refuge on Earth. Humanity slowly repairs the damage caused by the invasion, but are enraged at the Cybertronians that remain on their planet. After witnessing a defenseless Thrust executed by a group of police officers, Prowl decides that with their numbers so reduced by war, all Cybertronian life - even Decepticons - needs to be protected. Spotlight: Prowl
• Swindle gets in contact Skywatch via Spike and secretly sells them Cybertronian technology. Police Action Part 3: A Second Chance at Eden
• Reverse-engineering Cybertronian tech, Skywatch develops weaponry and crash suits to capture and detain Transformers. Gears and Windcharger are amongst those captured. ...For All Mankind
• An Autobot spy in the DJD reports that the Decepticons have lost contact with Garrus-9 and DJD scouting parties do not return. Prowl authorizes Springer to assemble a new team of Wreckers. Their mission is twofold—to rescue any Autobot prisoners and to download data from the Aequitas supercomputer. Last Stand of the Wreckers #1 Bullets
• Wheelie (still marooned) discovers a Decepticon shipwreck with surviving crewmembers Spectro and Spyglass (Viewfinder alas, didn't make it.) He saves an alien from them and in the process blows them and his escape ship to pieces. And so, he waits... Spotlight: Wheelie
• Autobots under Pyro's command liberate Hydrus 5 from the Decepticons. Bullets
• Autobots under Rotorstorm's command win the battle for Karashi-Delta. Bullets
• At some point after Gorlam Prime's transformation, the malevolent Dead Universe entity known as D-Void lures the entire population of the planet into his domain and devours their sparks. Heart of Darkness issue 2

2010

Two years after All Hail Megatron:

Cue the A-Team theme.

• Breakdown attacks a power station in search of energon, but is captured by Skywatch. When they threaten lethal force, Prowl transforms to defend but is captured as well. Wheeljack creates a device to counter Skywatch's immobilizers and fits the remaining Autobots with them. Hot Rod leads a rescue operation for Prowl but Ironhide is killed while escaping. Depressed, Optimus Prime resigns as Autobot leader and surrenders to Skywatch. ...For All Mankind
• Thundercracker is rescued by a rag-tag team of Decepticons led by Swindle. Seasons in Flight
• Hot Rod decides to leave Earth and a group of Autobots join him. They are attacked by Swindle's Decepticons, but decide to join forces instead in an effort to leave the planet. Bumblebee is elected Autobot leader. New Arrivals, Old Encounters

And there was much rejoicing

Eight months after Agent 113's report:

• The Wreckers arrive at Garrus-9 and begin their assault. They suffer casualties but are able to download the required data from the Aequitas. Unfortunately, Overlord had ordered the death of all Autobot prisoners upon the Wreckers' arrival. Overlord is captured and the remaining Decepticons scatter, glad to be free of Overlord's oppression. Last Stand of the Wreckers
• Ultra Magnus arrives on Earth to investigate the death of Ironhide and surrender of Optimus Prime. Afraid of being arrested by Magnus, Hoist, Tracks, Beachcomber and Blurr leave to join Hot Rod but all except Blurr are captured by Skywatch and used as leverage by Spike for Optimus Prime to talk. Magnus leaves to find Hot Rod. A Rude Awakening
• Bumblebee makes a deal with Colonel Gordon Horiuchi who promises the Autobots protection from Skywatch if they capture Decepticons, but at the price of being immobilized if they disobey. They rebel after being ordered to capture other Autobots starting with Blurr. After Bumblebee's immobilizing badge is damaged, he locates the creator of the badges and personally destroys them, defeating Skywarp and proving his worth as leader of the Autobots in the process. The Transformers: Bumblebee
• As Hot Rod's group begin construction of a spaceship, Swindle butters him up by calling him "Rodimus Prime" and convinces him to rescue Breakdown from Skywatch. Ultra Magnus shows up and tries to arrest Swindle, but Rodimus defends his ally. Seasons in Flight
• Ultra Magnus takes several Autobots from Bumblebee's group with him to help him detain Swindle and the rebellious Rodimus. Breakdown is saved, and Swindle applies combiner technology to him and the other Stunticons. When Ultra Magnus's team arrives, Swindle betrays Rodimus and unleashes Menasor to kill the Autobots. Enemies of the System
• Witnessing the battle, Spike releases Optimus Prime to battle Menasor. The combiner is defeated, and Spike comes to the conclusion that the Autobots are not part of the problem. A new alliance between Skywatch and Bumblebee's Autobots is forged, while Rodimus steals Ultra Magnus's spaceship and strikes off on his own. Earthworks
• A slowly recovering Megatron reflects on what went wrong with the invasion on Earth and how Starscream has only led the Decepticons to ruin as his troops scavenge for fuel on a desolate asteroid base. All His Engines‎
• Soundwave and Shockwave revive Megatron in a new body equipped with space bridge technology. His old body is used to create replicas of his old gun mode, which contain small pieces of the Decepticon leader's consciousness. Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon
• Rodimus arrives at the Decepticons' asteroid base, intending to retrieve the Matrix. He succeeds in stealing it back from Starscream, but is confronted by the newly upgraded Megatron who blasts him and the Matrix into space. Heart Like a Wheel
• With the threat of Starscream holding the Matrix gone, Megatron retakes control of the Decepticons. He sends the Megatron guns to Earth, where they quickly spread amongst unsuspecting humans with anti-Transformer sentiments. Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon
• Spike hunts down and kills Scrapper, attempting to prevent Devastator from ever being formed again. Scrapper

Krazier than Kup!

• Looking to rid Cybertron of the remaining Swarm members, Alpha Trion creates a copy of the one Autobot most suited for the job: Ironhide. The confused duplicate lacks all of Ironhide's memories from the war, but does his job well. He also recovers Sunstreaker, having survived his sacrifice years earlier. Alpha Trion and Metroplex take off for parts unknown, leaving Ironhide and Sunstreaker on the planet to finish off the Swarm. The Transformers: Ironhide
• As Rodimus floats through space, the Matrix bonds with him, saving his life. He crashes on the planet LV-118, where he meets Wheelie. Together with him and the alien Garnak, Rodimus steals a ship and heads to Cybertron. Space Opera Part 1: The Stars My Destination
• Galvatron frees himself from the solar pool, fully fused with the Darkness. He tracks down the now dying Dead Universe Transformers trapped on Gorlam Prime, Cyclonus and Scourge. Using his new powers, he revives Scourge, using him to create a personal guard in the form of the Sweeps. Rebirth They investigate the planet's missing inhabitants, Heart of Darkness #1 and upon learning about D-Void's plans to destroy all Transformers, set out to raise an army to oppose it. Heart of Darkness #2
• Galvatron and his men discover a block of ice in space, unaware that it contains a zombie virus brought from another dimension by Britt. Some of the crew is infected and the ship crash-lands on Earth, where the Autobots pitch in and manage to warp Britt and her virus through time and space to the dawn of the Dead Universe. The Autobots refuse to join Galvatron's army. Infestation
• Galvatron takes his army to Cybertron, declaring it his first line of defense against D-Void. Rodimus also arrives on the planet where he meets Ironhide and Sunstreaker and learns of Galvatron's presence. The assorted Autobots leave Cybertron to warn Optimus Prime. Heart of Darkness #4 Space Opera Act 2: Out of the Silent Planet

Four months after the events of "Earthworks" and "Altered Carbon":

• North Korean leader Kim Jong Du strikes a deal with three of the Combaticons, providing them with energon in exchange for their services. Under his orders, the Combaticons attack South Korea, prompting the United States government to declare the employment of Cybertronians equivalent to the use of weapons of mass destruction. International Incident Part 1: "The Land Ironclads"
• Skywatch and the Autobots move out to defeat the Combaticons. To keep the public from learning that the US also employs Cybertronians, the Autobots remain in their vehicle modes throughout the battle, and are easily defeated. International Incident Part 2: "Ranks of Bronze"
• Bumblebee meets with Thundercracker, who is now only interested in watching TV, and convinces him to help them. Cosmos hacks the spy satellites above Korea, allowing the Autobots to fight in robot mode. Backed up by these resources, the Autobots defeat the Combaticons. International Incident Part 3: "Hawk Among the Sparrows"
• As the Autobots are attacked by the Predacons, who have a similar contract with China, Skywatch agent Sandra breaks the encryption on one of the satellites. The secret alliance between Skywatch and the Autobots is revealed to the world, and Russia attempts to nuke the Transformers, though Cosmos saves them. The energon factories in North Korea and China are destroyed, ending the threat from the Combaticons and Predacons. International Incident Part 4: "All My Sins Remembered"
• One week later, Bumblebee tries to calm down a large group of rioting humans, but fails and is grievously injured by Joe Gladki, a concerned family man corrupted by Megatron's influence within the gun he has purchased. International Incident Part 4: "All My Sins Remembered" Simultaneously, Megatron's Decepticons return to Earth, attacking the Autobot-Skywatch base and freeing the Decepticon captives within. The plane carrying Optimus Prime, Spike Witwicky and the rest of the Korea team is shot down over the Pacific Ocean. Revenge of the Decepticons Part 1: The Demolished Man Ultra Magnus takes charge and has the base evacuated. Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon He and his troops attempt to regroup, but are defeated by Megatron himself. Meanwhile, Starscream tries and fails to convince Thundercracker to return to the Decepticons. Revenge of the Decepticons Part 3: Woken Furies
• Two days after they were shot down, Optimus Prime's team emerge from the oceans alive. Prime confronts Megatron, who is holding Magnus hostage, and causes him to flee by injuring Soundwave. Jazz is forced to kill a human in order to save his comrades, furthering Autobot distrust among human civilians. Revenge of the Decepticons Part 4: Burning Chrome After another meeting with Prime, Megatron surrenders himself so that he can watch from the inside as the Autobots are crushed by the humans they protect. Revenge of the Decepticons Part 5: Enemy Mine

2011

Six weeks after "Revenge of the Decepticons":

• Rodimus and his crew arrive on Earth, return the Matrix to Optimus Prime and tell him about Galvatron's invasion of Cybertron. Taking most of the Autobots and Megatron with him, Prime leaves Earth on Omega Supreme. Bumblebee, Prowl and a few others remain behind to investigate Megatron's claims that Spike murdered Scrapper. Space Opera—Final Tableaux: Orphans of the Helix
• En route to Cybertron, Optimus Prime must choose life imprisonment or execution for Megatron's punishment in anticipation of his future trial. He tries to talk to his nemesis, but is only goaded into torturing him. Chaos Theory Part 1 When he asks Megatron what he would choose, Megatron chooses death. Chaos Theory Part 2

Four months after "International Incident": Police Action Part 2: Only Forward

• Prowl continues investigating Spike by following him around. Police Action: Part 1 While investigating the site of Scrapper's death, he is attacked by Brawl, but defeating and interrogating yields nothing about his motives. The Autobots bring in Sandra, who enlightens them on Spike's past. Police Action Part 2: Only Forward
• Spike shamelessly admits to killing Scrapper, but Prowl's fair share of questionable actions makes him unsure on what to do about it. During an attempted arrest of anti-Autobot pundit Ben Simpson, the Autobots learn that he was a facsimile created by Swindle. Under interrogation, Swindle reveals that he had been selling weapons to Skywatch via Spike for years. The alliance between Skywatch and the Autobots is shattered and Spike becomes an international fugitive. Police Action Part 3: A Second Chance at Eden
• Cyclonus and the Sweeps take over Kimia Facility. The Autobots arrive on Cybertron, where Optimus Prime again declines to join Galvatron's army, causing Galvatron to responds with violence. Chaos Part One: Lamentations
• In order to reach Cybertron's core, Galvatron uses Kimia to fire on the planet's surface until the facility is destroyed from within. As the Autobots fight Galvatron's army, Megatron escapes from captivity and powers himself up using his Megatron-guns. Chaos Part Two: Numbers
• Megatron uses the space bridge technology in his body to summon his Decepticon army to Cybertron. D-Void, acting through Galvatron's Heart of Darkness, mind-controls them into combining with Galvatron's troops to form the "Deceptigod". Chaos Part Three: Kings
• While Megatron fights and defeats the Deceptigod, Galvatron reaches Vector Sigma and inserts the Heart of Darkness into it, hoping this will stop D-Void from entering the universe when in truth it does the opposite. Optimus Prime stops D-Void from turning Cybertron into a portal to the Dead Universe by opening the Matrix of Leadership into the planet's core, emptying the artifact completely. Megatron goes missing. Chaos Part Four: Genesis
• The cleansing of Vector Sigma "resets" Cybertron to a living, primordial state, and the planet sends out a signal telling all Cybertronians in space to come home. The Death of Optimus Prime

Three weeks after the rebirth of Cybertron

Optimus Prime, having been inadvertently time-jumped three weeks forward, reappears and finds a Cybertron he doesn't recognise, and a shanty-town Iacon full of Transformers he doesn't recognise. He is soon informed of the situation by the Autobots, including the capture of the Decepticons and their subsequent implantation with I/D chips and the return of thousands of Cybertronian refugees - dubbed "NAILs" by Prowl. Ultimately, he departs the planet, leaving the empty Matrix halves to Bumblebee and Rodimus respectively, who are split on whether to stay or go. The Death of Optimus Prime

File:Crowd Control.jpg

Alpha Trion said there'd be days like this...

• Rodimus' followers set off aboard the Lost Light to find the mythical Knights of Cybertron, but a quantum jump malfunction causes it to be sent to a random point in space. The Transformers on Cybertron believe it to be destroyed. Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It
• To restore order on Cybertron, Bumblebee gathers the help of Metalhawk as representative for the returning refugees called NAILs. Horri-Bull gets killed for beating up Zetca and refusing to back down. The Autonomy Lesson

2012

"Syndromica (1)" makes mention that it's been five years since All Hail Megatron, placing the events of at least Robots in Disguise #6-onward in 2012, though the precise dividing line between years is unclear.