Combiner Wars (franchise)
Combiner Wars is a 2015 multimedia branding used by Hasbro, encompassing Transformers toys, comics, and other merchandise. As the name suggests, it focuses on combiners, specifically the Scramble City-style combiner teams from Generation 1.
Toys
Following the conclusion of the Generations toyline's Thrilling 30 subline imprint, it was refreshed with Combiner Wars branding. This new subline ushered in a new, unified play pattern whereby a Voyager Class toy and any four Deluxe Class figures can form a combiner robot. Furthermore, some Legends Class toys can form accessories for the combined figures, such as armor and weapons. They are not compatible with Fall of Cybertron Bruticus and his retool, as the Combiner Wars figures feature a larger peg system.
Takara's iteration of this toyline is titled Unite Warriors. It is noted for featuring the combiner teams with their classic members in more cartoon-accurate color schemes and sometimes entirely different molds.
Comics
IDW Publishing's contribution to Combiner Wars comes in the form of a six-issue "event" storyline, spanning both flagship ongoing title The Transformers and the second Windblade miniseries. More than Meets the Eye was going to be part of it (hence the Protectobots being on the Lost Light) but IDW felt this would undermine the book's direction.[1]
The series sees tensions surrounding the IDW universe's combiners come to a head when Starscream-led Cybertron re-establishes contact with the long-lost colony Caminus, turning what had been a simmering arms race into an all-out war. Combatants include the newly-rebuilt Superion, Devastator, and Menasor, and new players Defensor and Optimus Maximus.
| "Combiner Wars" chapters: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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Superion/"Prowlastator" origin
"First Strike"
"Combiner Wars"
"Epilogue"
"Combiner Hunters"
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Prequels and sequels
Combiners and the technology behind them were an important part of Robots in Disguise since its early stages, underpinning much of the book's initial 16-issue story arc. Eight issues covering the creation of Superion and the new incarnation of Devastator were reprinted with the Combiner Wars Deluxe Class Aerialbot and Stunticon toys, rebranded as Combiner Wars #1-8. Due to production timing issues, however, issues #1 and #2 were not released in these initial waves, whilst #3 was available only with the limited-release Quickslinger figure. Issues #1 and #2 (and reprints of #3 and #4) would later be released with the Combiner Wars Deluxe Class Combaticon toys.
Explicit buildup for the event began in Robots in Disguise #33, which introduced the notion of a combiner arms race, as well as setting the stage for Superion's new team members. The next five issues would go on to tell a story about the Enigma of Combination, an ancient Cybertronian artifact holding the key to successful combiners. Whilst not billed as such in their initial release, the trade paperback collecting these issues was labeled Combiner Wars—First Strike, and they were reprinted as Combiner Wars #9-14 with the third and fourth waves of Deluxe Class figures.
After the event, the June 2015 issues of The Transformers vol. 2 and Windblade vol. 2 were branded "Combiner Wars Epilogue". In July 2015, a one-shot comic branded "Combiner Hunters" was released, focusing on Arcee, Windblade, Chromia, and Victorion in the aftermath of the Combiner Wars; it was written by Mairghread Scott with art by Sara Pitre-Durocher.
Creative team
The Transformers issues are written and drawn by John Barber and Livio Ramondelli, respectively, whilst Windblade sees the return of the first miniseries's writer and artist team of Mairghread Scott and Sarah Stone. Casey Coller draws the regular covers, and Ramondelli provides subscription covers which form larger images in pairs. Retailer incentive covers feature art from Transformers Legends artist Sara Pitre-Durocher.
Collections
- The Transformers: Combiner Wars (August 12, 2015) ISBN 1631403869 / ISBN 978-1631403866
- Contains The Transformers issues #39 to #41, as well as the issues #1-#3 of The Transformers: Windblade ongoing series.
- Bonus content UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.
Cartoon
On the first day of San Diego Comic-Con 2015 it was announced that Hasbro would be partnering with Machinima to create an animated series for older audiences based on the Combiner Wars imprint.[2] The series itself will be run by Eric S. Calderon, George Krstic and F.J. DeSanto.[3]
Further information in this article is coming soon as it pertains to information that may not yet have been officially released. |
