Binder of Revelation

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Fusion canon.

The "Binder of Revelation" is the informal name used by Hasbro creatives for the 354-page production bible that undergirds fiction in the Aligned continuity family.[1] Co-written by Aaron Archer, Rik Alvarez, and other Transformers experts from Hasbro (with help from outside partners Fabian Nicieza and the fandom), it charts billions of years of history, combining concepts from all previous "generations" of Transformers lore.

Didn't quite turn out as planned.

cost over $250k to produce - lives in the bottom of drawer

Rik Alvarez's 2015 slideshow at TFcon Charlotte[2]

Published material

The Binder contains full-colour illustrations and charts the history of the Transformers from the beginning to the end of the universe. Transformers Vault contains three scans of the Binder:

Many images commissioned for the Binder have been released over time, either in official publications or via the artists themselves. It also appears that periodic revisions were made to the binder over the course of a few years to incorporate the introductions of new characters and concepts, at least until early in production of Robots in Disguise.

Contents

II. Overview of the New Universe

III. Heroes and Villains

  • 35-36: Title
  • 37: ??? (likely introduction)[3]
  • Autobot Character Profiles[5]
  • 38: Polarity: The Astrology of Transformers, The Signs, 1. Liegeians, 2. Vecorians, 3. Nexians[6]
  • 39: 4. Micronians, 5. Onyxians, 6. Megatronians, 7. Amalgians, 8. Soleans, 9. Quintessians, 10. Alphanians, 11. Alchemians, 12. Primians[6]
  • 40-43: Optimus Prime (Main)
  • 44-47: Megatron (Main)[6]
  • 48-49: Starscream (Main)[6]
  • 50-51: Bumblebee (Main)

Autobot Character Profiles

Decepticon Character Profiles

Legendary Character Profiles

Human Character Profiles

IV. Locations

  • 155-156: Title

Earth

Cybertron

Distant Planets

V. Vehicles, Weapons, Artifacts & Technolog

  • 199-200: Title

Vehicles

Weapons

Artifacts of the Primes

Technology

Transformer Culture

Human Culture: Companies

Human Artifacts

VI. The Super Science of Transformers

VII. Archetypes, Messages & Themes

  • 249-250: Title
  • 251: Introduction

The Brand Essence of Transformers

  • 252=253: What makes a Transformers Story?
  • 253-256: Brand Archetype: The Ruler
  • 256-257: Sage Archetype — New Witwicky

The Theme of Transformers

  • 258: What is Transformers about? In a universe where change is the only constant, how is peace possible?
  • 259-260: The Central Theme Explained, Fundamental Conflict

Messages of Transformers

  • 261-262: Chaos & Order, Destiny and Fate, Avatar Theory and Reincarnation, A Single Action can Change the Course of History, Transformation
  • 262-263: Achieving Success through Effort, Brotherhood, Responsibility
  • 263: More than meets the eye..., Supporting Characters as Mirrors, Once you have found your bliss you can achieve the impossible.

Aspirational Drivers

  • 264: Aspirational Drivers

Major Aspirational Drivers

  • 265-266: Mastery, Power
  • 266: Hierarchy

Seconary Aspiration Drivers

  • 267: Multiplicity, Inner Pride

Sensory Gratification

  • 268: Sensory Gratification

Fantasy Journey & Fulfillment

  • 269: Fantasy Journey & Fulfillment
  • 270: Key Art

VIII. Epic Chronology

  • 271-272: Title
  • 273-306: The Epic Chronology of Transformers[10]

IX. Distant Mountains

  • 307-308: Title
  • 309: ??? (likely introduction of this section as covering unanswered questions, to be explored in future media)[3]
  • 310: Epoch I — Origins
  • 311: Epoch II — The War of the Primes
  • 312: Epoch III — The Fall of the Primes
  • 313: Epoch IV — The Age of Wraith [sic]
  • 314: Epoch V — The Golden Age
  • 315: Epoch VI — The Rise of the Decepticons
  • 316: Epoch VII — The Civil War
  • 317: Epoch VIII — The Exodus
  • 318: Epoch IX — Earth Activation
  • 319: Epoch X — Ascension
  • 320: Epoch XI — The Return to Cybertron
  • 321: Epoch XII — Unicron
  • 322: Epoch XIII — A New Universe

Appendix I. The Language of the Primes

  • 323-324: Title
  • 325-326: Cybertronian Alphabet

Appendix II. Glossary of Terms

  • 327-328 - Title
  • 329-334 Glossary of Terms

Issues

Rik Alvarez claimed in 2015 that the "B.O.R." had been repeatedly ignored or subverted. First, the creatives behind Prime didn't want to be beholden to older material, not even other parts of Aligned, even as the B.O.R. had to flesh out the world for them; IDW Publishing had established too many backstories for the Binder to be logistically applicable for them; and Rescue Bots was not part of the Binder's plans, yet in it came! [11] Then the incoming toy design director at Hasbro abruptly changed the plans for Prime season 3, swerving to Beast Hunters instead of a return to Cybertron that would have included pirates. Prime being cancelled, according to Alvarez, shot the B.O.R. in the head.[12] Andrew Hall, who had also worked on Aligned product, weighed in to confirm that this lined up with what he had heard from other people.[13]

Footnotes

  1. Hasbro IP panel at BotCon 2011 (summary at Figures.com)
  2. Rik Alvarez panel, slide show on Beast Hunters - See fan photos
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Removed in 2015.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Updated in 2015.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 New page added in 2015.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Moved later in 2015.
  7. 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 Two new pages added in 2015.
  8. No, we don't know who the hell this is either.
  9. Four new pages added.
  10. In the 2015 ed., pg 299 (Epoch X — Ascension) was replaced with three new pages expanding on this era following its depiction in media. Similarly, pg 301 (Epoch XI — The Return to Cybertron) was also updated with new information from recent media.
  11. Rik Alvarez panel, slide show - See fan photos
  12. Rik Alvarez panel, slide show on Beast Hunters - See fan photos
  13. AllSpark forum post: "No, the aspects of it that people are seeing as complaining was pretty much stuff I heard after he had left. The information lines up with what he'd told me at the time."