Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)

Autobots and Decepticons alike face a new threat in the face of the Cybertronian Empire and their off-shoot the Swarm.

Transformers: Generation 2

Script: Simon Furman
Art: Derek Yaniger, Manny Galan, Andrew Wildman, Geoff Senior
Lettering: [[ ]]
Colors: Sarra Mossoff
Editor: Rob Tokar

• Major characters (in order of appearance): Jhiaxus, Grimlock , Optimus Prime, Megatron, Leige Maximo
• Originally published: ???

Synopsis

When Hasbro brought back the Transformers toy line in 1993, they turned to Marvel Comics to once again produce a comic tie-in. This time, Marvel chose to build interest in the book by introducing the new storyline as part of its existing GI Joe comic. Over the course of 5 issues, Megatron, last seen crashing into Earth in issue #78 of the original US series, returned, and was upgraded into his "G2" form, a tank, by Cobra. Several Autobots were sent to deal with the returned Decepticon leader, which led into the ongoing Transformers: Generation 2 series.

However, this was only the tip of the iceberg. An entirely separate race of Transformers, decended from the Decepticons, who preferred to think of themselves as Cybertronians, were soon discovered in the far reaches of known space. The Autobots found themselves attempting to deal with this new threat, while also struggling to protect the Earth from the danger posed by the "original" Decepticons. Admist these threats, Optimus Prime had troubling premonitions that hinted at the coming of yet another threat.

In the end, the Autobots and Decepticons had to unite against the Cybertronian Empire and its deadly off-shoot, the Swarm.

Errors

• At the end of the G1 comic, Megatron and Ratchet had been connected through a psychic link, where neither could survive without the other. Though Megatron returns here, Ratchet is oddly missing and appears only in flashback.

Items of note

• This series came about at the time of great volatility in the comics industry, and was only guaranteed a 12-issue run. It was canceled after the series did not sell as well as expected, but was allowed to finish out the promised 12 issues.

• Amusingly enough, those low numbers that Generation 2 sold back then would make a comic a mega-blockbuster hit nowadays.

• Furman named the character Jhiaxus (as in gee, axe us) in "anticipation" of Marvel's unrealistic goals for the book leading to an almost assured cancelation.

• Earth and human civilization are severely damaged over the course of the series, first by the Decepticons, and then by the Cybertronian Empire and the Swarm. This devestation lead the the Beast Wars cartoon's story editors to consider making the Vok aliens decendants of the Swarm, now attempting to make amends for the devestation (and/or possible extinction) humanity suffers.
  
  
  From Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki, a Wikia wiki.