2005 IDW timeline

This article is about the extensively-researched TFWiki.net chronology. For the barely-researched IDW recap comic, see The Transformers Continuum: The Definitive Chronology‎.

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

See also: IDW Generation 1 continuity.

Timeline

1,000,000+ years ago

~ 6.7 million BCE — The first Ark is launched and subsequently lost in the Benzuli Expanse, ending up in the Dead Universe. ^[1] Notable crew include Galvatron, Spotlight: Galvatron Nova Prime, his strategist Jhiaxus, Spotlight: Optimus Prime, Cyclonus, Straxus and Grindcore. Spotlight: Cyclonus Oh, and Scourge. Rebirth

? BCE — After Nova Prime and Jhiaxus disappear, Omega Supreme locks away Jhiaxus's experiment, Monstructor, in an inter-dimensional prison. Spotlight: Optimus Prime

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

? BCE — The Autobots evolve into a corrupt galactic police force and spark a riot when shutting down an energon-mining operation. One of the miners, Megatron, 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 a common banner — the Decepticons, but they are captured by Sentinel Prime's forces. Starscream and Soundwave's forces massacre the Senate, and release the Decepticons from prison. Megatron badly beats/kills Sentinel Prime, and the Decepticons occupy Kaon. The Autobots withdraw to Iacon. Megatron Origin

? BCE — The Decepticons destroy a popular racetrack, putting Blurr out of the spotlight when Zeta Prime orders the races suspended. Blurr gets caught in Autobot/Decepticon crossfire, and a young Optimus convinces him to turn his self-confidence to the Autobot cause. Spotlight: Blurr

100,000+ years ago

~650,000 BCE — Shockwave begins planning Regenesis, and begins distilling energon into a catalyst which he then launches at various planets, including prehistoric Earth. ^[2] Spotlight: Shockwave

10,000 years ago

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

~8000 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.^[3] 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

? — 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

? — A Decepticon named Deadlock leaves Turmoil's command when he feels disillusioned by what the civil war had become, and he stumbles across a third, neutral faction of Transformers. Spotlight: Drift

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 — Thunderwing renders Cybertron largely uninhabitable.^[4] Stormbringer

Unknown

In the final years of Cybertron's habitation, 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

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

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.^[5] Spotlight: Ultra Magnus

1997 — Alpha Trion slowly begins cleaning Cybertron's atmosphere.^[6] Any Old Iron

Current era

2002 — Current era of Transformer activity on Earth begins.

2006

Shockwave's hand is discovered in an excavation in Nevada. Spotlight: Shockwave
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!

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

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 UniverseSpotlight: 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

At some point between 2007 and 2010, Galvatron frees himself from the solar pool, fully fused with the Darkness. He tracks down the now dying Dead Universe transformers trapped in the living universe. He finds Cyclonus and a dying Scourge. Using his new powers, he revives Scourge, using him to create a personal guard in the form of the Sweeps Rebirth

All Hail Megatron

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 a former Decepticon, 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 sniperer. Lost & Found
Sunstreaker makes a deal with Starscream to help him take out Megatron in exchange for the Autobots abandoning Earth. All Hail Megatron #8
Using acquired Autobot access codes, Megatron launched an all-out attack on every major Autobot outpost. Optimus Prime turned the tide, but not before the outposts fell to the Decepticons. 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 and takes over leadership from Skyquake. He captures the prison and begins turning it into an arena for his own amusement. Fortress Maximus is handed over to the prisoners. 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
The Earth-based Decepticons, who have now bolstered their ranks with the Constructicons, Insecticons, Soundwave, Ravage, Rumble 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
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 build 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
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's 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
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

Reverse-engineering Cybertronian tech, Skywatch develops weaponry and battle suits to capture Transformers. Gears and Windcharger make it to Earth, but are amongst those captured.

...For All Mankind

2010

Two years after All Hail Megatron:

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
Hot Rod decides to leave Earth and a group of Autobots join him. They are attacked by a squad of deserted Decepticons, but decide to join forces instead in an effort to leave the planet. New Arrivals, Old Encounters
Bumblebee is elected Autobot leader New Arrivals, Old Encounters and meets 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. The Hanging Sword
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's Skywatch-supplied immobilizing badge is damaged while capturing Blurr. He keeps Blurr from falling into Skywatch hands and tricks Horiuchi to come to Autobot HQ. While searching for a rare element called Darmstadtium, Bumblebee encounters Scavenger in hiding. The Impossible Knot
Horiuchi's team comes to Autobot HQ to replace the damaged badge, but technician Klonowski becomes suspicious when the new badge doesn't work. The Autobots learn that the badge tech is held by Sanjay Bharwaney. Bumblebee befriends Sanjay's daughter to get ahold of the tech, while Klonowski spies on the Autobot communications. However, Bumblebee questions his motives at betraying the daughter to get the info. Skywarp, meanwhile is also looking to get ahold of the control board. The Gift Horse
Bumblebee rescues the Bharwaneys from Skywarp and apologizes to the daughter for misleading her. He receives unexpected help against Skywarp from Klonowski but eventually must use the control board to disable both Skywarp and himself. Bumblebee is repaired and upgraded into a larger, more powerful boby befitting an Autobot leader. Wings of Wax
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

Eight months later

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