Swarm (G2)
| The name or term "Swarm" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Swarm (disambiguation). |
- The Swarm is a cloud-like entity from the Generation 2 portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.
The Swarm is a cloudlike black mass, accidentally created by a misuse of the form of Transformer reproduction called budding, under the direction of the Liege Maximo and the Cybertronian Empire. Though very different from Transformers on the surface, its genetic material and cellular structure are identical to the Transformers, betraying its origin. It seeks out and destroys life, literally "eating" mechanical (but not, apparently, organic) living beings, in a fairly horrific fashion. The Swarm is hollow and blindly hungry for the soul/power/mission of Primus that it lacks, and so is drawn specifically to Transformers, though it will eat other forms of life in its blind attempts to complete itself.
Fiction
Marvel Comics continuity
Optimus Prime had himself hooked up to a psychic amplifier in order to communicate directly with the Creation Matrix. The Matrix showed him that early on the Transformers reproduced by budding. The second generation Decepticons unlocked the latent process that was still present inside each Transformer to create their army. However, Prime severed the psychic link before the Matrix could reveal the side effect of this abuse of the budding process—the Swarm. The Power and the Glory
The Swarm attacked the Esk clones on the planet Fara. The Gathering Darkness The Autobots discovered the aftermath of a Swarm attack on the moon J'asik. They studied the scene looking for clues to what caused the destruction. The Swarm had moved on to the planet J'asik orbits, Karn, to destroy a group of Cybertronians led by Mindset. Through feeding on the Cybertronians, it gained knowledge of the Transformers. Swarm
Autobot scientists were able to analyze some of the remains of the Swarm leftover on J'asik and made a startling discovery. The Swarm's genetic sequence was identical to Transformers. Prime reasoned the Swarm were somehow related to the vision of budding the Matrix revealed to him. Tales of Earth Part Six
Near the Fringe Worlds, the Swarm devoured Battalion Xerxes and learned that the Cybertronians were headed toward the planet Earth. Total War!
This led the Swarm to Earth Tales of Earth Part Eight where it caused much destruction. Combined Autobot/Decepticon forces put up what defense they could, and some were able to protect themselves with Rheanimum, but Optimus Prime knew their efforts would fail. He refused the Rheanimum and instead fed both himself and the Matrix to the Swarm, filling it with Primus's vision, and hence turning it into a force for creation rather than mindless destruction. In an attempt to make amends, it recreated Prime in a new body, before departing. A Rage in Heaven!
3H comics
The Vok told Primal Prime that they were "tempered by the darkness of the Swarm" and "forged in the purity of the Matrix". Primeval Dawn This isn't very clear, as things go.
Notes
- Extra-canonical comments from Beast Wars creators suggested that the Swarm eventually evolved into the alien race known as the Vok. The details of this were discussed but never formally decided upon and did not make it into the show. The 3H fan club material was intended to solidify this connection, but does not go into very specific detail.
