Nebulos

This article is about the planet. For the Targetmaster whose Japanese name is Nebulon, see Nightstick (Ricochet).

Nebulos (sometimes called Nebulon) is a planet inhabited by lifeforms, most notably a race of humanoids called Nebulans or Nebulons. These beings have found themselves involved with the Transformers in several different dimensions within the multiverse and are usually responsible for or deeply involved in the Headmaster, Targetmaster, and Powermaster technologies.

Fiction

Generation 1

Marvel Comics continuity

Read this in an Australian accent.

Ten thousand years ago, a conflict threatened to destroy the planet but the first incarnation of the World Watchers organisation defused it. In response to the near-disaster, the Nebulans turned away from the ways of war and locked away their weaponry under the watch of the, er, Watchers. The planet came under the rule of the democratic Council of Peers; an aristocracy existed as well.

A group of Autobots led by Fortress Maximus sought to relocate to Nebulos in order to escape their own millennia-old conflict on their own planet of Cybertron, but their arrival created dissension and mistrust within the Nebulan community. The arrival of a group of Decepticons led by Scorponok soon afterward only escalated these tensions, and Nebulos' age of peace was lost as citizens binary-bonded to Transformers on both sides of the conflict to become Headmasters and Targetmasters.

Realizing the damage that was being done to Nebulos' once-peaceful culture, the Autobots abandoned the planet to join Transformers already on the planet Earth, believing (correctly) that the Decepticons would pursue them off-Nebulos. Headmasters

The UK's letters page states this story took place from the end of 1986 to the end of 1987 (and based on when the Autobots learn about Earth, it's more into early 1988). That leaves Nebulos suffering over a year of destructive, open warfare.

After this the citizens of Nebulos tainted their own energy sources so as to be poisonous to any Transformers that might seek to return to their world. When Decepticons Darkwing and Dreadwind arrived soon after the departure of the other Transformers, they soon found themselves victim of this poisoning, and lay dormant for a time. They were later revived by Nebulan traitors Hi-Test and Throttle, who had stolen power-conversion plans that eventually created the Powermasters. Hi-Q, the creator of this process, eventually binary-bonded with a reborn Optimus Prime, and several of his staff joined with other Autobots, in order to combat the threat posed by Darkwing and Dreadwind. They, too, eventually left Nebulos to join the other Transformers on Earth. People Power!

Known locations on Nebulos included:

• Koraja, the capital city and home of the Council of Peers and the World Watchers.
• Splendora, a popular resort city.
• The Mercury Gardens of Melanossus, the planet's greatest natural wonder.
• The Nursery, Nebulos's most advanced botanical gardens and agricultural research center.
• The Gardens of Eternal Peace and Harmony Macrobiotic Restaurant, a multi-level, high-class eating establishment
• The Arvassian Range, a mountainous region where the Nebulans long ago locked away the implements of war.
• The Folassian Forest, where Highbrow first encountered Gort and his consort Marita.
• The Plains of Thok, home of the Grax Communications Facility.
• An unnamed swamp where the Autobots retreated as the Decepticons gained the upper hand.

News on the planet was reported by the Nebulan News Network.

Regeneration One

At some point after Optimus Prime and company had left Nebulos, the planet was declared off-limits, presumably to keep the Nebulans from being further involved in Cybertronian affairs. This didn't stop Kup from announcing his intention to the Wreckers that he intended to visit Nebulos, following their stopover on Earth, to tie up any loose ends. Megatron would derail Kup's plans, though. Loose Ends #1

Meanwhile, Grimlock had decided to violate the ban and visit Nebulos on his own, hoping to find a way to cure his fellow Dinobots from the effects of Nucleon. As he approached the planet, he received a report on Project Lazarus filed by lead scientist Borx, the Nebulans' attempt to rebuild the Autobot Headmasters' bodies and connect them to their original heads. However, upon reaching Koraja Spaceport, Grimlock was attacked by Nebulan forces, whom he noticed appeared to be under some form of hypnosis. Unable to stop them, Grimlock was captured. Loose Ends #2

Grimlock found himself in the hands of Scorponok, who had been successfully restored. Loose Ends #5 The Decepticon explained to Grimlock that the attempt by Borx's team to access Zarak's files triggered the reactivation of Scorponok's head, and he was able to gain control over the Nebulans. Using the knowledge he gained from his link with Zarak, he was able to complete Project Lazarus, restoring his own body, and he offered Grimlock a new body for himself and his Dinobots, as long as Grimlock would agree to serve him. Natural Selection #1

It was from Zarak's old base of operations on the Plains of Thok that Scorponok completed the restoration of the Autobots Hardhead, Hightbrow, and Brainstorm, only to infect them with his Gene Key, which rewrote the Autobots' CNA to activate the so-called "Warrior Gene", turning them into violent berzerkers. Grimlock joined Scorponok and his new warriors as they left for Cybertron, so that Scorponok could use the Gene Key on every Autobot on the planet. Natural Selection #2 Fortunately for the Autobots, Grimlock planned to betray Scorponok all along, and sacrificed himself to defeat the Decepticon's plans, a penance for the line the Dinobot commander had crossed. Natural Selection #5

Ultra Magnus dispatched the Rescue Patrol to Nebulos, in the hopes that Fixit) and his team could help the Nebulans break free of Scorponok's control and return to their normal lives. Destiny #1

Generation 1 cartoon continuity

The Transformers cartoon

Not just Nebulos but nebulous as well.

Nebulos was a world whose inhabitants were enslaved by the Hive, a group of eleven Nebulon telekinetics whose focus on development of their mental powers had caused their bodies to wither, led by Lord Zarak. The populace was mainly forced to do routine farm work, watched over by the machines which the Hive controlled telepathically.

Several Transformers crashed on Nebulos, disrupting the status quo. Nebulon rebels, teamed up with the Autobots were able to defeat the Hive, which had teamed up with the Decepticons. The Hive fled the planet in Scorponok. The Rebirth

Nucleon Quest Super Convoy profile

A scientist from Nebulos named Hi-Q assisted Optimus Prime on his quest for the potent energy source Nucleon, which was located inside black holes. Nucleon Quest Super Convoy's profile

Dreamwave Generation One continuity

Nebulon was the fourth world of its system. It had a dual set of rings circling it and multiple moons. It was inhabited by many wild organic lifeforms and the humanoid Nebulan species. The moons circling Nebulon contained their own civilizations. One of these was the Hive Moon, which was home to a green-skinned, somewhat insectoid off-shoot of the Nebulan race. More Than Meets The Eye

IDW Generation 1 continuity

Nebulos laid in the Nebula Cluster. Chaos Theory Part 2 The architecture of Nebulos strongly favored domes, rounded bulbous towers, and organic curves. Many of the buildings had a "cracked" ancient look to the outside and green moss-like growth could be seen in patches on their exteriors. The technology level appeared significantly in advance of Earth, but not yet at interstellar travel.

Scorponok had ties to Nebulos, having used businessman Mo Zarak's corporation as a front for his own operations: creating a fusion of Nebulan and Cybertronian technology that seemed to be a precursor to the various *-master technologies. These operations were apparently foiled by the timely intervention of Ultra Magnus. Scorponok, however, escaped. Spotlight: Ultra Magnus

Nebulos was also the site of operations for a Decepticon infiltration team including Ruckus, Darkwing, Dreadwind, Skullcruncher, and others. It became the first target of the resurrected Thunderwing, as his controller Bludgeon had some sort of plan to sacrifice Nebulos in order to restore Cybertron. Nebulos was partially, if not totally devastated in the attack, and the Decepticon infiltrators were either destroyed or fled. Thunderwing departed once Bludgeon's control system was destroyed, but the status of the planet and its inhabitants following his attack remains unrevealed. Stormbringer

Ladybird Books continuity

It's pink because it's being slowly microwaved.

The planet Nebulos derived most of its power from a pulsar at the edge of its galaxy. A fluke of gravity lead most of the pulsar's radiation to be directed at Nebulos where it is focused on the northern pole. Nebulos's magnetic field was then used by the Nebulans to guide the energy to the areas of the planet it was needed. Decepticons at the Pole

The planet contained a mysterious area known as the Nebulos Triangle, where technology ceased to work. The area was made up of a large metal surface and a huge lake of mercury. It was the metal surface that caused the failure of technology although its origin was unknown. Decepticons Underground

The planet lacked adequate resources to synthesise the lubricants used by Transformers in sufficient quantities. A vast underground lake of oil did however exist beneath a desert plain between mountain ranges. Autobots Strike Oil

The Autobots and Decepticons remained on Nebulos for a lengthy period of time. Hot Rod and Cyclonus were the local commanders at first; Decepticons at the Pole Optimus Prime and Scorponok later took direct control. Autobot Hostage It was on Nebulos where the war ended, when the Decepticons were all sealed underground by Quickswitch and Scoop using Nebulite. Decepticons Underground

Cybertron cartoon

Following the conclusion of the Energon War, the Autobot Jetfire spent some time on the planet Nebulon. There he picked up a new accent from the locals, which to some human ears resembles that of Australians. Sort of. Jetfire's Cyber Key Code text

Nebulon's pea soup is notably thick. Challenge

Animated cartoon

Nebulos was the lead planet of the Nebulon Republic, a loose alliance between several planets with organic life. The AllSpark Almanac II Nebulos had nice beaches, and energon "as smooth as a protoform's bottom." Swindle suggested that the Decepticons could retire there if they sold the parts of the Elite Guardsmechs. Decepticon Air

Notes

• Except for Nucleon Quest Super Convoy's profile, the planet Nebulos did not play a role in the Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity. Headmaster and Targetmaster technology was developed by Transformers on the planet Master.
• In Strange Tales #163, a comic published by Marvel, there was a villain named Nebulos.