10 Best Transformers Characters and Concepts Introduced by Marvel

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The Transformers franchise began in 1984 with three initial iterations of the brand. Beyond the toys from Hasbro and Takara, there were also The Transformers animated series and the Marvel comic book series. The latter was in its own continuity, allowing it to introduce vastly different takes on the robots in disguise.

Many mainstay elements of Transformers lore debuted in the Marvel comic books, namely the very creator of the Cybertronian species. Some of these ideas have been used more than others, but they also represent how big of an impact the comics made on the property as a whole. Now, with Skybound Entertainment’s Kickstarter campaign for the comic books’ collection already being a massive success, fans will be looking back to the Marvel years of Transformers more than ever.

10

Jhiaxus Was a Next-Generation Cybertronian

First Appearance: Transformers: Generation 2 #1 by Simon Furman and Derek Yaniger

Megatron might be the usual leader of the Decepticons, but he’s not the only major enemy of the Autobots in the Marvel comic books. Jhiaxus was the leader of a factionless group of “Generation 2” Transformers, and he fittingly debuted in the Transformers: Generation 2 comic books. Though he wasn’t a Decepticon, Jhiaxus was a cruel warlord who stood against both Optimus Prime and Megatron.

The Generation 2 comic book didn’t last long, with Jhiaxus’ name actually referencing its long-foreseen fate (gee, axe us). Nevertheless, he’s continued to be a fan-favorite, and a toy based on his classic G2 comic book design was finally released in 2024. Likewise, the second Skybound compendium of the Marvel Transformers comic books will also collect Generation 2, which hasn’t received this treatment in years.

9

The Underbase Was One of the Most Powerful Transformers Objects

First Appearance: Transformers #48 by Bob Budiansky and José Delbo

“The Underbase Saga” was one of the most pivotal story arcs in Marvel’s Transformers comic books, and it was definitely a big deal for one of the series’ most notable Decepticons. Starscream was far deadlier in the comics compared to the cartoon, and his traitorous ways actually saw him succeed at times. One such example was when he temporarily gained the power of the Underbase, making nearly everyone else quake in his presence.

The Underbase was an energy-based collection of knowledge that was jettisoned from Cybertron eons beforehand. When the powerful Decepticon Seeker got hold of it, he was able to destroy all who stood in his path effortlessly. At this point, there’s a meme among the fandom as to how many characters were offlined by a cosmically powered Starscream, with the story arc used to get rid of the comic book’s bloated cast. Other continuities have their own take on this, with the live-action Transformers movies briefly using the Allspark in a way similar to the Underbase.

8

Megatron’s Tank Form Debuted In Another Marvel Comic Book

First Appearance: G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #139 by Larry Hama and Chris Batista

By the early 1990s, the classic Generation 1 Transformers continuity had ended in both its animated form and comic book incarnation. This saw Hasbro relaunch the brand as the ultimately failed Transformers: Generation 2. G2‘s comic book actually had its story start in the pages of the Marvel title for another Hasbro property: G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. As a result, one of the most notable forms of a certain Decepticon was due to the machinations of another villainous group.

In the #139th issue of G.I. Joe, Megatron gained a new “Generation 2” body courtesy of Cobra Commander. This green and purple body had a tank alternate mode (seemingly based on a Cobra H.I.S.S. tank), with the corresponding toy being made because it was unfeasible to release the character’s Generation 1 gun toy. In recent years, a tank has been Megatron’s go-to alternate mode, with this military theme contrasting well with Optimus Prime’s truck mode.

7

The Creation Matrix Differed Slightly from the Cartoon Version

First Appearance: Transformers #6 by Bob Budiansky and Alan Kupperberg

The Autobot Matrix of Leadership, as most fans know it, debuted in 1986’s The Transformers: The Movie, and it was a receptacle of Autobot wisdom passed down to each true leader. The concept actually first came about in the comic books, where it had a slightly different name. Nevertheless, this depiction of the Matrix was just as influential, if not more, than its animated counterpart.

The Creation Matrix in Marvel’s Transformersbooks was used to create new Transformers, and it wasn’t necessarily tied strictly to the Autobot faction. Bestowing great power to whoever used it, the device was similar to the Key to Vector Sigma in the cartoon. Likewise, it was also portrayed as being tied to Primus himself, explaining the “Prime” suffix in some of the Autobot leaders.

6

The Cassetticons Were Much More Intelligent In the Comics

First Appearance: Transformers#1 by Bill Mantlo and Ralph Macchio

In the 1984 Transformers cartoon and many of the separate continuities afterward, some of the “Casetticon” minions of the Decepticon Soundwave were rather simplistic. These were the robotic jaguar Ravage, the robotic birds Laserbeak and Buzzsaw and the robotic bat Ratbat. All of these Decepticons were as primitive as the animals they acted like and could not speak, but this wasn’t the case in the comics.

Ravage was actually the first Transformer seen speaking in the Marvel comic books, and he and his fellow animalistic Cassetticons could all talk. Later continuities used this idea, with Beast Wars: Transformers giving Ravage a Russian accent. Some comics even had Ratbat as a former Cybertronian politician in the past, reflecting his upgraded role in the Marvel years.

5

The Comics Cemented the Name of a Copyright-Infringing Autobot

First Appearance: Transformers #10 by Bob Budiansky by Ricardo Villamonte

One of the most controversial Generation 1 Transformers is Jetfire, who was known in the cartoon as Skyfire. This was due to his toy being derived from the Macross anime franchise, and so Sunbow changed his name and design on the cartoon in order not to promote the toy. This wasn’t quite the case in the comics, which gave fans the best of both worlds.

Likely due to the legal issues surrounding the toy, the character retained a version of his G1 animated series design in the Marvel books. At the same time, he was named Jetfire instead of “Skyfire,” making it clear to fans who this was. As a result, Jetfire was cemented as the name for the Autobot, and since then, Skyfire has never really been used in the brand.

4

Straxus Was One of the Coolest Marvel Decepticons

First Appearance: Transformers #17 by Bob Budiansky and Don Perlin

Besides characters based on the toys, there were a few Cybertronians exclusive to Marvel’s Transformers comic books. Many of these characters remained on Cybertron and never joined the action on Earth, namely the vile Straxus. Lord Straxus of Darkmount was a cruel Decepticon who threw his enemies into the dissolving Smelting Pool, and this murderous trait was as iconic as his pickax weapon.

Having a wholly original design, Straxus’ alternate was essentially a Cybertronian cannon similar to the one that later Decepticon leader Galvatron turned into. For years, the character was forgotten by the franchise at large, but he’s recently seen a return through fan-oriented toys. This includes a toy in the Transformers Generation series released in 2024, which recreated him in all his comic book glory.

3

Megatron’s Gladiatorial Origin Debuted In the Comics

First Appearance: Transformers Annual 1986 by James Hill and John Stokes

Megatron has had various origins over the years, but one of his most recurring debuted in the Marvel comic books. Marvel revealed that Megatron started as a brutal gladiator, with the Cybertronian “State Games” being a harsh pastime in the alien culture. Megatron was one of the most successful gladiators, but he also showed no mercy in his battles.

Later continuities used the idea of Megatron’s gladiator past, even building upon this element to make him a more tragic figure. The idea was even meant to appear in the animated movie Transformers One, though it was abandoned in development. Humorously enough, one comic book in the 2000s showed Megatron mercilessly killing a gladiator opponent, with this helpless enemy being none other than Cy-kill from Gobots.

2

The Wreckers are the Last Line of Defense for the Autobots

First Appearance: Transformers UK #83 by Simon Furman and Ian Rimmer

While the Autobots are usually dedicated to peace and being non-violent, others are more built to wage war to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticons. The strongest Autobot strikeforce is called the Wreckers, with the group usually going on nearly suicidal missions to take on the deadliest threats. In the classic G1 comic book continuity, they began as the personal squad for Emirate Xaaron, with their ranks changing drastically since then.

The Wreckers have since appeared in numerous Transformers timelines, from the live-action movies to the “Aligned Continuity” seen in the animated series Transformers: Prime. The team specifically debuted in the Marvel UK Transformers publications, with these comics being incredibly influential in their own right. If anything, these made up the backbone of the mythos seen in the later years of the comic continuity and are, in many cases, seen as the G1 comics’ peak.

1

Primus, God of Light, Was Created by Marvel

First Appearance: Transformers UK #150 by Simon Furman and Jeff Anderson

Much as the Chaos Bringer Unicron is the devil of the Transformers universe, there’s also a much more benevolent god for the species. Primus is the God of Light and the creator of the Transformers, with his alternate mode being the planet Cybertron itself. Creating a group of 13 original Transformers, he and his initial children fought against his dark brother, Unicron. Afterward, Primus remained mostly dormant, communicating directly with his children only sporadically.

Primus has been used as the creator of the Transformers in most continuities, with the concept first used outside the comics in Beast Wars: Transformers. He received a bigger push and his first major toy in the anime Transformers: Cybertron, which also saw him transform into robot mode. Since the 2000s, Primus’ role in the franchise has remained somewhat constant, and he even briefly appeared as the progenitor of the Cybertronians (and Cybertron’s true form) in 2024’s Transformers One.

“}]] The Generation 1 Marvel Transformers comic books were incredibly influential on the brand, introducing several iconic concepts and characters.  Read More