Space Bridge
Encyclopedia
In Marvel Comics
' Transformers comic and cartoon, the Space Bridge is a device used by the Decepticon
s to travel between different planet
s, usually between Cybertron
and Earth.
s from Earth to Cybertron.
The TV series' version of the Space Bridge is a metal ring which creates a portal/vortex above it, sucking in its cargo, and sending it to Shockwave's
receiving station on Cybertron.
The Space Bridge is no longer featured in the series after season two, although similar mechanisms, known as Warp Gates, are featured in season three. It is featured in the early episodes of Transformers: The Headmasters
though, along with an Autobot
Space Bridge.
series. This version is a global transit network, designed by the Autobots and utilising Transwarp technology to enable them to get to any place on earth almost instantaneously.
's head leaving the two stranded in empty space. Only the sacrifice of Omega Supreme
, who absorbs the excess transwarp energy, closes the bridge. Following these events, Bulkhead
and Isaac Sumdac construct a new Space Bridge at the top of Sumdac Tower, so that the Autobots can travel to Cybertron if need be.
, Space Bridges are ring-shaped portals in space, used by both Autobots and Decepticons to cover vast galactic distances. A scaled down version, known as the "Ground Bridge", is used by the Autobots on Earth to transport themselves anywhere on the planet.
commissions the creation of the Space Bridge so that his warriors can join with their brothers on Earth.
Although the Space Bridge's precise method of operation is never explained, it appears in the comic as two halves of a large, metallic bridge
, with some sort of subspace
tunnel connecting them. The Decepticons (or their prisoners) walk onto one end of the bridge on one planet, and when they reach its middle point, the subspace tunnel teleport
s them onto the opposite end on another planet.
According to early issues of the comic, the Space Bridge was originally constructed from the body of an imprisoned neutral scientist named Spanner. After a failed attempt by Blaster
to put him out of his misery, his final fate is left unknown.
Though tactically vital to collaboration between the Decepticon forces on the two planets, the Space Bridge is also a heavy liability. It is difficult to defend against sabotage
, and very hazardous to use; any combatant falling into the space on either side of the bridge is immediately destroyed. While in the throes of insanity, Megatron even uses his fusion cannon to blast the bridge in an apparent suicide bid.
The Space Bridge is eventually discarded in favour of the Trans-Time Dimensional Portal, a far safer, more efficient method of travel.
by Jetfire
who reveals that it is the fastest means of transportation. Here it is presented as a form of teleportation, utilized by Seekers as well as the Dynasty of Primes for rapid transport. However, perhaps because of Jetfire's lack of practice, it causes the main protagonists to fly all over the area in Egypt and Sam Witwicky's left hand is burnt as a result (Covering Shia's hand injury). The Fallen
also uses the Space Bridge himself near the climax of the film.
In Transformers: Dark of the Moon, five pillars for a space bridge and Sentinel Prime
are recovered from the Ark while the Decepticons retrieved hundreds fifty years earlier. Using the pillars, Sentinel is able to transport hundreds of Decepticons to Earth and later bring Cybertron into space above Earth. When Optimus Prime blasts the Control Pillar for the space bridge with Shockwave's cannon, the bridge is temporarily deactivated but is reactivated by Dylan Gould before Sam Witwicky kills him. The Control Pillar is destroyed by Ratchet and Bumblebee causing the bridge to suck up all the Decepticon ships it transported from the moon into Cybertron which collapses as it wasn't fully transported and is destroyed.
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
' Transformers comic and cartoon, the Space Bridge is a device used by the Decepticon
Decepticon
The Decepticons are usually depicted as the antagonists in the fictional universes of the Transformers stoyline and related comics and cartoons, and the enemies of the Autobots and the University of California Davis Aggies...
s to travel between different planet
Planet
A planet is a celestial body orbiting a star or stellar remnant that is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity, is not massive enough to cause thermonuclear fusion, and has cleared its neighbouring region of planetesimals.The term planet is ancient, with ties to history, science,...
s, usually between Cybertron
Cybertron
Cybertron is a fictional planet, the homeworld of the Transformers in the various fictional incarnations of the metaseries and toyline by Hasbro. In the Japanese series, the planet is referred to as "Cybertron" pronounced as セイバートロン Seibātoron...
and Earth.
Generation One
The Space Bridge is created by Megatron in "Transport to Oblivion", as a method of transporting stolen energon cubeEnergon cube
An energon cube is a device used by characters in the fictional Transformers series to store energy.-Animated series:In the 1984 animated Transformers television series energon cubes are created by the Autobots and Decepticons on Earth. The Autobots trade with the humans for the power, while the...
s from Earth to Cybertron.
The TV series' version of the Space Bridge is a metal ring which creates a portal/vortex above it, sucking in its cargo, and sending it to Shockwave's
Shockwave (Transformers)
Shockwave is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers series. Throughout his incarnations, he is usually distinguished by a laser cannon in lieu of one of his hands and his distinctive face, which is featureless save a single robotic eye...
receiving station on Cybertron.
The Space Bridge is no longer featured in the series after season two, although similar mechanisms, known as Warp Gates, are featured in season three. It is featured in the early episodes of Transformers: The Headmasters
Transformers: The Headmasters
is a Japanese anime television series.-Development:Inititally, Takara, the Japanese producers of the Transformers toyline, imported the American Transformers cartoon series from 1985 to 1986...
though, along with an Autobot
Autobot
Autobot, a faction of sentient robots from the planet Cybertron, are usually the main protagonists in the fictional universe of the Transformers, a collection of various toys, graphic novels, paperback books, cartoons and movies first introduced in 1984. In all but one Transformer story, the...
Space Bridge.
Transformers: Robots in Disguise
A different kind of Space Bridge is featured in the Transformers: Robots in DisguiseTransformers: Robots in Disguise
Transformers: Robots in Disguise, known in Japan as , is a Japanese anime television series and serves as a self-contained universe separate from any of the other existing Transformers universes...
series. This version is a global transit network, designed by the Autobots and utilising Transwarp technology to enable them to get to any place on earth almost instantaneously.
Transformers Energon
A Space Bridge is featured in Transformers Energon. It is a ramp-like mechanism that is used to teleport between the various Autobot installations in earth's solar system.Transformers Cybertron
In Transformers Cybertron, the Space Bridge is an ancient form of transit, activated by the combined power of the Omega Lock and the Cyber Planet Keys. At the series' end, a new Space Bridge is seen under construction.Transformers Animated
A new version of the Space Bridge appears in Transformers Animated. This version has been built by the Autobots. It is a fork shaped device which, when activated, enlarges into an interdimensional gateway. Along with the Allspark, it is the greatest advantage the Autobots have over the Decepticons during the war. In season two, Megatron plots to create his own version of the Space Bridge, which will enable his Decepticons to invade Cybertron. In the two-part finale "A Bridge Too Close", the Space Bridge is completed, but is overloaded when Megatron uses two pieces of the Allspark to power it. It malfunctions, creating a vortex that sucks in Megatron and StarscreamStarscream (Transformers)
Starscream is a fictional character in the Transformers franchise. He is one of the most prolific characters in the Transformers fictional work, appearing in almost all incarnations of the story. Starscream is usually portrayed with the same characterization...
's head leaving the two stranded in empty space. Only the sacrifice of Omega Supreme
Omega Supreme
Omega Supreme is the name of a fictional character from the Transformers franchise. He is always an Autobot and is often depicted as a gigantic transformer with vast strength and/or overwhelming firepower.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
, who absorbs the excess transwarp energy, closes the bridge. Following these events, Bulkhead
Bulkhead (Transformers)
Bulkhead is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes. All incarnations of Bulkhead are Autobots and are green in color. He was introduced in Transformers: Energon as a Mega Vehicle and later redebuted in Transformers: Animated as a completely new character...
and Isaac Sumdac construct a new Space Bridge at the top of Sumdac Tower, so that the Autobots can travel to Cybertron if need be.
Transformers Prime
In Transformers: PrimeTransformers: Prime
Transformers: Prime, also known as Transformers: Prime –The Animated Series, is an American computer-animated television series based on the Transformers toy franchise by Hasbro. It airs on the The Hub in the United States...
, Space Bridges are ring-shaped portals in space, used by both Autobots and Decepticons to cover vast galactic distances. A scaled down version, known as the "Ground Bridge", is used by the Autobots on Earth to transport themselves anywhere on the planet.
Comics
In the Transformers comic, the Decepticon warlord StraxusStraxus
Lord Straxus is a fictional character from the Transformers series. A toy based on his Marvel comic appearance was released in 2010 under the name Darkmount.-Marvel Comics:Straxus was the Decepticon governor of a province of Cybertron known as Polyhex...
commissions the creation of the Space Bridge so that his warriors can join with their brothers on Earth.
Although the Space Bridge's precise method of operation is never explained, it appears in the comic as two halves of a large, metallic bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
, with some sort of subspace
Hyperspace (science fiction)
Hyperspace is a plot device sometimes used in science fiction. It is typically described as an alternative region of space co-existing with our own universe which may be entered using an energy field or other device...
tunnel connecting them. The Decepticons (or their prisoners) walk onto one end of the bridge on one planet, and when they reach its middle point, the subspace tunnel teleport
Teleportation
Teleportation is the fictional or imagined process by which matter is instantaneously transferred from one place to another.Teleportation may also refer to:*Quantum teleportation, a method of transmitting quantum data...
s them onto the opposite end on another planet.
According to early issues of the comic, the Space Bridge was originally constructed from the body of an imprisoned neutral scientist named Spanner. After a failed attempt by Blaster
Blaster (Transformers)
Blaster is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers television and comic series based on the popular toy line produced by Takara Tomy and Hasbro. Due to trademark reasons, he is sometimes called Autobot Blaster...
to put him out of his misery, his final fate is left unknown.
Though tactically vital to collaboration between the Decepticon forces on the two planets, the Space Bridge is also a heavy liability. It is difficult to defend against sabotage
Sabotage
Sabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening another entity through subversion, obstruction, disruption, or destruction. In a workplace setting, sabotage is the conscious withdrawal of efficiency generally directed at causing some change in workplace conditions. One who engages in sabotage is...
, and very hazardous to use; any combatant falling into the space on either side of the bridge is immediately destroyed. While in the throes of insanity, Megatron even uses his fusion cannon to blast the bridge in an apparent suicide bid.
The Space Bridge is eventually discarded in favour of the Trans-Time Dimensional Portal, a far safer, more efficient method of travel.
Live action
The Space Bridge is used in Transformers: Revenge of the FallenTransformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is a 2009 American science fiction-action film directed by Michael Bay and produced by Steven Spielberg. It is the sequel to the 2007 film Transformers and the second installment in the live-action Transformers series...
by Jetfire
Jetfire
Jetfire is the name of several fictional characters from the Transformers universes. He is nearly always depicted as an Autobot with jet or space shuttle alternate mode.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
who reveals that it is the fastest means of transportation. Here it is presented as a form of teleportation, utilized by Seekers as well as the Dynasty of Primes for rapid transport. However, perhaps because of Jetfire's lack of practice, it causes the main protagonists to fly all over the area in Egypt and Sam Witwicky's left hand is burnt as a result (Covering Shia's hand injury). The Fallen
Fallen (Transformers)
The Fallen is a fictional character in the Transformers universes. According to Hasbro, he was formerly known as Megatronus Prime, and is a multiversal singularity, meaning that while he exists across the multiverse, he has no alternate-universe counterpart.-Character history:Although the Fallen's...
also uses the Space Bridge himself near the climax of the film.
In Transformers: Dark of the Moon, five pillars for a space bridge and Sentinel Prime
Sentinel Prime
Sentinel Prime is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers series. First mention of Sentinel Prime was in issue #65 of the US Marvel Comics Transformers series, where he was mentioned to hold the Autobot Matrix of Leadership before Optimus Prime. Sentinel Prime has since...
are recovered from the Ark while the Decepticons retrieved hundreds fifty years earlier. Using the pillars, Sentinel is able to transport hundreds of Decepticons to Earth and later bring Cybertron into space above Earth. When Optimus Prime blasts the Control Pillar for the space bridge with Shockwave's cannon, the bridge is temporarily deactivated but is reactivated by Dylan Gould before Sam Witwicky kills him. The Control Pillar is destroyed by Ratchet and Bumblebee causing the bridge to suck up all the Decepticon ships it transported from the moon into Cybertron which collapses as it wasn't fully transported and is destroyed.