The Transformers: Revelation
Encyclopedia
The Transformers: Revelation is a comic book
miniseries
, published by IDW Publishing
, based on the Generation One
Transformers
and following on from The Transformers: Devastation
. Unlike previous IDW G1 titles, which were 6 issues each, Revelation consists of four interrelated The Transformers: Spotlight issues focused on Cyclonus
, Hardhead
, Doubledealer
, and Sideswipe respectively.
on a mission from Nemesis Prime
, Cyclonus becomes enraged at the annihilation of his homeworld and takes out his anger on the nearest target - Hound
's unit, en route to Garrus-9 and already dealing with their own problems in the shape of the rebellious Sideswipe. They cannot kill him due to his undead nature, but he is driven off by Ultra Magnus
' intervention. Cyclonus flees to carry out his true task of activating the Nega-Core and reluctantly awakening its guardian. Followed and attacked by Hound's unit and Magnus, he has no choice but to call on the guardian - Thunderwing
, who forces the Autobots to flee. Elsewhere, Optimus Prime calls in the Wreckers
to deal with the escalating situation, as Arcee
tortures a Decepticon captive for information on Monstructor
, and the Dead Universe crew prepare for the transition to the real universe.
asks Hardhead
to accompany him to Gorlam Prime, and eliminate him if he becomes a threat. Setting off for the original excavation site they are quickly attacked by a horde of Micromasters
who ignore Nightbeat. On Corata-Vaz the Wrecker assault on Thunderwing fails, while a watching Prime has his suspicions about Nova's involvement confirmed by Omega Supreme
. Nightbeat is taken control of again by Jhiaxus
, who admits they have engineered the population in order to withstand the Dead Universe and plan to merge the two universes - with the Dead Universe crew in charge. Hardhead escapes, discovering the dimensional portal, and then eliminates Nightbeat as asked before being swallowed by the portal. A furious Nemesis Prime now realizes he has to undertake Nightbeat's original purpose himself - the elimination of Optimus Prime. Arcee makes a deal with Banzai-Tron to track down the escaped Monstructor while Jetfire
, realizing that they cannot survive the Dead Universe, "volunteers" Cloudburst
's crew for an experiment
. Dealer
(in reality a Decepticon agent) suggests to a dubious Prime about using the Magnificence to see what is going to happen.
and Grindcore
set up a Space Bridge, hoping to use Earth's Energon to power the Expansion. Cloudburst's vessel comes under attack from Cyclonus as Nemesis Prime attacks Garrus-9 in an effort to eliminate Optimus, with the later Prime seemingly losing. On Ki-Aleta, an increasingly suspicious Hot Rod reveals he had the Magnificence hidden on the planet all along and uses it to reveal Dealer's treachery, promptly killing him. The Magnificence reveals the location and purpose of the other Nega-Cores and their guardians (Monstructor and Sixshot
). Jetfire realizes that they can override Jhiaxus' control of the guardians via their mental link to him. Jhiaxus, however, has anticipated this and activates his backup guardian - Bludgeon
.
's shadow by finding and rescuing him. As Sideswipe suicidally takes them on, the others use the Space Bridge to travel to the locations of the Nega-Cores. Cloudburst's ship is destroyed, but he and his crew fight back using Jetfire's latest invention - the Autobot equivalent of Thunderwing's shell
. Jetfire freezes the guardians long enough for the Autobots to make it safely past, but is attacked by the Jhiaxus controlled Bludgeon. Optimus fights back against Nemesis Prime as the Darkness that powers him attempts to transition to Optimus. Nemesis is shot in the back by Galvatron
. As Galvatron realizes his destiny and absorbs the Darkness, Optimus throws him into a solar pool, seemingly destroying him. The Autobot teams throw the Nega-Cores into the Dead Universe, where Cloudburst's team allows them to go off harmlessly, closing the Benzuli expanse. Sideswipe survives on Earth, and finds that he has proved something to himself without having to find Sunstreaker. On Gorlam Prime, Jhiaxus is confronted by Arcee and Hardhead, the latter now like the Dead Universe crew. Arcee finally gets her revenge, killing the undead Jhiaxus over and over. Gorlam Prime eventually evolves into a new Cybertron, and its inhabitants into beings like Transformers. However, on Garrus-9 Galvatron survives within the solar pool.
, who has written most of IDW's Transformers series. The first issue of the four, Cyclonus
, was published in June 2008, with art by The Transformers: Devastation
artist E.J. Su. Nick Roche provided alternative covers, as well as interior art for the Hardhead issue. Longtime Hasbro
Transformers Collectors Club artist Dan Khanna provided art for the Doubledealer issue. Su returned for art on the final issue, in addition to coloring it himself.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
miniseries
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
, published by IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...
, based on the Generation One
Transformers: Generation 1
Transformers: Generation 1 was the original Transformers toy line that produced from 1985 to 1992 and actually lasted longer than the G1 1980s television series itself...
Transformers
Transformers
A transformer is a device that transfers electrical energy from one circuit to another by magnetic coupling.Transformer may also refer to:* ASUS Eee Pad Transformer, an Android 3.2 Honeycomb tablet computer manufacturer by Asus...
and following on from The Transformers: Devastation
The Transformers: Devastation
The Transformers: Devastation is a six-issue comic book miniseries, published by IDW Publishing, based on the Transformers and following on from The Transformers: Escalation. Issue 1 of Devastation was released on October 3, 2007, with issue 2 following on the 24th of October and was published...
. Unlike previous IDW G1 titles, which were 6 issues each, Revelation consists of four interrelated The Transformers: Spotlight issues focused on Cyclonus
Cyclonus
Cyclonus is the name of several fictional characters from the various Transformers universes.-Transformers: Generation 1:The tech spec from the box art of the Cyclonus toy describes him as a compassionless Decepticon air warrior and saboteur...
, Hardhead
Hardhead (Transformers)
Hardhead is the name of two fictional characters in the Transformers universes. The first is a stubborn Autobot tank, the second a simple minded Predacon dinosaur.- Transformers: Generation 1 :...
, Doubledealer
Doubledealer
Doubledealer is a fictional character from the Transformers series. He is a Decepticon Powermaster who can disguise himself as an Autobot. He should not be confused with Doubleclouder.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
, and Sideswipe respectively.
Spotlight: Cyclonus
Returning to CybertronCybertron
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...
on a mission from Nemesis Prime
Nemesis Prime
Nemesis Prime is the name of several fictional characters from the Transformers storyline. He is often depicted as an evil incarnation of Optimus Prime.-Transformers: Armada:...
, Cyclonus becomes enraged at the annihilation of his homeworld and takes out his anger on the nearest target - Hound
Hound (Transformers)
Hound is the name of several fictional characters from the various Transformers universes. He is sometimes referred to as Autobot Hound for trademark purposes.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
's unit, en route to Garrus-9 and already dealing with their own problems in the shape of the rebellious Sideswipe. They cannot kill him due to his undead nature, but he is driven off by Ultra Magnus
Ultra Magnus
Ultra Magnus is the name of several fictional characters from the various Transformers storylines.-Transformers: Generation 1:The greatest Transformer of them all. A commander could want no finer a soldier than Ultra Magnus...
' intervention. Cyclonus flees to carry out his true task of activating the Nega-Core and reluctantly awakening its guardian. Followed and attacked by Hound's unit and Magnus, he has no choice but to call on the guardian - Thunderwing
Thunderwing
Thunderwing is the name of several fictional characters from the Transformers series. Introduced in 1989, he was a major villain in the Marvel Comics Transformers series. Although Thunderwing was created after the US Transformers television series ended, the character of Black Shadow did appear in...
, who forces the Autobots to flee. Elsewhere, Optimus Prime calls in the Wreckers
Wreckers (Transformers)
The Wreckers are a sub-team of Autobots in the fictional Transformers universe, functioning essentially as a commando unit. They are not derived from the Transformers toyline but rather are the creation of Marvel UK writer Simon Furman, who introduces the Wreckers in the story arc Target:2006...
to deal with the escalating situation, as Arcee
Arcee
Arcee is the name of a fictional character in the Transformers franchise. She is a female Autobot, usually pink in color. Being the most famous of the Female Transformers, she has two primary forms...
tortures a Decepticon captive for information on Monstructor
Monster Pretenders
The Monster Pretenders are a group of fictional Decepticons in the Transformers franchise. The team is the last of the traditional combiners from the Generation 1 series and is one of the few non-Micromaster combiner teams to have six members .-Transformers: Generation...
, and the Dead Universe crew prepare for the transition to the real universe.
Spotlight: Hardhead
Realizing someone has tampered with his memories, NightbeatNightbeat (Transformers)
-Transformers: Generation 1:Nightbeat is described as a tough, street-hardened detective who is not above resorting to dirty tricks in order to further his investigations...
asks Hardhead
Hardhead (Transformers)
Hardhead is the name of two fictional characters in the Transformers universes. The first is a stubborn Autobot tank, the second a simple minded Predacon dinosaur.- Transformers: Generation 1 :...
to accompany him to Gorlam Prime, and eliminate him if he becomes a threat. Setting off for the original excavation site they are quickly attacked by a horde of Micromasters
Micromasters
Micromasters is a Transformers subline composed of small figures that came packaged in groups and with bases that interacted with the figures. They were sold at the peak of Galoob's Micro Machines craze and were packaged in groups of four just like Micro Machines...
who ignore Nightbeat. On Corata-Vaz the Wrecker assault on Thunderwing fails, while a watching Prime has his suspicions about Nova's involvement confirmed by 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:...
. Nightbeat is taken control of again by Jhiaxus
Jhiaxus
Jhiaxus is a fictional character in the Transformers universes. He is an evil Decepticon jet.-Transformers: Generation 2:Unlike most of the notable characters in the Transformers comics, Jhiaxus is not based on a toy...
, who admits they have engineered the population in order to withstand the Dead Universe and plan to merge the two universes - with the Dead Universe crew in charge. Hardhead escapes, discovering the dimensional portal, and then eliminates Nightbeat as asked before being swallowed by the portal. A furious Nemesis Prime now realizes he has to undertake Nightbeat's original purpose himself - the elimination of Optimus Prime. Arcee makes a deal with Banzai-Tron to track down the escaped Monstructor while 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:...
, realizing that they cannot survive the Dead Universe, "volunteers" Cloudburst
Cloudburst (Transformers)
Cloudburst is a fictional character from the Transformers series. He turns into a jet and has a shell that looked like an armored human. He shouldn't be confused with Phoenix, a Japanese Transformer who shares the same toy.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
's crew for an experiment
Pretenders (Transformers)
Pretenders is a subline within the Transformers toy line, introduced in 1988. The concept behind the toy was that the Transformers were capable of disguising their robotic forms through the use of synthetic organic outer shells.-Cloudburst:...
. Dealer
Doubledealer
Doubledealer is a fictional character from the Transformers series. He is a Decepticon Powermaster who can disguise himself as an Autobot. He should not be confused with Doubleclouder.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
(in reality a Decepticon agent) suggests to a dubious Prime about using the Magnificence to see what is going to happen.
Spotlight: Doubledealer
As the situation worsens, Dealer travels to Earth and convinces Hot Rod to bring the Magnificence to Prime - all the while still plotting to take it for himself. In China, 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...
and Grindcore
Grindcore
Grindcore is an extreme genre of music that started in the early- to mid-1980s. It draws inspiration from some of the most abrasive music genres – including death metal, industrial music, noise and the more extreme varieties of hardcore punk....
set up a Space Bridge, hoping to use Earth's Energon to power the Expansion. Cloudburst's vessel comes under attack from Cyclonus as Nemesis Prime attacks Garrus-9 in an effort to eliminate Optimus, with the later Prime seemingly losing. On Ki-Aleta, an increasingly suspicious Hot Rod reveals he had the Magnificence hidden on the planet all along and uses it to reveal Dealer's treachery, promptly killing him. The Magnificence reveals the location and purpose of the other Nega-Cores and their guardians (Monstructor and Sixshot
Sixshot
Sixshot is the name of two fictional characters from the various Transformers series. Introduced in 1987, Sixshot appeared in the last few episodes of the original US Transformers animated series, voiced by Neil Ross. His defining gimmick was that he had six different forms, not two like a normal...
). Jetfire realizes that they can override Jhiaxus' control of the guardians via their mental link to him. Jhiaxus, however, has anticipated this and activates his backup guardian - Bludgeon
Bludgeon (Transformers)
Bludgeon is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers universes. For trademark reasons, he is now marketed by Hasbro as Decepticon Bludgeon. They are all Decepticon warriors who turn into tanks.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
.
Spotlight: Sideswipe
On Earth, Sideswipe and his unit engage Straxus and Grindcore, with Sideswipe trying to step out of his partner SunstreakerSunstreaker
Sunstreaker is the name of two fictional characters from the various Transformers universes. The first is one of the main Autobot cars from the original Transformers series...
's shadow by finding and rescuing him. As Sideswipe suicidally takes them on, the others use the Space Bridge to travel to the locations of the Nega-Cores. Cloudburst's ship is destroyed, but he and his crew fight back using Jetfire's latest invention - the Autobot equivalent of Thunderwing's shell
Pretenders (Transformers)
Pretenders is a subline within the Transformers toy line, introduced in 1988. The concept behind the toy was that the Transformers were capable of disguising their robotic forms through the use of synthetic organic outer shells.-Cloudburst:...
. Jetfire freezes the guardians long enough for the Autobots to make it safely past, but is attacked by the Jhiaxus controlled Bludgeon. Optimus fights back against Nemesis Prime as the Darkness that powers him attempts to transition to Optimus. Nemesis is shot in the back by Galvatron
Galvatron
Galvatron is the name of several fictional Transformers, most often the recreated version of Megatron, the Decepticon leader. He was voiced by Leonard Nimoy in the 1986 Transformers movie, and then by Frank Welker in season 3 and 4 of the animated television series. Since then, other Transformers...
. As Galvatron realizes his destiny and absorbs the Darkness, Optimus throws him into a solar pool, seemingly destroying him. The Autobot teams throw the Nega-Cores into the Dead Universe, where Cloudburst's team allows them to go off harmlessly, closing the Benzuli expanse. Sideswipe survives on Earth, and finds that he has proved something to himself without having to find Sunstreaker. On Gorlam Prime, Jhiaxus is confronted by Arcee and Hardhead, the latter now like the Dead Universe crew. Arcee finally gets her revenge, killing the undead Jhiaxus over and over. Gorlam Prime eventually evolves into a new Cybertron, and its inhabitants into beings like Transformers. However, on Garrus-9 Galvatron survives within the solar pool.
Publication
Revelation was written by Simon FurmanSimon Furman
Simon Christopher Francis Furman is a comic book writer, particularly associated with of a number of notable Transformers comics for Marvel UK, Marvel US, Dreamwave, and most recently, IDW...
, who has written most of IDW's Transformers series. The first issue of the four, Cyclonus
Cyclonus
Cyclonus is the name of several fictional characters from the various Transformers universes.-Transformers: Generation 1:The tech spec from the box art of the Cyclonus toy describes him as a compassionless Decepticon air warrior and saboteur...
, was published in June 2008, with art by The Transformers: Devastation
The Transformers: Devastation
The Transformers: Devastation is a six-issue comic book miniseries, published by IDW Publishing, based on the Transformers and following on from The Transformers: Escalation. Issue 1 of Devastation was released on October 3, 2007, with issue 2 following on the 24th of October and was published...
artist E.J. Su. Nick Roche provided alternative covers, as well as interior art for the Hardhead issue. Longtime Hasbro
Hasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
Transformers Collectors Club artist Dan Khanna provided art for the Doubledealer issue. Su returned for art on the final issue, in addition to coloring it himself.