Transformers: Beast Wars (2021 comic book)

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Transformers: Beast Wars
Cover A for issue #1.
Publication information
Publisher	IDW Publishing Hasbro
Format	Ongoing series
Genre	Action Science fiction
Publication date	February 2021 – present
No. of issues	5
Creative team
Written by	Erik Burnham
Penciller(s)	Josh Burcham Winston Chan
Letterer(s)	Jake M. Wood
Colorist(s)	Josh Burcham SidvenBlu
Editor(s)	David Mariotte Riley Farmer Tom Waltz

Transformers: Beast Wars is an American comic book ongoing series released on February 2021 by IDW Publishing, being written by Erik Burnham and drawn by Josh Burcham, celebrating the twentieth-fifth anniversary of the Beast Wars brand of the Transformers franchise by Hasbro.^[1]

Set in a distant future of Cybertron, when the Predacons lead by Megatron steal a time machine, the Maximals lead by Optimus Primal must stop them from changing history.^[2]

The series debuted on February 3, 2021.

Plot[]

"Savage Landing" (1–6)[]

On Cybertron during the distant future, Predacon leader Galavar, calling himself the new Megatron, rebels against the Tripredacus Council with the intention of stealing a golden disk from the Maximal Science Ministry. Aboard the Darksyde, a transwarp vessel they stole from the Great Shipyard of Vos, the Predacons plan to travel through time to unlock the disk's secrets. In response, Optimus Primal, on orders from former Autobot General Ironhide, unites a team of Maximals, and aboard the Axalon, they chase the Predacons through a transwarp portal, which leads both factions to crash on an unknown planet filled with lots of energon. The ridiculously large amount of energon causes both the Maximals and Predacons to short out in robot mode, so their ships' computers rebuild them into techno-organics who can transform into different animal forms.^[3]

On the alien planet, Rhinox, unaware that three alien beings known as the Vok are watching both the Maximals and Predacons in secret, is perturbed by the strange geography of the planet's environment. Meanwhile, Optimus lets Nyx explore the skies with her new bat mode while he and Cheetor cover for her regarding repairs to the Axalon. Meanwhile, Megatron is trying to decode the Golden Disk for secrets, Tarantulas and Skold are dealing with Unspace signatures on the Darksyde, Dinobot is feeling like he's the only one who respects the chain of command, and after seeing a light from the Vok's visit but not knowing what it means, Terrosaur goes out for some air. After the Predacon Pterodactyl sees Nyx flying near a floating mountain, the two engage in an aerial battle that Terrorsaur wins by using the powers of his new robot mode while free-falling. He strikes Nyx down by hitting part of her left wing and carries the large fruit bat straight to Megatron's chamber for interrogation and the chance to lure the other Maximals out of hiding.^[4]

As Nyx is submitted to torture by Megatron and Tarantulas, Dinobot begins doubting their cruel methods and leaves. The Maximals debate whether Nyx is lost or in trouble; Cheetor wants to go look for her but Optimus rules waiting until daytime for better chances. Nyx defies Megatron by telling him that, like his namesake, history will not remember him, causing him to increase her torture. Dinobot finally steps in to stop it, earning Megatron's rage, but Tarantulas calms him by pointing out Nyx's silence confirms she has allies to protect. Megatron gives Nyx to Tarantulas for his experiments and warns Dinobot against further disobedience. Nyx is thrown outside and kept from transforming by a device of Tarantulas' so the Energon levels will kill her while the Predacons fire on her. Having had enough, Dinobot destroys the device, allowing Nyx to transform and flee while he takes on the vengeful Predacons. Defeating all of them while declaring his honor, he traps them in their ship by locking it down and flees while an impressed Megatron vows retribution.^[5]

Dinobot saves Nyx from a native beast resembling a saber-toothed tiger, offering himself to bring her back to the Axalon. Tarantulas takes back control over the Darksyde, freeing the Predacons. Megatron orders the ship to a self-destruction countdown over the Predacons until Dinobot and Nyx are found. The Maximals manage to locate Nyx's signal, but after encountering Dinobot, the latter requests to become a Maximal, as he considers them honorable.^[6]

While Dinobot is interrogated, he reveals to Nyx his reasons for joining the Predacons. At the same time, they arrive to attack the Axalon, but the Maximals decide to fight back. When Megatron is about to kill Optimus, Nyx decides to free Dinobot in order to help them.^[7]

During the fight, Tarantulas discovers the Maximals were carrying protoform pods before Rattrap fixes the Axalon's defense systems. When Dinobot cannot enter, the Predacons surround him to the point of almost killing him. Optimus orders the Axalon to use plasma cannons on the Predacons to save Dinobot. Several days later, Dinobot recovers from his injuries and accepts Optimus' offer to stay with the Maximals.^[8]

"Pod" (7–)[]

Dinobot still recovers from his injuries while becoming an official Maximal member. Megatron tries to decrypt the message from his future self inside the golden disk. After her stasis pod descends on the planet, Blackarachnia awakes and begins her search for the Axalom's signal, which leads her to have a confrontation with Cheetor, to the point of incapacitating him.^[9]

Publication history[]

Background[]

After Beast Machines finished airing in 2000, there was no official revisiting of the Transformers continuity established by the Beast Wars animated series until after publisher Dreamwave Productions acquired the rights to the Transformers comic franchise from Hasbro. Although the Transformers convention Botcon created several storylines external to the Beast Wars continuity (such as The Wreckers and a continuation of Beast Machines entitled Transformers: Universe) as various comic book miniseries, the canonicity of such stories is disputable. Dreamwave first touched on the Beast Wars series with a prequel in 2003's Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye. In 2004, the publisher's Transformers Summer Special featured Ain't No Rat, which was the first officially approved comic story to carry on directly from the events seen in the final Beast Wars cartoon. Dreamwave held a contest to select which Transformers continuity (Beast Wars or Robots in Disguise) would be the next to get its own book, and Beast Wars was the victor, with writers James McDonough and Adam Patyk and artist Don Figueroa as the initially planned creative team for the new series. However, despite several pieces of artwork being released (and according to those involved with the project some impressive pieces remaining unreleased), Dreamwave's bankruptcy caused the end of the series before it began. The story Dreamwave tried to produce will most likely remain lost, and it wasn't until 2006, when IDW began publishing Beast Wars: The Gathering, that the Beast Wars continuity was again officially revisited. With the second series, The Ascending, climaxing with Megatron's return to Cybertron, it seems that further Beast Wars stories seem unlikely. However, writer Simon Furman has not ruled out a return, noting that stories could have taken place during Megatron's takeover, before Optimus Primal and the Maximals returned.

Development[]

On May 2020, IDW's then President Chris Ryall, and editor-in-chief John Barber, announced a new Beast Wars comic book in development.^[10]

On October 2020, IDW officially announced a new comic book series titled Transformers: Beast Wars, which will be written by Erik Burnham and drawn by Josh Burcham.^[11]

Burnham says that “Beast Wars was a wonderful and weird pivot from the Transformers setup to which I was first introduced. Big personalities, unexpected twists, and actual stakes all popped up regularly on the show, and those are tools that I enjoy using to build new stories. Best of all, the enthusiasm from everyone involved in this project has been so high that I'm feeling constantly inspired!”^[12]

Burcham says that "I'm so thrilled to be a part of this team. I was a ‘90s kid and even though I knew about Generation 1, Beast Wars was really my G1. It's still my favorite iteration, and I consider it such a privilege to be able to bring the characters to life in this brand new series. Let the Beast Wars rage on!"^[12]

IDW editor David Mariotte says that “Beast Wars is a beloved part of the Transformers legacy. That’s why we couldn’t pass up launching a new series in tandem with the 25th anniversary! Erik and Josh are going to take everything that’s beloved about Beast Wars — the characterization, the drama, the jokes — and start fresh with a series that will feel at home for fans of 25 years and first-timers alike.”^[12]

Issues[]

Reception[]

Collected editions[]

See also[]

• Transformers: Beast Wars (comics)

References[]

External links[]

• IDW Publishing's official announcement