One Single TF Continuity . . . Could it have been done??

[veritech]

I was paging through the Transformers Ultimate Guide and was marveling at the countless continuities and "universes" that have been created for TF since 1984. Right from the beginning you have, arguably, three seperate continuities: cartoon, marvel comics, and the toys themselves. Then Marvel UK took off in there (more enjoyable and creative) way. Looming in the background was Japan TF continuity.

But could it have been handled differently? Should there have been a concerted effor to maintain one cohesive storytelling continuity?

I honestly don't think it was feasible, mainly because the powers that be were more interested in selling toys than telling a story. Toys first + licensing second = no continuity!!!

[The Last Autobot]

I guess that at the beggining they didnt even think that everything would last too much or that people (mainly kids) would even notice enough.

Later when they realized fans took it seriously (that I bet Hasbro thought just a couple years ago) there was already too many things done.

Think how many toys/series that are made have contradictory themes and situations but are not adressed beacause they last 1 or 2 years, so at the end nobody cares.

[Best First]

Also, think about long running properties where people have attempted to maintain continuity, such as X-Men, which as something constantly under the control of one company and with an editorial team in place should be able to avoid continiuty messes.

However the reality is that as time progresses mistakes are made, plot lines go nowhere, new writers retcon, reboots simplify things for new comers, etc, etc

its very hard to do and i don't think Transformers is an ideal candidate.

be nice though eh? Er, as long as it allied with my preferences, obviolusly.

[Legion]

But could it have been handled differently? Should there have been a concerted effor to maintain one cohesive storytelling continuity?

Yeah, it could've been, but most mediums have had trouble coping with the amount of characters present in one line anyway... so if they'd tried combining the original G1 and Japanese lines back in the 80's it would have been even worse... there were several concurrent comics/cartoons etc. each focusing on a different group but without contradicting each other.

The Beast era was probably the most coherent, probably because there was only the cartoon telling the story. But that only focused on a handfull of the available characters... but at least it was in the same continuity as G1 (more or less).

Then the dark times arrived... the constant (it seems) reboots. RID was fun (novelty value more than anything else really). DW was trying to make one big happy continutity (of it's own and the cartoon) riding roughshot over what many of us fans held dear to us.
The new comic is yet another reboot, but at least this one seems to have some thought about it (and not using the cartoon for it's basis).

So in summary.... yeah, what Bester's said really, but with a bit more waffle!

[Best First]

waffly plagerist

[Bouncelot]

Actually, the sheer number of characters might have made it easier to do, had anybody cared. By shifting the focus onto a different group of characters every few years, you could focus your stories on things unlikely to contradict previous stories, whilst throwing in occasional references back to maintain a sense that this is a continuation.

[Legion]

waffly plagerist

tis what i do best....

[Best First]

Actually, the sheer number of characters might have made it easier to do, had anybody cared. By shifting the focus onto a different group of characters every few years, you could focus your stories on things unlikely to contradict previous stories, whilst throwing in occasional references back to maintain a sense that this is a continuation.

rarely wors like that does it, some chaacters will always resonate more and end up getting used more.

again x-men stands as a good example.

[spiderfrommars]

Then the dark times arrived... the constant (it seems) reboots.

And unfortunately thats unlikely to change. The nature of Childrens TV these days will mean constant reboots to keep the line 'fresh'.

The movie reboot will undoubtedly top them all. I wonder if it will even change fans perceptions of certain characters forever.

[Legion]

Then the dark times arrived... the constant (it seems) reboots.

And unfortunately thats unlikely to change. The nature of Childrens TV these days will mean constant reboots to keep the line 'fresh'.

The movie reboot will undoubtedly top them all. I wonder if it will even change fans perceptions of certain characters forever.

I think that it depends on it's success in Japan as to whether it will really leave any lasting legacy in the Transformers history instead of just being a bit of a footnote.

[Best First]

really?

i don't think Japan has ever played much part in the character aspects of the franchise.

as an aside initially thought this topic read:

One Single TF Community . . . Could it have been done??

to which the answer is, of course, no ****ing way.

[Legion]

really?

i don't think Japan has ever played much part in the character aspects of the franchise.

Err again, Besters is right (this is getting worrying)... i was thinking in turns of longetivity/popularity of this particular reboot (in general), as opposed to the affect it will have on certain characters.

[Best First]

[Stormwolf]

One Single TF Continuity . . . Could it have been done??

That can never be done, there's too much whining by people who think that it's all wrong.

Think of whining like:
- I don't like Primus, the Quintesons with crappy plots were so much better!
- Why did they make Grimlock smart? I want a drooling retard!
- Thunderwing is not a transformer, he wasn't in the cartoons!
- The DW comics were great, Brad Mick is so original! My favorite stories were the "Starscream's brigade " and TFTM rehash!


It's mostly the toonies that can't handle change, most of the comic fans on the other hand welcome it.


So there can't be a single continuity.

[Ozz]

That can never be done, there's too much whining by people who think that it's all wrong.

The question was, could it have been done right from the start. That way there wouldn't be any whining about things being different, because they simply wouldn't be different. There wouldn't be any issues like Quintessons here but Primus there, or Grimlock smart there but stupid here.

Honestly, many of us on this board probably share your view on the cartoon and its fanboys, but sometimes you sound like a broken record, mate.

[BB Shockwave]

I think I could accept what Simon did in TWW as a TF restart. Even shoehorned stuff like the clone army or SS killing the council. The new place of the Quints, as a race that once enslaved the TFs was OK for me, even Alpha TRion would fit as the guardian of Primus. (think Keeper)

[Best First]

the Qunits were never established as having enslaved the TFs in the DW continuiuty were they?

they turned up, but theri role/intentions were never actually revealed if i recall correctly.

which make sme think i really don't care if non of the dangling DW stuff gets wrapped up these days, IDW has made me forget all about it.

[Stormwolf]

The question was, could it have been done right from the start. That way there wouldn't be any whining about things being different, because they simply wouldn't be different. There wouldn't be any issues like Quintessons here but Primus there, or Grimlock smart there but stupid here.

Sure, but splintering is going to happen eventually, you should also consider that there'll always be favored/hated story arcs, spin offs and Japanese reboots (new continuity each year).

Honestly, many of us on this board probably share your view on the cartoon and its fanboys, but sometimes you sound like a broken record, mate.

I blame that on a few too many run ins with Silverstreak...

[BB Shockwave]

the Qunits were never established as having enslaved the TFs in the DW continuiuty were they?

they turned up, but theri role/intentions were never actually revealed if i recall correctly.

I think it would have been explained - in the Ultimate Guide there were even direct mentions of the Quints having enslaved Cybertron at one time, and the sparks of killed TFs went to the Well of All Sparks.

Since at the time of the UG's writing Hasbro decided the DW continuity will be the official canon - ironic, yes? :P - I'm sure this was something Simon knew about beforehand. Most likely it was Brad's idea though.

which make sme think i really don't care if non of the dangling DW stuff gets wrapped up these days, IDW has made me forget all about it.

-I'd still like to see Energon conluded. That one issue (#29) with the Megs and Scorpy showdown made me forget the whole silly energon cartoon. And to think the comic was cancelled right afterwards...

-I'd like to see AoW finished too, but frankly from all the 'tell-tale' DW previews, covers and interviews I already know the propable ending... (with a 85% propability )

[man-with-the-dogs]

Someday I will take over the reigns and consolidate them all with a mind-blowing explanation that nobody alive can yet even begin to concieve(not even me). I will bring together EVERYTHING. Every toy-line, every cartoon, every comic, and even the as-yet unreleased movie. You will finally understand how Optimus got so fat between g1 and Energon...but already I have revealed too much(even more than I know). You will see someday...Oh yes...you will...see...what I will do...yeah.

[veritech]

Its amazing to me that TF fans are so accepting of the fact that their beloved franchise exists in a multitude of continuities. Star Wars fans would lose their stuffing over many of the issues that TF fans accept with open arms. Same goes for Star Trek fans . . .

Of Course, we havn't had much choice in the matter either.

[Best First]

plus its been an ever present facet - the comics and cartoon were never united and were so different that there was never much hope of reconcilaition.

personally i will always belive that he cartoon was so fluffy that it could easily have been ditched in favour of the (far richer, IMO) comic, but given that the cartoon had much higher exposure and for some people its all that they really know or care about of TFs it was never going to happen.

[Aardvark]

One thing I'd mention is that if IDW were to go bust or dropped Transformers and subsequently another company picked it up, I would not welcome a new continuity (To say the least). They would have to get the rights to continue either the Marvel-verse (Preferably with the UK stories included) or the IDW-verse. The only thing worse then another reboot would be the resurrection of DW. In terms of the G1 cast I really can’t stomach another reboot.