With as frequently changing asTransformerscontinuity can be, it’s been incredibly difficult to pin down exactly how their biology works. However, one series published by IDW presented a serious, and uncomfortable, fact: Cybertronians can get pregnant. Although this process is not at all what one would expect, the techno-organic concept is relegated to one very specific situation that the franchise has since to readdress.
Cybertronian reproduction has long since been a cloudy gray area that the franchise’s creators rarely address. The most commonly accepted form of reproduction begins with a protoform that is eithercreated by other Transformersor by Cybertron.
From there, a spark, the Cybertronian “soul,” is transplanted into the body to create new life. However, in IDW’sTransformers: Lost Light#15by James Roberts and Brendan Cahill,a new process of reproduction introduces an organic component into the equation. This method is disturbingly haunting, and not for any of the reasons you may think.
Transformers: Lost Light#15 by James Roberts, Brendan Cahill, Sara Pitre-Durocher, Joana Lafuente, and Tom B. Long
As with many continuities, in this version,Cybertronians are on the verge of extinction. Without Cybertron, new sparks cannot be created. As the Decepticons frequently find themselves on the losing side of the war, their numbers have been significantly depleted. Frequently, it seems, it’s been proven that organic beings are able to sacrifice their lifeforce toempower a Transformer’s spark. For the Decepticon Scorponok, who received this self-sacrificial revival, his second chance at life would prove to become the spark of a new generation of techno-organic Transformers.
By reverse-engineering his own semi-organic state, Scorponok discovered a process that implants a spark into a lab-grown human-like vessel. After carrying the being in an artificial womb, the child would be born into and raised bythe Decepticon army.Some organic Cybertronians would most likely be designated as breeders,while the rest would grow and have their theorized spark transplanted into a traditional Cybertronian body.
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If properly implemented,this process would have revolutionized Cybertronian procreation, no longer needing Cybertron to propel the species. Unfortunately for Scorponok, his lab was overtaken by the Autobots and the child fell under Grimlock’s protection.
Organic-Cybertronians Are a Way More Compelling Alternative to the Status Quo
Hopefully the Energon Universe Decides to Explore the Process Further
Sadly, thisconcept was never returned tothroughout IDW’s future Transformers publications. Frankly, it was a compelling plot point that would have changed the future of the franchise. WhileBeast Warsinitially introduced techno-organic Cybertronians,Lost Lightwas the first series to give an alternative procreation style to the long-established,original answer to Transformers procreation. That method was first conceived by one of the primary writers for Marvel’s originalThe Transformersseries, Bob Budiansky. The comic writer introduced the “Creation Matrix,” morecommonly known as the “Matrix of Leadership.”
While the process is certainly disturbing, it would make a compelling plot point in future Transformers series.
Passed down fromthe Cybertronian god Primus, the Creation Matrix produced new sparks and served as the original answer for the introduction of new Transformers. Anything related to the species’ gendered likenesses is purely a matter of personal preference for Cybertronians, also serving to “explain” why the franchise lacked female gender identities among its robotic cast. Regardless of what was, the past doesn’t take away from the brief moment that organic-Cybertronian birthing was a canon alternative to reproduction. While the process is certainly disturbing, it would make a compelling plot point in futureTransformersseries.
Transformers: Lost Night#15is available from IDW Publishing.
Transformers
Transformers is a multimedia franchise consisting of movies, TV Shows, video games, and comics. The franchise centers on a race of humanoid robots called the autobots who must protect Earth from the Decepticons. Some of the most popular characters include Megatron, Optimus Prime, and Bumblebee. In 2007, the first live-action movie in the franchise was released starring Shia Labeouf.
