Transformers: Armada (Dreamwave)

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The Saga begins!

Transformers: Armada is an ongoing comic published by Dreamwave Productions from 2002 to 2003. It ran for 18 issues before being changed over to the Energon book, which continued its story. Like its cartoon counterpart, it was a reboot of Transformers continuity, based around the new characters and premises of the Armada toyline. It is distinguished by a number of differences from its television counterpart, most notably that the Mini-Cons could actually speak, instead of merely emitting a series of beeps and boops, and many of them had distinct personalities as well.

Overview

The story begins a million years ago on Cybertron, where reports are spreading of a secretive faction attacking Mini-Con villages and taking them hostage. The reports prove all too true, as the Mini-Con-empowered Decepticons soon attack and overwhelm the Autobots. Most of the Mini-Cons flee the planet, but the handful possessed by the Decepticons are enough to allow them to rule for many years. When word comes that the bulk of the Mini-Cons have been rediscovered, however, both factions head to a new world: Earth.

Armada showed a series of adventures on the Earth and the Moon from that point, many centering on the Mini-Cons' attempts to be treated as equals by their larger compatriots, until abruptly lurching into a Unicron-centered plotline for its last five issues. Though enthusiastically received by many fans, this move (likely mandated by Hasbro to promote its very large Unicron toy) was also criticized for disrupting what had been a fairly compelling character-driven storyline, replacing it with a rather rushed attempt at a world-spanning epic. (For comparison, the coming of Unicron was spread across fifteen issues in the original Generation 1 comic.)

Creative team

Armada began its run written by Chris Sarracini with art by James Raiz. Sarracini also wrote the pack-in comics included with Armada toys, which used an Earth-based status quo like that established by his opening arc. Beginning with issue 6, Simon Furman took over the writing duties for the remainder of the series and Pat Lee penciled for 2 issues. Guido Guidi took over as the main artist starting with issue 8 and continued until the end of the series, with the exception of the 4-issue Worlds Collide arc (issues #14–17), which was penciled by Don Figueroa.

Collections

Dreamwave Productions

Transformers Armada: Volume 1: First Contact (April 2, 2003) ISBN 0973278617 / ISBN 978-0973278613

• Collects the Preview and issues #1–5.
• Pagecount: 144
• Bonus material includes the Preview issue, a cover gallery and the Armada mini-comic #1

Transformers Armada: Volume 2: Fortress (September 17, 2003) ISBN 0973278641 / ISBN 978-0973278644

• Collects issues #6–11.
• Pagecount: 160
• Bonus material includes a cover gallery and the Armada mini-comic #2

Transformers Armada: Volume 3: Worlds Collide (April 28, 2004) ISBN 0973381744 / ISBN 978-0973381740

• Collects issues #12–18.
• Pagecount: 184
• Bonus material includes a cover gallery and a preview of the Energon comic.

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  Transformers Armada:
  Volume 1: First Contact

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  Transformers Armada:
  Volume 2: Fortress

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  Transformers Armada:
  Volume 3: Worlds Collide

IDW Publishing

Volume 1 (October 29, 2008) ISBN 1600102670 / ISBN 978-1600102677

• Contains issues 1–5
• Bonus material includes the Preview issue, cover art gallery and the toy pack-in comic volume 1.
• This collection is only identified as "First Contact" on the back cover.

Volume 2 (January 14, 2009) ISBN 160010357X / ISBN 978-1600103575

• Contains issues 6–11
• Bonus material is most likely the same as the Dreamwave volume.

Volume 3 (April 15, 2009) ISBN 1600104029 / ISBN 978-1600104022

• Contains issues 12–18
• No bonus material.

Omnibus (August 18, 2010) ISBN 160010715X / ISBN 978-1600107153

• Contains issues 1–18
• Bonus material includes the Preview issue

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  Transformers: Armada Vol. 1 (IDW reissue)

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  Transformers: Armada Vol. 2 (IDW reissue)

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  Transformers: Armada Vol. 3 (IDW reissue)

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  Transformers: Armada Omnibus

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  Transformers: Armada Omnibus (2016 reissue)

Hachette Partworks

• Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection Volume 28: Worlds Collide Part 2 (October 3, 2018)

• Collects issues #14–18 and Dreamwave's Transformers: More than Meets the Eye #8
• Includes a brief overview of Dreamwave's Energon comic, a bonus glossary section dedicated entirely to background material from the Dreamwave G1-verse, a cover gallery and an intro by Simon Furman.

• Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection Volume 27: Worlds Collide Part 1 (November 13, 2019)

• Collects issues #8–13 and select material from Dreamwave's Transformers: More than Meets the Eye: Armada
• Includes a cover gallery and an intro by Simon Furman.

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  The Definitive G1 Collection, Volume 28: Worlds Collide Part 2

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  The Definitive G1 Collection, Volume 27: Worlds Collide Part 1

International printings

Japan

Oddly, these comics were released in Japan under the Western franchise name, Armada (アルマダ) rather than the Japanese franchise name, Legends of the Microns (マイクロン伝説). All were translated by Hiroto Ishikawa and published by JIVE Ltd. (JIVE American Comics Series).

Transformers Armada Vol. 1

• Published: November, 2003
• ISBN 4902314061
• ISBN 978-4902314069

Transformers Armada Vol. 2

• Published: January, 2004
• ISBN 4902314215
• ISBN 978-4902314212

Transformers Armada Vol. 3

• Published: December, 2004
• ISBN 4861760631
• ISBN 978-4861760631

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  Vol. 1

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  Vol. 2

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  Vol. 3

Spain

Transformers: Armada was translated and released in Spain by NORMA Editorial.

Transformers Armada Vol. 1

• Published: 1st edition: January, 2007; 2nd edition February, 2007
• ISBN 978-84-9814-740-7

This volume collects issues 1, 2, and 3. The cover for all three issues is included in the back, with notes indicating that they are the covers of the American issues ("Illustración para la portada de Transformers Armada (issue number) USA."). Chris Sarracini and James Raiz are credited on the front cover, with the cover of the book using the wrap-around cover from issue #1. A splash page in the front cover uses Generation 1 characters and names rather than Armada characters and names.

The cover for issue 3 is erroneously listed as the cover for issue 2; as the cover for issue 2 is properly identified, the error likely stems from someone failing to input the correct issue title when copying the text.

Transformers Armada Vol. 2

• Published: February, 2007
• ISBN 978-84-9814-741-4

This volume (presumably) collects issues 4 and 5. Chris Sarracini and James Raiz are credited on the cover, with the cover for issue #4 being used for the front cover (and interior artwork from the comic as the back cover).

Transformers Armada Vol. 3

• Published: March, 2007
• ISBN 978-84-9814-742-1

This volume collects issues 6 and 7. The cover for issue 6 and both covers for issue 7 are included, with notes indicating that they are the covers of the American issues ("Illustración para la portada de Transformers Armada (issue number) USA."). Simon Furman and Pat Lee are credited on the cover, with the cover for issue #7 being used for the front cover (and a panel of artwork from the comic as the back cover). A splash page in the front cover uses Generation 1 characters and names rather than Armada characters and names.

Transformers Armada Vol. 4

• Published: April, 2007
• ISBN 978-84-9814-743-8

This volume (presumably) collects issues 8, 9 and 10. Simon Furman and Guido Guidi are credited on the cover, with the cover for issue #8 being used for the front cover (and a collage of interior artwork from the comic as the back cover).

Transformers Armada Vol. 5

• Published: May, 2007
• ISBN 978-84-9814-960-9

This volume (presumably) collects issues 11 and 12. Simon Furman and Guido Guidi are credited on the cover, with the cover for issue #12 being used for the front cover (and a recolored, cropped cover of #11 as the back cover).

Transformers Armada Vol. 6

• Published: August, 2007
• ISBN 978-84-9814-968-5

This volume (presumably) collects issues 13, 14 and 15. Simon Furman, Guido Guidi and Don Figueroa are credited on the cover, with the cover for issue #15 being used for the front cover (and a collage of interior artwork from the comic as the back cover). The Spanish version of "World Collide" is on the front cover: "Choque de Mundos".

Transformers Armada Vol. 7

• Published: September, 2007
• ISBN 978-84-9847-226-4

This volume (presumably) collects issues 16, 17 and 18. Simon Furman and Don Figueroa are credited on the cover, with the cover for issue #18 being used for the front cover (and a cropped cover of #17 as the back cover). The Spanish version of "World Collide" is on the front cover: "Choque de Mundos".

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  Transformers Armada:
  Vol. 1 (Spain ed.)

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  Transformers Armada:
  Vol. 2 (Spain ed.)

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  Transformers Armada:
  Vol. 3 (Spain ed.)

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  Transformers Armada:
  Vol. 4 (Spain ed.)

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  Transformers Armada:
  Vol. 5 (Spain ed.)

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  Transformers Armada:
  Vol. 6 (Spain ed.)

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  Transformers Armada:
  Vol. 7 (Spain ed.)