''Transformers: Micromasters'' was a four-issue

comic book A comic book, comic-magazine, or simply comic is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panel (comics), panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are often accompanied by descriptive prose and wri ...

limited series In the field of comic books, and particularly in the United States, a limited series is a comics series with a predetermined number of issues. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is finite and determined ...

released in 2004 which takes place in between the '' War Within'' and the '' Generation 1'' series. The main focus of the series is the Micromasters subline of

Transformers ''Transformers'' is a media franchise produced by American toy company Hasbro and Japanese toy company Tomy, Takara Tomy. It primarily follows the heroic Autobots and the villainous Decepticons, two Extraterrestrials in fiction, alien robot fac ...

, though it did have some cameos of notable G1 regulars. The first issue alone sold well over 40 thousand copies in total, exceeding all other single issues of Dreamwave ''Transformers'' titles in that release period, including their best-selling ''Generation One'' series and their lowest-selling regular series ''Transformers: Energon''.http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/5523.html Top 300 Comics July 2004 The series takes place at an undefined point after the third ''War Within'' series.

Optimus Prime Optimus Prime, also known in Japan as is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the ''Transformers'' franchise. Generally depicted as a brave and noble leader, Optimus Prime is the supreme commander of the Autobots in their fight ag ...

and

Megatron Megatron is a fictional character and the main antagonist of the ''Transformers'' media franchise produced by the American toy company Hasbro and the Japanese toy company Takara Tomy. He is the tyrannical leader of the Decepticons, a villaino ...

have disappeared in the Ark, but the Great Shutdown has not happened yet. Blitzwing and Astrotrain are said to be suffering from physical changes, which suggests that the Triple Changer process is, at least in part, a natural one that

Shockwave In physics, a shock wave (also spelled shockwave), or shock, is a type of propagating disturbance that moves faster than the local speed of sound in the medium. Like an ordinary wave, a shock wave carries energy and can propagate through a me ...

may have been additionally manipulating. The history of the Micromasters is different from that previously indicated. Initially downsized Transformers reduced in size to compensate for lower fuel reserves, both Autobots and Decepticons struck a temporary truce to develop the technology further, creating many completely new Transformers and even building a city for them. However, both sides began to recruit amongst the Micromasters, polarising them into two sides. It is implied that the events of the miniseries are what split the Micromasters for good

Plot

The story revolves around the Autobot Hot Rod Patrol. After one of their number is killed by a rival Decepticon Micromaster team, they desert. They ally with the Decepticon Race Track Patrol (who have also deserted due to mistreatment) and battle the Deluxe Insecticons. However, the Autobot Micromasters Countdown and Groundshaker, as well as the Decepticon Micromasters Skystalker and Skyhopper, have arrived with their own agendas. Countdown tries to recruit support for battling the Decepticons on other worlds, while Skystalker defeats Shockwave and orders an all-out assault on the Autobots. Both are more concerned with a mysterious Golden Disk, which seemingly indicates that the Transformers were created by other hands. The story ends with Skystalker defeated and the Hot Rod Patrol leaving to follow their own destiny.

Notes

Micromasters MicroMasters programs are a series of online graduate level courses offered by universities through edX that one can take to develop standalone skills for career advancement or earn graduate level credentials. First launched in September 2016 wit ...

Comic book limited series IDW Publishing titles 2004 comics debuts 2004 comics endings {{Transformers-stub