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Transformers: Generation 2 is a series published byMarvel Comics from1993 to1994, in support of theGeneration 2toyline re-launch. Set inthe same continuity as the originalG1 book, it directly continues that book's story, introducing a new generation ofCybertronians that threaten theAutobots andDecepticons alike.

Overview

WhenHasbro brought back theTransformers toy line in 1993, they turned toMarvel Comics to once again produce a comic tie-in. This time, Marvel chose to build interest in the book by introducing the new storyline as part of its existingG.I. Joe comic. Over the course of 5 issues,Megatron, last seen crashing intoEarth in issue #78 of the original U.S. series, returned, and was upgraded into his "G2" form, a tank, byCobra. SeveralAutobots were sent to deal with the returnedDecepticon leader, which led into the ongoingTransformers: Generation 2 series.

Elsewhere, an entirely separate race ofTransformers, descended from the Decepticons, who prefer to think of themselves asCybertronians, are discovered in the far reaches of known space. The Autobots find themselves attempting to deal with this new threat, while also struggling to protect theEarth from the danger posed by the "original" Decepticons.

Amidst these threats,Optimus Prime has troubling premonitions that hint at the coming of yet another menace. Autobots and Decepticons must unite against the Cybertronians and their deadly off-shoot, theSwarm.

Notes

• The series made a very deliberate change of direction for the franchise, bringing it into the 1990s (known as the Dark Age of comics) withextreme violence and carnage, huge guns, gritty plot lines, and a fair amount of gratuitous character death.
• This series came about at the time of great volatility in the comics industry, and was only guaranteed a 12-issue run. It was canceled after the series did not sell as well as expected, but was allowed to finish out the promised 12 issues. Amusingly enough, those low numbers thatGeneration 2 sold back then would constitute a mega-blockbuster hit nowadays.
• Furman named the characterJhiaxus (as in "Gee, axe us!") in "anticipation" of Marvel's unrealistic goals for the book leading to an almost assured cancellation.
• As with many Transformers stories,humans were targeted during the course of the G2 comic — first by the Decepticons, then the Cybertronian Empire, then the Swarm — culminating in the bombardment ofSan Francisco.Beast Wars co-story-editorLarry DiTillio would laterprefer to envision the end of this series as actually having caused thetotal extinction of the human species. DiTillio in turn developed his own background for theVok as being descendants of the Swarm, now attempting to make amends for wiping out humankind.

Creative team

The series was written bySimon Furman, picking up where he'd left off at the end of the G1 book.Derek Yaniger initially did the pencils, but as he reportedly missed deadlines,Manny Galan picked up much of his slack. Yaniger did do most of the covers, however.