History ComicBook / Transformers84

* ContinuitySnarl: The comic contradicts elements from both US and U.K. stories such as having both Pounce and Wingspan die at the end but they show up in Regeneration One (where Wingspan is killed) and claiming that the Autobot clones were the Man of Iron and the Navigator from that story but [[spoiler: both are killed by that implication in the Man of Iron story but Wingspan shows up in Regeneration One for a cameo, meaning he ''couldn't'' have been the Navigator]].

''Transformers '84'' is an {{Creator/IDW|Publishing}} comic series released in 2019 written by Creator/SimonFurman and art by Guido Guidi. Originally just a one-shot, a four issue miniseries under the name ''Secrets & Lies'' later followed by the same creative team.

Told from the perspective of Punch [[note]] one of the only G1 Transformers never used in the original comic [[/note]], an Autobot with a second 'bot mode that allows him to infiltrate the Decepticons as "Counterpunch", this story gave a new [[{{Retcon}} angle]] to the backstory for why Optimus really launched the Ark on its fabled journey.

* WritingAroundTrademarks: The Dinobots Dinosaur-themed alt-modes are explained as coming from fossils rather than still living Dinosaurs, with Punch saying that there’s some apocrypha about real dinosaurs being around [[AnachronismStew 60 million years after their extinction]]. This is writing around that in the original Marvel comic, the Dinobots got their alt-modes from Marvel's The Savage Land with its living Dinosaur inhabitants, which couldn't be used in an IDW-produced comic for obvious reasons.

->''"Secrets...and lies, my friend. War is dirty business and '''no one''' but no one...comes out clean."''

Released to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Franchise/TheTransformers franchise, the series is a {{Prequel}} comic set, mostly, before the events of the original Creator/{{Marvel}} ''[[ComicBook/TheTransformersMarvel Transformers]]'' comic from the 80s.

Told from the perspective of Punch [[note]] one of the only G1 Transformers never used in the original comic [[/note]], an Autobot with a second 'bot mode that allows him to infiltrate the Decepticons as "Counterpunch", this story gave a new [[{{Retcon}} angle]] to the backstory for why Optimus really launched the Ark on it's fabled journey.

* AwesomeButImpractical: While under the control of AUNTIE as a drone, Megatron's rarely used ability to tap into a Black Hole and utilize anti-matter energy gets a prominent usage here. And we're promptly shown why he rarely uses it as once-unleashed it's incredibly hard to seal backup and could easily destroy him along with his opponent.

* CallForward: Many given the nature of being a prequel;

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Optimus' hope that by taking out Megatron on a suicide mission aboard the Ark was that it would lead a quicker end to the war with it's most blood-thirsty combatant (Megs) removed from the equation. Instead it led to the rise of tyrants such as Straxus and Scorponok who would prove just as worthy tyrants as Megatron, with the war continuing on for the four million years Prime was in hibernation on Earth. Not to mention inadvardently dragging Earth into the war as well.

* WritingAroundTrademarks: The Dinobots Dinosaur-themed alt-modes are explained as coming from fossils rather than still living Dinosaurs, with Punch saying that there’s some apocrypha about real dinosaurs being around [[AnachronismStew 60 million years after their extinction]]. This is writing around that in the original Marvel comic, the Dinobots got their alt-modes from Marvel's The Savage Land with it's living Dinosaur inhabitants, which couldn't be used in an IDW-produced comic for obvious reasons.

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Optimus' hope that by taking out Megatron on a suicide mission aboard the Ark was that it would lead a quicker end to the war with it's most blood-thirsty combatant (Megs) removed from the equation. Instead it led to the rise of tyrants such as Straxus and Scorponok who would prove just as worthy tyrants as Megatron, with the war continuing on for the four million years Prime was in hibernation on Earth.

* SavedByCanon: The series ends with Grimlock, believing the other Dinobots died in the battle with Shockwave, committing suicide by deactivating himself. Though we know by they'll eventually be re-discovered and re-activated by Ratchet in the Marvel comic.

* WritingAroundTrademarks: The Dinobots Dinosaur-themed alt-modes are explained as coming from fossils rather than still living Dinosaurs, with Punch saying that there’s some apocrypha about real dinosaurs being around [[AnachronismStew 60 million years after their extinction]]. This is writing around that in the original Marvel comic, the Dinobots got their alt-modes from Marvel's The Savage Land with it's living Dinosaur inhabitants, which couldn't be used in an IDW-produced comic.

Told from the perspective of Punch [[note]] one of the only G1 Transformers never used in the original comic [[/note]], an Autobot with a second 'bot mode that allows him to infiltrate the Decepticons as "Counterpunch", this story gave a new [[{{Retcon}} angle]] to the backstory for why Optimus really launched the Ark on it's fabled journey. Ultimately showing The business of war is a dirty one, that ensures that even the most heroic 'bots of all have dark secrets to hide.

* DoubleAgent: Punch/Counterpunch. This story is actually one of the only major uses of the character and his double agent characterization in whole TF franchise.

Told from the perspective of Punch [[note]] one of the only G1 Transformers never used in the original comic [[/note]], an Autobot with a second 'bot mode allows him to infiltrate the Decepticons as "Counterpunch", this story gave a new [[{{Retcon}} angle]] to the backstory for why Optimus really launched the Ark on it's fabled journey. Ultimately showing The business of war is a dirty one, that ensures that even the most heroic 'bots of all have dark secrets to hide.

* CallBack: Many given the nature of beign a prequel;

** Star Saber, the protagonist of ''Anime/TransformersVictory'', makes an appearance as part of the shared leadership of the Autobots on Cybertron with Ultra Magnus and Fortress Maximus following Optimus Prime's departure.

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Optimus' hope that by taking out Megatron on a suicide mission aboard the Ark was that it would lead a quicker end to the war with it's most blood-thirsty combatant (Megs) removed from the equation. Instead it led to the rise of tyrants such as Straxus and Scorponok who would prove just worthy tyrants as Megatron, with the war continuing on for the four million years Prime was in hibernation on Earth.

* TitleByYear: Released as ''Transformers '84'', the year the franchise rolled out, but amusingly none of the events of the one-shot or later miniseries are set in 1984.

* AwesomeButImpractical: While under the control of AUNTIE as a drone, a Megatron's rarely used ability to tap into a Black Hole and utilize anti-matter energy gets a prominent usage here. And we're promptly shown why he rarely uses it as once-unleashed it's incredibly hard to seal backup and could easily destroy him along with his opponent.

* AwesomeButImpractical: While under the control of AUNTIE as drone, a Megatron's rarely used ability to tap into a Black Hole and utilize anti-matter energy gets a prominent usage here. And we're promptly shown why he rarely uses it as once-unleashed it's incredibly hard to seal backup and could easily destroy him along with his opponent.

Told from the perspective of Punch [[note]] one of the only G1 Transformers never used in the original comic [[/note]], an Autobot with a second 'bot mode allows him to infiltrate the Decepticons as "Counterpunch", this story gave a new [[{{Retcon}} angle]] to the backstory. Ultimately showing The business of war is a dirty one, that ensures that even the most heroic 'bots of all have dark secrets to hide.

* SuicideMission: Optimus' reasons for launching the Ark are revealed to be this. He hopes to lure Megatron into a trap by placing all the Autobot's greatest warriors on one ship that would prove to enticing to pass up. Once aboard, Prime planned on crashing the ship on to the nearest planet and thus taking them all out.

** With Star Saber also comes Deathsaurus, his archenemy from the ''Anime/TransformersVictory''.

* SuicideMission: Optimus' reasons for launching the Ark are revealed to be this. He hopes too lure Megatron into a trap by placing all the Autobot's greatest warriors on one ship that would prove to enticing to pass up. Once aboard, Prime planned on crashing the ship on to the nearest planet and thus taking them all out.

* SuicideMission: Optimus' reasons for launching the Ark are revealed to be this. He hopes to lure Megatron into a trap by placing all the Autobot's greatest warriors on one ship that would prove to enticing to pass up. Once aboard, Prime planned on crashing the ship on to the nearest planet and thus taking them all out.

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Optimus' hope that by taking out Megatron on a suicide mission aboard the Ark was that it would lead a quicker end to the war with it's most blood-thirsty combatant (Megs) removed from the equation. Instead it led to the rise of tyrants such as Straxus and Scorponok who would prove just worthy tyrants as Megatron, with the war continuing on the for four million years Prime was in hibernation on Earth.

* {{Retcon)): Quite a few.