The Energon Pub

In this topic, I would like to discuss an old 1980s series that has been retroactively tied with the Transformers franchise, thanks to the AllSpark Almanac II book. This series is called Robotix.

Robotix was a series that was similar in concept to the Transformers, but still very different in its own right. Its toyline consisted of motorized construction sets akin to those of Erector or K'Nex, in which its products were treated drastically different from how the show would later portray them (the toyline featured them as mostly high-tech space vehicles/machines, whereas the show had them seem more like actual robots).

As for the show itself, I'll let the familiar narration of Victor Caroli from the opening do the talking:

To survive a cosmic storm that devastates their planet, the Protectons and Terrakors are forced to transfer their essences into the huge powerful bodies of Robotix!

And once again, the ancient hostilities between the valiant Protectons and the evil Terrakors erupt into violence, each side made stronger by an organic Interface with human beings!

This conflict takes place on the alien planet of Skalorr, where the Protectons fight to stop the Terrakors from acquiring the power of the highly coveted Compu-Core, the central intelligence of their planet (kinda like how Vector Sigma is to Cybertron) and using it to achieve their goal of galactic conquest.

After a team of human space explorers crash-land on the planet, they are able to form a connection with each Robotix through a process called Interface. This grants each Robotix the ability to assume new forms and configurations, offering them new weapons and abilities.

But what makes this interesting is that the humans not only Interface with the Protectons, but with the Terrakors as well. Meaning that humans are fighting on both sides of the conflict against each other.

These are the names of each character in the series:


Protectons

• Argus (leader)
• Bront
• Jerrok
• Narra
• Boltar
• Kontor (briefly)

Terrakors

• Nemesis (leader)
• Tyrannix
• Goon
• Steggor
• Venturax
• Terragor (briefly)

Humans
Protecton-aligned

• Exeter Galaxon (leader, partner of Argus)
• Tauron (partner of Bront)
• Spiro (partner of Jerrok)
• Steff (partner of Narra)
• Flexor (partner of Boltar)
• Zarru

Terrakor-aligned

• Kanawk (partner of Nemesis)
• Gaxon (partner of Tyrannix)
• Lupus (partner of Goon)
• Nommo (partner of Steggor)
• Traxis (partner of Venturak)

Many of the characters' voice should sound familiar, as many of them were also voice actors in the Generation 1 Transformers cartoon, including Michael Bell, Arthur Burghardt, Corey Burton, Victor Caroli, Peter Cullen, Neil Ross, and Frank Welker.


Each episode is only six minutes long and act like a sinlge movie. They all can be viewed on YouTube via the following links.

1. Battle of the Titans
2. Paradise Lost
3. Traitor In Our Midst
4. A Spy is Born
5. Crash Landing
6. Firestorm at the Oasis
7. Captured
8. The Lost Cities
9. Bront Stands Accused
10. The Factory of Death
11. Zarru Takes the Plunge
12. Attack of the Rock Creatures
13. All for One
14. Battle for Zanadon
15. The Final Attack


Who else here remembers or knows of this series?

I remembered it from my childhood, and about a year ago I managed to accidentally bump into an auction of a VHS casette of it. The casette I think contains a cut-together version of the series into a "movie". Still, I love it, as well as the other 80s cartoons - anyone remember Dino Riders?

Sabrblade wrote:In this topic, I would like to discuss an old 1980s series that has been retroactively tied with the Transformers franchise, thanks to the AllSpark Almanac II book. This series is called Robotix.

Robotix was a series that was similar in concept to the Transformers, but still very different in its own right. Its toyline consisted of motorized construction sets akin to those of Erector or K'Nex, in which its products were treated drastically different from how the show would later portray them (the toyline featured them as mostly high-tech space vehicles/machines, whereas the show had them seem more like actual robots).

As for the show itself, I'll let the familiar narration of Victor Caroli from the opening do the talking:

To survive a cosmic storm that devastates their planet, the Protectons and Terrakors are forced to transfer their essences into the huge powerful bodies of Robotix!

And once again, the ancient hostilities between the valiant Protectons and the evil Terrakors erupt into violence, each side made stronger by an organic Interface with human beings!

This conflict takes place on the alien planet of Skalorr, where the Protectons fight to stop the Terrakors from acquiring the power of the highly coveted Compu-Core, the central intelligence of their planet (kinda like how Vector Sigma is to Cybertron) and using it to achieve their goal of galactic conquest.

After a team of human space explorers crash-land on the planet, they are able to form a connection with each Robotix through a process called Interface. This grants each Robotix the ability to assume new forms and configurations, offering them new weapons and abilities.

But what makes this interesting is that the humans not only Interface with the Protectons, but with the Terrakors as well. Meaning that humans are fighting on both sides of the conflict against each other.

These are the names of each character in the series:


Protectons

• Argus (leader)
• Bront
• Jerrok
• Narra
• Boltar
• Kontor (briefly)

Terrakors

• Nemesis (leader)
• Tyrannix
• Goon
• Steggor
• Venturax
• Terragor (briefly)

Humans
Protecton-aligned

• Exeter Galaxon (leader, partner of Argus)
• Tauron (partner of Bront)
• Spiro (partner of Jerrok)
• Steff (partner of Narra)
• Flexor (partner of Boltar)
• Zarru

Terrakor-aligned

• Kanawk (partner of Nemesis)
• Gaxon (partner of Tyrannix)
• Lupus (partner of Goon)
• Nommo (partner of Steggor)
• Traxis (partner of Venturak)

Many of the characters' voice should sound familiar, as many of them were also voice actors in the Generation 1 Transformers cartoon, including Michael Bell, Arthur Burghardt, Corey Burton, Victor Caroli, Peter Cullen, Neil Ross, and Frank Welker.


Each episode is only six minutes long and act like a sinlge movie. They all can be viewed on YouTube via the following links.

1. Battle of the Titans
2. Paradise Lost
3. Traitor In Our Midst
4. A Spy is Born
5. Crash Landing
6. Firestorm at the Oasis
7. Captured
8. The Lost Cities
9. Bront Stands Accused
10. The Factory of Death
11. Zarru Takes the Plunge
12. Attack of the Rock Creatures
13. All for One
14. Battle for Zanadon
15. The Final Attack


Who else here remembers or knows of this series?

I do, and IIRC I talked about it a few times in the past.

I seen those videos and used to have the "movie" (which was the episodes cut together) taped from the TV station that showed it, there were a LOT of Transformers commercials in it) but my dad accidentally taped over it.

I'm not sure but could the human/Robotix "interface" (I think that was the name for it) concept MIGHT have been a forerunner to binary bonding process for the Headmasters, Targetmasters, and Powermasters concepts in The Transformers.

I would easily consider Robotix a spin-off of the Transformers set in the same universe, (the humans could have been shot down by Decepticons and/or Quintessons) but just in a different part of it.
I don't see the need to make it an official (BTW is The Allspark Almanac II approved by Hasbro?) Transformers series.

Cyberstrike wrote:I would easily consider Robotix a spin-off of the Transformers set in the same universe, (the humans could have been shot down by Decepticons and/or Quintessons) but just in a different part of it.

Actually, it resides in its own Universal Cluster called Xobitor. The cartoon in particular is located in Xobitor 1085.06 Alpha.

Skalorr is the Cybertron of the Robotix world (somehow), and Compu-Core is its Vector Sigma node.

There was also a one-issue comic adaptation of the first three episodes, which is given the designation of Xobitor 286.0 Gamma.

Cyberstrike wrote:I don't see the need to make it an (un)official (BTW is The Allspark Almanac approved by Hasbro?)Transformers series and the same with The Challenge of the Go-Bots.

Yes. It's official.

Sabrblade wrote:

Cyberstrike wrote:I would easily consider Robotix a spin-off of the Transformers set in the same universe, (the humans could have been shot down by Decepticons and/or Quintessons) but just in a different part of it.

Actually, it resides in its own Universal Cluster called Xobitor. The cartoon in particular is located in Xobitor 1085.06 Alpha.

So? Does that automatically set it in a different universe? Just because Cybertron's Universal Cluster wasn't given doesn't mean it doesn't exists in the same universe.

Skalorr is the Cybertron of the Robotix world (somehow), and Compu-Core is its Vector Sigma node.[/i]

It's the name of their respective homeworlds. Compu-Core as a Vector Sigma node? What is Vector Sigma now an inter-dimensional version of the Internet?

There was also a one-issue comic adaptation of the first three episodes, which is given the designation of Xobitor 286.0 Gamma.

Look I've never read, seen, or even knew about this comic until now, so I'm not going to debate it.

It was a great toy series even if they all looked less like there shoe that Ironhide/Ratchet.

Had a Tyrannix & a Venturax set.

Cyberstrike wrote:So? Does that automatically set it in a different universe? Just because Cybertron's Universal Cluster wasn't given doesn't mean it doesn't exists in the same universe.

Um, every universe has a Cybertron. Skalorr is Robotix's Cybertron.

And, yes. With Robotix being set in the Xobitor universal Cluster, it is not in the same continuity as other series. G1/Beast Era is Primax, RiD is Viron, the Unicron Trilogy is Aurex, the live action movies are Tyran, Animated is Malgus, TransTech is Nexus, the Playskool Go-Bots line is Yayayarst, the Tonka GoBots line is Gargent, and the real world that you/me/all Internet users reside in is Quadwal.

Cyberstrike wrote:It's the name of their respective homeworlds. Compu-Core as a Vector Sigma node? What is Vector Sigma now an inter-dimensional version of the Internet?

There are several Vector Sigma nodes placed all across the multiverse.

We've seen or know of a few, like the one in the G1 cartoon, the Dreamwave G1 comics, the RiD cartoon (not seen, but directly referred to by Optimus), the Animated cartoon (mentioned by Master Yoketron in the AllSpark Almanac II book), the Exodus novel, and the IDW comics. There's also the Shattered Glass version of Vector Sigma there called "Omega Terminus".

Collectively, all of these physical nodes make up the multiversal network known as the "Vector Sigma Gestalt".

Cyberstrike wrote:Look I've never read, seen, or even knew about this comic until now, so I'm not going to debate it.

Me neither. I'm just repeating what both the Almanac II book and Chris McFeely (who annotated both Almanac books) said. Also Wikipedia.

The toy line still exists, it just took the original concept even further, which was teaching robotics to children so it's more like LEGO Mindstorms. Also the show wasn't too bad, however I find it hilarious that Frank Welker voiced the good guy leader while Peter Cullen did the voice for the bad guy leader.

Dead Metal wrote:Also the show wasn't too bad, however I find it hilarious that Frank Welker voiced the good guy leader while Peter Cullen did the voice for the bad guy leader.

But Argus was voiced by Arthur Burghardt, not Frank Welker.

However, Welker did voice Tyrannix, the "Starscream" of the Terrakors. Now that is funny.

Sabrblade wrote:

Cyberstrike wrote:So? Does that automatically set it in a different universe? Just because Cybertron's Universal Cluster wasn't given doesn't mean it doesn't exists in the same universe.

Um, every universe has a Cybertron. Skalorr is Robotix's Cybertron.

And, yes. With Robotix being set in the Xobitor universal Cluster, it is not in the same continuity as other series. G1/Beast Era is Primax, RiD is Viron, the Unicron Trilogy is Aurex, the live action movies are Tyran, Animated is Malgus, TransTech is Nexus, the Playskool Go-Bots line is Yayayarst, the Tonka GoBots line is Gargent, and the real world that you/me/all Internet users reside in is Quadwal.

Uhg multiverses.

Cyberstrike wrote:It's the name of their respective homeworlds. Compu-Core as a Vector Sigma node? What is Vector Sigma now an inter-dimensional version of the Internet?

There are several Vector Sigma nodes placed all across the multiverse.

We've seen or know of a few, like the one in the G1 cartoon, the Dreamwave G1 comics, the RiD cartoon (not seen, but directly referred to by Optimus), the Animated cartoon (mentioned by Master Yoketron in the AllSpark Almanac II book), the Exous novel, and the IDW comics. There's also the Shattered Glass version of Vector Sigma there called "Omega Terminus".

Collectively, all of these physical nodes make up the multiversal network known as the "Vector Sigma Gestalt".[/quote]


Just what the Transformers needed a multiverse gestalt.

Cyberstrike wrote:
Uhg multiverses.

Just go here for a better understanding. It's a much neater organizational system than it sounds like.

Cyberstrike wrote:Just what the Transformers needed a multiverse gestalt.

Just what exactly is you're problem with the multiverse? Since day one, there has been more than one fictional universe in the Transformers lore (the G1 cartoon and the G1 Marvel Comics). It's not like this is anything new.

Sabrblade wrote:

Cyberstrike wrote:
Uhg multiverses.

Just go here for a better understanding. It's a much neater organizational system than it sounds like.

Cyberstrike wrote:Just what the Transformers needed a multiverse gestalt.

Just what exactly is you're problem with the multiverse? Since day one, there has been more than one fictional universe in the Transformers lore (the G1 cartoon and the G1 Marvel Comics). It's not like this is anything new.

True, but as a basic story concept it's a headache to keep track of everything and everyone is at and it comes off as a closet to keep old, outdated, stupid, dumb, and bad ideas around. Also I really don't like how just about every other multiverse (and in particular DC and Marvel) have pretty used and abused the concept it in the past.

Cyberstrike wrote:True, but as a basic story concept it's a headache to keep track of everything and everyone is at and it comes off as a closet to keep old, outdated, stupid, dumb, and bad ideas around. Also I really don't like how just about every other multiverse (and in particular DC and Marvel) have pretty used and abused the concept it in the past.

Well, it's an even bigger headache trying to fit everything into a single timeline that has everyone with the same name being the same bot (save for a few exceptions), when everything official is canon yet so many contradictions and controversies exist between them.

If done right you could create a single Universe with the The Transformers G1/G2, Robotix, Go-Bots, and The Rock Lords all existing in it. My biggest gripe with the Multiverse is Hasbro trying to throw series with no connection to the Transformers' concept into the mix like Jem and the Holograms and The Inhumanoids. I can buy G.I. Joe, Go-Bots, and Robotix being in a shared universe and/or multiverse.

I might be able to accept The Inhumanoids (IMHO they would go better with G.I. Joe) but Jem and the Holograms?

I'm sorry but for some weird reason my imagination can't accept that Jem's supercomputer, Synergy, is a Vector Sigma node or that Jem's holographic technology is from Cybertron. It doesn't gel with either concept IMHO.

Cyberstrike wrote:If done right you could create a single Universe with the The Transformers G1/G2, Robotix, Go-Bots, and The Rock Lords all existing in it.

Except that there are many diverse interpretations of G1 (cartoon, Marvel comics, Marvel UK comics, DW comics, IDW comics, manga, story pages, books, etc.) and G2 (Marvel Comics, Fleetway comics, standalone manga, pack-in manga, story pages, etc.) all coexisting with each other as official canon material, despite all the incongruities and incompatibilities between many/most of them.

The damage has already been done, and we can't do anything to change it. We can only accept them as the separate realities that they are.

Cyberstrike wrote:My biggest gripe with the Multiverse is Hasbro trying to throw series with no connection to the Transformers' concept into the mix like Jem and the Holograms and The Inhumanoids. I can buy G.I. Joe, Go-Bots, and Robotix being in a shared universe and/or multiverse.

That was Jim Sorenson and Bill Forster who did all that. All Hasbro did was give them the "Okay" to go.

Besides, the main reason that G.I. Joe, Jem, Inhumanoids and C.O.P.S. (you forgot that one) were added in with the G1 cartoon was because there were some references to all five of them placed in each show. Fans had theorized for years that these five had some connection (a la the DC Animated Universe cartoons and/or the Marvel Animated Universe cartoons), it was only just now made official.

Cyberstrike wrote:I might be able to accept The Inhumanoids (IMHO they would go better with G.I. Joe) but Jem and the Holograms?

I'm sorry but for some weird reason my imagination can't accept that Jem's supercomputer, Synergy, is a Vector Sigma node or that Jem's holographic technology is from Cybertron. It doesn't gel with either concept IMHO.

What? Who said anything about Jem's tech being Cybertronian? All that was ever said about Jem being tied with the G1 cartoon was just that, and nothing more.


As for why Robotix is on its own, it's because the Protectons and the Terrakors are Skalorr's equivalents of the Autobots and Decepticons, just as the Guardians and Renegades of GoBots are the Gobotronian Autobots and Decepticons (and Gobotron is that world's form of Primus).

Sabrblade wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:Also the show wasn't too bad, however I find it hilarious that Frank Welker voiced the good guy leader while Peter Cullen did the voice for the bad guy leader.

But Argus was voiced by Arthur Burghardt, not Frank Welker.

However, Welker did voice Tyrannix, the "Starscream" of the Terrakors. Now that is funny.

Couldn't agree more . Nice to see that Cullen did more villain characters other than Venger back then. I not knockin him by any means but it's nice.

Sabrblade wrote:

Cyberstrike wrote:If done right you could create a single Universe with the The Transformers G1/G2, Robotix, Go-Bots, and The Rock Lords all existing in it.

Except that there are many diverse interpretations of G1 (cartoon, Marvel comics, Marvel UK comics, DW comics, IDW comics, manga, story pages, books, etc.) and G2 (Marvel Comics, Fleetway comics, standalone manga, pack-in manga, story pages, etc.) all coexisting with each other as official canon material, despite all the incongruities and incompatibilities between many/most of them.

The damage has already been done, and we can't do anything to change it. We can only accept them as the separate realities that they are.

DC did create a single universe in Crisis on Infinte Earths. Or you can create an all new one and make sure it has NO connection to any previous version and that the TransTech characters unable to detect it.

Sabrblade wrote:

Cyberstrike wrote:My biggest gripe with the Multiverse is Hasbro trying to throw series with no connection to the Transformers' concept into the mix like Jem and the Holograms and The Inhumanoids. I can buy G.I. Joe, Go-Bots, and Robotix being in a shared universe and/or multiverse.

That was Jim Sorenson and Bill Forster who did all that. All Hasbro did was give them the "Okay" to go.

Besides, the main reason that G.I. Joe, Jem, Inhumanoids and C.O.P.S. (you forgot that one) were added in with the G1 cartoon was because there were some references to all five of them placed in each show. Fans had theorized for years that these five had some connection (a la the DC Animated Universe cartoons and/or the Marvel Animated Universe cartoons), it was only just now made official.

I think you just proved my point.

Cyberstrike wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Cyberstrike wrote:If done right you could create a single Universe with the The Transformers G1/G2, Robotix, Go-Bots, and The Rock Lords all existing in it.

Except that there are many diverse interpretations of G1 (cartoon, Marvel comics, Marvel UK comics, DW comics, IDW comics, manga, story pages, books, etc.) and G2 (Marvel Comics, Fleetway comics, standalone manga, pack-in manga, story pages, etc.) all coexisting with each other as official canon material, despite all the incongruities and incompatibilities between many/most of them.

The damage has already been done, and we can't do anything to change it. We can only accept them as the separate realities that they are.

DC did create a single universe in Crisis on Infinte Earths. Or you can create an all new one and make sure it has NO connection to any previous version and that the TransTech characters unable to detect it.

Yes they melted the multiverse and replaced it with a new "reborn" single universe, however, the multiverse was brought back because geeks are DC's main customers and geeks love complex multiverses with canon and continuity.

DC quantum math lesson 1:
Crossover with Crisis in title or subtitle = Massive revisions and/or rebooting of the Legion of Super-Heroes books.

The toys were really cool. I had two sets of them when I was a kid.

The show and comics are F'ing junk. But those toys...awesome.

Edit: I think the Allspark Alminac references the planet Nintendoo64. So, apparently the What-if world from Futurama is included in the Transformers mythos.

Counterpunch wrote:Edit: I think the Allspark Alminac references the planet Nintendoo64. So, apparently the What-if world from Futurama is included in the Transformers mythos.

That was an in-joke, not to be taken seriously.

The previously-mentioned retcons came from both Vector Prime himself in the "Ask Vector Prime" segments of the book and in the multiversal newspaper Alternity Today.

There mainly two different kinds of references in these books. Fan nods/in-jokes that act as easter eggs/fanwank and nothing more, and serious information that officially adds into the Transformers (Animated or otherwise) lore.

Sabrblade wrote:

Counterpunch wrote:Edit: I think the Allspark Alminac references the planet Nintendoo64. So, apparently the What-if world from Futurama is included in the Transformers mythos.

That was an in-joke, not to be taken seriously.

The previously-mentioned retcons came from both Vector Prime himself in the "Ask Vector Prime" segments of the book and in the multiversal newspaper Alternity Today.

There mainly two different kinds of references in these books. Fan nods/in-jokes that act as easter eggs/fanwank and nothing more, and serious information that officially adds into the Transformers (Animated or otherwise) lore.

I think that's a thin and arbitrary line to be drawn. One man's easter egg and fanwank is another man's rage-o-hol.

Counterpunch wrote:I think that's a thin and arbitrary line to be drawn. One man's easter egg and fanwank is another man's rage-o-hol.

Yeah, it's kinda tricky to put into actual words. But once one reads into these books, it's not that difficult to tell the difference, knowing, of course, that these books are in full favor of the multiverse and universal stream concepts and are not attempting to fully blend entire worlds together, but rather are giving different worlds similar aspects (like the Unknown Locale having its own floating island and standing stones, instead of those being the same as those seen in Beast Wars).

There was a rumor awhile back on the IDW boards that the company, in the aftermath of the upcoming CHAOS !story arc in TRANSFORMERSthat IDW was looking to mix another Hasbro franchise with the Robots In Disguise. With all the talk of Gorlam Prime in the early issues of the IDW run, and Hearts of Darknessof organics going bio-tech. The Robotixfranchise with the Protectons and Terrakors downloading their minds into machines. They do go with the theme that I mentioned.

But they totally Did do that. its called thee Aligned Continuity (for want of a better term). Jez have you EVER been to the tfwiki?