[MISC][PHILO] How many continuities now?

(First posted on 10/31, with no result.  Trying again, with revised
subject: tags.)

With the recent (past three years) explosion in Transformers media (TV
shows and comic series), the number of distinct continuities has grown
unwieldy, and difficult for the non-comic-buyer, non-Japan-watcher to
track.  I count maybe *eleven* distinct histories -- or possibly
fewer, with branchpoints predicated on events outside the narratives.
Or more.  I don't count events as implied by the toy-box techspecs, or
the toy-box comics, or fanfic.

For comparison, this is sillier than "Gundam" (at least five
continuities), "Digimon" (three through s4), "Star Trek" (depending
how you count the novels, comics, and 1970s animated series), and
"Doctor Who" (movies, stage plays, radio dramas).  I refuse to watch
enough "Zoids" to determine if "Chaotic Century" and "Fuzors" are
related to the first series.  The superhero books of Marvel and DC
might have them beaten, though.

(Perhaps not "silly" -- but certainly "profligate", in an anti-Occam
sense.)

Whatever details I've overlooked, please feel free to pounce upon.

***

(1,2,3) Back in 1984, we had the US G1 cartoon (Marvel-Sunbow), and
the US Marvel comic.  Then there was the UK comic, which at least in
part was distinct from US continuity, in addition to the extra
chapters added between US issues (different publication frequencies).
The US comic includes a crossover with Marvel's "G.I.Joe", and
possibly with "Spider-man".  The UK comic crosses with characters from
*their* side of the pond.

(4) Japan: "Super Robot Lifeform Transformers" must've followed the
plot of G1, mostly -- same animation, and I don't know how much
dubbing and different names changed it.  Japan diverged with the
"Headmasters" sequel.  ("Scramble City" was never shown in the US, but
is it in any way contradictory?) Did "Masterforce", "Victory" and
"Zone" continue that history?  Kids abound.

(2) Next, c.1991: the G2 comic (12 issues), following the G1 US
continuity.

(1?) Jump to 1996: Mainframe's CGI "Beast Wars", which acknowledge
*some* sort of prior continuity, even if it was a mishmash chosen by
story editors Forward and DiTillio to fit their needs.  (Did Primal
see TFTM-Unicron or comic-Unicron?  Why were the _Ark_ and _Nemesis_
slightly different from their G1 TV designs?)  "Beast Machines"
followed directly (despite a different visual style) and made further
allusions (Vector Sigma, Plasma Energy Chamber), though this time fans
didn't cut new story editor Bob Skir as much slack. 

(1) Japan translates "Beast Wars"; then produces the cel-animated
"Beast Wars II" (aka "Beast Wars the Second") and "Beast Wars Neo",
with characters based on US toys not used by Mainframe, plus
Japan-only designs.  Also, Unicron shows up again.  These two series,
at the very least, depict events *parallel* to those of the _Axalon_.

(5) Circa 1999: Japan's "Car Robots".  Indubitably a continuity
separate from G1, since it's tough to imagine how two sets of
Autobots/Decepticons (Seibertorons/Destorons) could coexist on
opposite hemispheres of the same Earth.  It's later dubbed for the US
market as "Robots in Disguise", effectively changing some of the
personalities.  Another kid.

(6,7) 2002: the "Transformers Armada" series appears in both US and
Japan, as a third TV take for 20/21cen Earth.  Dreamwave produces a
comic, which stands in the same parallel relationship as G1: same
characters (human and robot), markedly different events.  Yet more
kids.

Dreamwave produces five concurrent series (I believe in comic fandom
these are called "books"):

(7) "Transformers Armada" -- see above.

(8) "Transformers Generation 1" (aka "Neo G1") -- events that
transpire after the Autobots defeat the Decepticons on Earth, but the
_Ark II_ is destroyed.  Inert bodies are subverted by arms-dealers.
Later, Shockwave arrives from Cybertron to drag them all back.  Vector
Sigma, Alpha Trion.

(9?) "Transformers: The War Within" -- events in the early days of the
Great War on Cybertron.  Could easily presage most any other
continuity, including the "Armada" versions with Minicons.

(9?) "Transformers: The Dark Ages" -- sequel to "TWW".

(10) "Transformers/G.I.Joe" (WW2) -- Alternate history, in which the
dormant Decepticon occupants of the _Ark_ are revived by COBRA,
adapted into the shapes of WW2 technology.  The G.I.Joe strike force
inadvertently wakes the Autobots.  The humans feature more than the
robots (at least in #2).  No kids!

A third take on the two Hasbro toy lines is produced by Image Comics:

(11) "G.I.Joe Vs the Transformers" -- the dormant occupants of the
_Ark_ (both factions) are again revived by COBRA, but adapted into the
familiar shapes of their 1980's vehicles (HISS tank, Rattler fighter,
etc.).  COBRA makes its debut, and the US creates the Joe-team.

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