Binder of Revelation
From Transformers Wiki
The "Binder of Revelation" is the informal name used by Hasbro creatives for the 354-page production bible that undergirds fiction in the Aligned continuity family.[1] Co-written by Aaron Archer, Rik Alvarez, and other Transformers experts from Hasbro (with help from outside partners Fabian Nicieza and the fandom), it charts billions of years of history, combining concepts from all previous "generations" of Transformers lore.
Didn't quite turn out as planned.
| “ | cost over $250k to produce - lives in the bottom of drawer | ” |
| —Rik Alvarez's 2015 slideshow at TFcon Charlotte[2] | ||
Content
The Binder contains full-colour illustrations and charts the history of the Transformers from the beginning to the end of the universe. Transformers Vault contains three scans of the Binder:
- Orion Pax/Optimus Prime's bio, essentially the version of the character adapted into Transformers: Exodus. It is also mentioned as a data clerk he has a keen interest in history and will often find parallels in current events (a quirk carried over in Prime). Furthermore, it is revealed Transformers have "polarities", equivalent to a human star sign and based on the Thirteen original Transformers. Optimus claims Prima and Alpha Trion as his primary and secondary polarity (but this was probably from before it was decided to make Optimus himself one of the Thirteen).
- An image of Prima, wielding the Star Saber (that contains the Matrix of Leadership in its hilt).
- A map of Cybertron detailing locations, with a brief description and some of the characters who call it home. This was mostly followed in Exodus, though the following were not mentioned:
Issues
Rik Alvarez claimed in 2015 that the "B.O.R." had been repeatedly ignored or subverted. First, the creatives behind Prime didn't want to be beholden to older material, not even other parts of Aligned, even as the B.O.R. had to flesh out the world for them; IDW Publishing had established too many backstories for the Binder to be logistically applicable for them; and Rescue Bots was not part of the Binder's plans, yet in it came! [3] Then the incoming toy design director at Hasbro abruptly changed the plans for Prime season 3, swerving to Beast Hunters instead of a return to Cybertron that would have included pirates. Prime being cancelled, according to Alvarez, shot the B.O.R. in the head.[4] Andrew Hall, who had also worked on Aligned product, weighed in to confirm that this lined up with what he had heard from other people.[5]
References
- ↑ Hasbro IP panel at BotCon 2011 (summary at Figures.com)
- ↑ Rik Alvarez panel, slide show on Beast Hunters - See fan photos
- ↑ Rik Alvarez panel, slide show - See fan photos
- ↑ Rik Alvarez panel, slide show on Beast Hunters - See fan photos
- ↑ AllSpark forum post: "No, the aspects of it that people are seeing as complaining was pretty much stuff I heard after he had left. The information lines up with what he'd told me at the time."