Transformers: Armada (comic book)

Transformers: Armada
Cover of Transformers: Armada #1. Art by James Raiz and Alan Wang.
Publication information
PublisherDreamwave Productions
ScheduleMonthly
FormatOngoing series
GenreAction
Science fiction
Publication dateJuly 10, 2002 – December 10, 2003
No. of issues18
Main character(s)Autobots, Decepticons
Creative team
Written byChris Sarracini
Simon Furman
Penciller(s)James Raiz
Pat Lee
Guido Guidi
Don Figueroa
Inker(s)Rob Armstrong, Erik Sander, and Ferd Poblete
Elaine To
Colorist(s)Alan Wang, Gary Yeung, Ramil Sunga
EditorRoger Lee
Collected editions
First ContactISBN 978-0973278613
FortressISBN 978-0973278644
Worlds CollideISBN 978-0973381740
OmnibusISBN 978-1600107153

Transformers: Armada was an American comic book published by Dreamwave Productions that ran for 18 issues from July 10, 2002, to December 10, 2003. Originally written by Chris Sarracini, writing duties were taken over by veteran Transformers writer Simon Furman, starting with the sixth issue. The comic was based on the Japanese anime series of the same name by Hasbro and Takara Tomy, but is set in its own continuity with an independent storyline.

Hasbro granted the Transformers comics license to Dreamwave in the summer of 2001. After publishing a preview of Transformers: Armada in April 2002, the comic started publication in July, written by Chris Sarracini. During the publication of Armada, Furman was approached by Dreamwave to continue the writing duties, which necessitated him watching all episodes of the anime series that had aired up to that point.

The series received positive reviews from critics, although it was viewed as inferior to Dreamwave's concurrently published series, Transformers: Generation One. Upon its launch, the title was a commercial success, with its first issue being the best-selling comic of July 2002. Sales remained high throughout the first seven issues, with each one scoring in the top 15 of the Diamond Comic Distributors' rankings. However, sales started plummeting after that point and by the end of its run, the title scored out of the top 50.

Transformers: Armada was collected in three trade paperbacks—titled First Contact, Fortress, and Worlds Collide with five, six, and seven issues, respectively—which were published from 2003 to 2004. After IDW Publishing acquired the Transformers licence, the paperbacks were re-released in 2008–2009, and an omnibus collection was published in 2010.