Allspark

The AllSpark is a term for two different objects within the Transformers media franchise.

• In the Beast Machines television series, it is a term for the Transformers' afterlife
• In the 2007 live action film, it is an object capable of granting independent life to normal electronic and mechanical objects, and the source of life for all Transformers

Beast Machines

Origin

The term "AllSpark" was created by writer Robert N. Skir, and first appeared in a July 21, 1999 web page when responding to a fan question about the TV series Beast Machines.^[1] Skir explained that the Beast Machines entity called The Oracle was actually the AllSpark, consisting of "the spark of every transformer who has ever lived, or ever will live". In a November 6, 1999 web page, Skir clarified that the Matrix was something called the AllSpark and was "made up of every Spark that ever was, and every Spark that ever will be".^[2]

Description

Although the concept of the Transformers afterlife was briefly touched upon in the original series and Beast Wars series, it was not until Beast Machines that the concept was explored further. The Autobot Matrix of Leadership, as seen in the original series, was not merely a receptacle for the consciousness of deceased Autobot leaders - it was a gateway that led to the AllSpark - also called the Matrix - the Transformers afterlife, from which all current and future Transformers' sparks came. Possessing a sentience, the AllSpark had sent Sparks out into the world, to live. When any Transformers, good or evil, was destroyed their Spark would return to the AllSpark and share with it all that it had experienced, thereby adding to the timeless fountain of knowledge and wisdom.

Other uses within the Beast Machines

The facility on Cybertron which produces Maximal protoforms was named after the aforementioned matrix, and was analogous to human's Heaven. A similar Predacon facility also exists, named the Pit, and was analogous to Hell. The Pit was also known as the Inferno until the late-season addition of the character Inferno.

Transformers 2007 movie

In the 2007 Transformers movie, the All Spark (spelled correctly as two words, in the movie) is able to bring mechanical and electronic objects to life, essentially turning mundane objects into Transformers.

The movie's All Spark is a combination of two other 'objects of power' from other parts of the Transformers franchise, primarily the US Marvel Comics - the Creation Matrix and the Underbase. It wasn't until issue #65 that the Creation Matrix resembled its cartoon/movie counterpart (despite still being a glowing green). The All Spark takes the shape of a gigantic metal cube with Cybertronian runes carved into it, but is converted by Bumblebee into a smaller cube that a human can carry in his hands (described as football sized in the Alan Dean Foster novelization).

In the novelization and early movie scripts, the All Spark is referred to as "the Energon Cube". It is also referred to as "the Cube" several times in the film itself.

History

In the prequel comic book, Optimus Prime is shown sending the All Spark away from Cybertron to prevent the Decepticons from controlling it. The prolonged absence of the Allspark causes the planet to shut down, and forces both sides of the conflict to search the galaxy for it. The All Spark is revealed to have landed on Earth, specifically on the future site of the Hoover Dam.

In the prequel novelization and film it is revealed that the Autobots and Decepticons have been seeking the All Spark for millennia, following transmission signals released by the Allspark once every thousand years. The Autobots seek it to rebuild Cybertron but Optimus Prime decides to destroy it rather than let it fall into Megatron's hands. The Decepticons are looking for the Allspark and their missing leader Megatron to dominate Cybertron. The All Spark is ultimately driven into Megatron's chest by Sam Witwicky at the end of the film, destroying both Megatron and the All Spark. Only a shard of the All Spark remains, which is claimed by Optimus Prime.

Effects

In the film, exposure to the All Spark can both repair Cybertronians (healing both Frenzy and Bumblebee during the film) and convert Earth electronics and vehicles into feral Transformers. A cell phone, vending machine, sport utility vehicle and Xbox 360 are converted in this way. The prequel comic cites that the Three Mile Island accident was caused by someone attempting to extract anything from the All Spark.

Note in Transformers the game if the Decepticons win means Megatron used its power to turn Earth into an Empire of his own.

References

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