This ‘Transformers’ and ‘X-Files’ Crossover Needs to Be Adapted On-Screen

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• Transformers in an ‘X-Files’ Comic?

• This Could Be So Much Better Than G.I. Joe

Even though 2023’s Transformers: Rise of the Beasts turned out to be the biggest box office disappointment in the franchise, the single post-credit scene at the end of the movie teased that the iconic robots in disguise could see a crossover with another Hasbro property, G.I. Joe. Not only is there the possibility of actors from previous G.I. Joe movies reprising their roles, but in an interview with Collider, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura even said, “Transformers will have more emotions and agency than ever before!”

Even with all these reports coming in about this upcoming live-action crossover in the series, fans of both properties are eager to point out that events such as this have happened plenty of times in the Transformers comic continuity. Before Skybound Entertainment took over the license in 2023, IDW Publishing held the license for 17 long years, and they made the best of it. Not only were there seven different publications that exclusively covered Transformers lore, but plenty of crossover miniseries came about that saw the Hasbro toy line interact (in some way or another) with other pop culture brands, resulting in some very epic stories.

If you’re a fan of the franchise or just a casual comic book reader, you probably know all about that small window in 2020 when Optimus Prime teamed up with Twilight Sparkle to stop Queen Chrysalis. Well, as controversial as that zany story might have been, this article is definitely not about that. Right around the same time, a much grittier and darker series was also making circulation where the Autobots had to stop a time-traveling T-800 (from the Terminator franchise) before he slaughtered all the Cybertronians on Earth. Putting those to the side for a moment, there were times when IDW Publishing didn’t limit themselves regarding how many franchises were involved with a crossover.

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Release Date

September 17, 1984

Cast

Frank Welker
, Peter Cullen
, Jack Angel
, Corey Burton
, John Stephenson
, Dan Gilvezan
, Casey Kasem
, Don Messick

Seasons

4

Transformers in an ‘X-Files’ Comic?

In January 2014, after obtaining the X-Files license, Idea and Design Works released a five-issue miniseries called X-Files: Conspiracy. This miniseries not only featured iconic characters from that TV show but also — and this is where it gets a little crazy — Ghostbusters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers, and The Crow.

Now, instead of G.I Joe (let’s face the facts, both 2013’s G.I. Joe: Retaliation and 2021’s Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins were major disappointments), imagine the five franchises all noted above in one epic science fiction thriller movie. With that in mind, let’s look at what happened in this epic six-issue saga and how these singular franchises could benefit from a big-screen adaptation.

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This primarily revolved around The Lone Gunmen (whose deaths from the show are retconned in the comics) investigating strange emails that were sent to them with encrypted data. The hidden images show newspapers from the future that warn of an impending biotechnological virus. This plague would become a doomsday for humanity if not stopped. As the three get closer and closer to the truth — that truth being hidden behind a very nefarious corporation called Skylogic Systems — each issue brings the trio into an adventurous fold with one of the four franchises.

The Ghostbusters issue sees them teaming up with the iconic team to recapture a powerful class five ghost. The TMNT entry involves defending a town from a cult of hippie vampires. The Transformers edition is an action-packed Michael Bay homage, and The Crow installment follows the story of a resurrected state trooper who has a skirmish with Skylogic Systems. The last issue brings it all back to the core mystery and features a crazy, mind-bending ending you don’t want to miss.

This Could Be So Much Better Than G.I. Joe

While it could be said that generational fanfare is outright dwindling for G.I Joe, Transformers, The Crow, and The Ghostbusters all rightfully need a shake-up when it comes to their outings at the box office (The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles would certainly be the hardest ask with movie execs since 2023’s Mutant Mayhem did extraordinarily well). They are all great properties that just need that special ingredient to be noticed by modern moviegoers once again, and this type of non-canon crossover might just be the answer.

Those who have read X Files: Conspiracy have complained about the weightless dialogue or the fact that the guest franchises don’t interact with each other but only with the lone gunmen characters, but those aspects could and should be easily changed to satisfy the long-time fans of each franchise. Lionsgate and Sony (owners of The Crow and Ghostbusters licenses) could use a box office miracle right now, given their recent failures.

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10 Essential X-Files Episodes You Can’t Skip

Some episodes relate to the show’s mythology, character arcs, and central plot. Others represent the very best episodes that The X-Files has to offer.

Not only has G.I Joe been given a shared universe concept already (which failed six months after being brainstormed), but a Snake Eyes sequel film was also canceled due to the poor reception of the first movie. Two suffering IPs coming together won’t make a golden ticket. But Mulder and Scully aligning themselves with transforming cars, human-amphibian lifeforms, paranormal ghost hunters and an immortal vengeful spirit in order to stop an alien invasion from destroying humanity from within its deepest governmental headquarters? I’m pretty sure anybody would say, “sign me up.”

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