Victorion a giant in 'Transformers' lore

Brian Truitt | USA TODAY

The Transformers universe is about to get an influx of girl power and a giant new personality.

Six female robots that team up to form the massive Combiner character Victorion debut next month in IDW's Transformers: Combiner Hunters comic book, and they're a motley crew made tighter by surviving pretty much the worst environment possible.

Not that writer Mairghread Scott is breaking out the welcome mat to greet them as they're introduced into the mythology.

"I don't like to give my characters a lot of breathing room, so Victorion comes into existence about a half-second before a sword flies at her head," she says.

"Naturally, her first concern when it comes to other Transformers is not being killed by them. But IDW Transformers has always been interested in how people navigate a world of shifting alliances, imperfect heroes, and charismatic villains."

The Combiner Hunters one-shot features the aftermath of the recent Combiner Wars saga and feature the female Autobots Chromia, Windblade and Arcee meeting the new Victorion, the result of a recent Hasbro Fan Built Combiner poll designed to create a new female character for toys and comics.

The resourceful and tenacious Autobots who combine as Victorion volunteered to search for artifacts sacred to their culture and religion in the Sea of Rust, an unsettled area on the planet Cybertron that's corrupted by toxic gases. This dangerous atmosphere corrodes armor and has unknown effects on a 'bot's processors and circuits.

"They've been forced to adapt to their surroundings and have learned how to live without much. This makes them extremely resourceful," says John Warden, Hasbro's Transformers design manager.

"They work together out of need, but they may not always like it. Life in this kind of environment can force you into some difficult choices, and these 'bots aren't afraid to make them. It makes them strong and resilient, and forges a lasting bond."

Like people, each Combiner has its own personality, weaponry and speech pattern, according to Scott. And because the characters, whose names IDW is keeping secret for now, are such a tight unit, they work well in combined form. Consequently, Victorion is more coherent and intelligent than other Combiners such as Menasor and Superion.

"Each of those Transformers accepted a difficult mission from their spiritual leader," Scott says. "You see that drive and zeal multiplied in Victorion. She is a warrior dedicated to her faith, and we all know how dangerous that can be."

The team's alternate vehicular forms include two race cars, a pair of helicopters, a motorcycle and a rescue truck. And Victorion also differs from other Combiners not only because she's female but she can manipulate gravity and has the ability to combine in different configurations. If the copter twins form her legs, she can fly, and when they make up her arms, Victorion can use her gravity powers as a weapon.

The massive lady robot has a big role to play in "Conquerers," the next story line that kicks off in IDW's Transformers series written by Transformers editor John Barber and drawn by Combiner Hunters artist Sara Pitre-Durocher.

Victorion begins to forge a new life for her team, and the six robots ultimately form an interesting relationship with Autobot main man Optimus Prime.

"Optimus is dealing with finding his place in a Cybertronian society that's changing, and Victorion will have life experiences and a world view that's different from Optimus'," says Barber. It all leads into Transformers No. 50 early next year, "where Victorion will be front and center during one of the biggest things we've ever done in Transformers comics."

The new group may be considered a bunch of rogues for those who aren't in their circle of trust, but Scott figures they are way more Indiana Jones than the Punisher.

"They may not agree with our other heroes all the time and they will fight for their beliefs, but Victorion isn't digging up these relics to alleviate some past, personal tragedy," the writer says. "She's doing it to build a better future for all Transformers."