The Transformers: Evolutions, Hearts of Steel

In 2006, IDW reimagined the Transformers mythos with Hearts of Steel, a standalone one-shot that transplants the Autobots and Decepticons to the industrial revolution of the 19th century. This alternate-history tale, part of the Evolutions line, transforms classic characters into steam-powered locomotives and ironclad vessels, pitting them against a secret society in a gritty, steampunk aesthetic. Written by Chuck Dixon with art by Guido Guidi, the issue explores a darker, more mechanical origin for the war between the factions, offering a self-contained, atmospheric twist on the franchise’s core conflict. Its singular vision remains a distinctive, cult-favorite experiment in the Transformers comic library.