Thank you, now for the comics. Unfortunatly the comics are a bit sketchier detail wise especially the manga.
Additionally this is all from my extensive internal data banks. I'll check it through on Wiki and a few other sites later. (If folks want I can post additional info links if a mod is alright with it.)
Anyway
Comic Books
G1-the same relative idea as the G1 show Autobots Versus Decepticons. There have however been as of now three distinct Transformer G1 comic-verses. Each of these have a seperate and indivual continuity distinct from the TV shows in every way (not counting the Japanses manga that I'll make mention to.) They are:
The Marvel Transformer comics-This is the biggy running from 1984 to about 1990 in both the US and UK. (the UK actually had a ton of additonal stories as it was bi-weekly there.) This series was a lot of fun, using much more toy accurate characters then the cartoon and a lot more thougt and detail went into the stories. Trade Paperbacks are being releasesed and IDW is currently re-printing old Marvel stories. To give you an idea of just how much went on in this and why I'm not saying to much I shall list the Autobot and Decepticon leaders only during this run. Autobots had Optimus Prime, Rodimus Prime, Grimlock, Prowl, and Blaster leading at various times. The Decepticons had Megatron, Galvatron, Galvatron and Megatron together (and yes they were still the same guy.), Ratbat, Shockwave, Starscream, Starscream and Soundwave together, Bludgeon, Thunderwing, and Scorpinock, this is only the major leaders even as several others led for brief stints. Yeah it was crazy.
Next up is DREAMWAVE, that revamped Transformers in 2004, and ran till 2005 when the company declared bankruptcy, they nonetheless created a intriguing G1 verse including a series called "The War Within" Which was about the Transformers a million years or so before they hit Earth (keep in mind the TFs live for well over 10 million years.). This series didn't do to much and had just unvieled Unicron coming towards Cybertron and a big plot involving Shockwave cloning Starscream before it went under.
That leads us to IDW, who has managed to put out 12 issues since they took the liscense made into two mini-series Infiltration and Stormbringer. They have also released as of October two one-shots Shockwave and Nightbeat. With another 6 issue mini and a ton more of one-shots on the way. They once again took a whole new look on the Transformers revamping EVERYTHING from how they got to Earth on up, they are an awesome read written by one of comic's greats Simon Furman.
Beyond these Japan has several manga based on the Victory and Zone series however as I have never read or seen more than a few untranslated scans from them i can't tell you a thing about them.
Beast Era comics:
Beast Wars for being as popular as it is has had suprisingly little made in print. The four print media are:
Omega Point/The Wrekers/Primeveal Dawn Botcon comics: This was a comic series that was packaged with the toys for the Botcon comics from about 96 to 01 or so. Only one came out a year and they are very rare. They tell the story of what happened to all the stasis pods that were left behind iN Beast Wars as well as what happened to a few various characters who disapeared.
Transformers: Universe this was the official Fanclub comic for 02-04 (I do believe) it came out bi-monthly and told the story of what happened after Beast Machines, and heralded the return of Unicron.
Dreamwave Beast Wars: This was a single story in their Summer Special that showed a dream Rat Trap had.
IDW Beast Wars: The Gathering: This is a fun little story about another facet of the Beast Wars happening right under the noses of the show characters. Although contrived at times a pretty fun little read. More comics continuing this story have been said to be in the works at IDW.
There are also manga about BWII/BW Neo, though once again I don't know much about them, they are I believe canon for the Beast Wars animes though.
RiD Universe comics:
Another universe visited in Dreamwave's Summers Special it told the first meeting of Ultra Magnus and Optimus Prime on Earth.
Armada/Energon:
I've combined these two because the comics they had were conjoined somewhat since the series were combined.
Toy Comics: These fantasticly awful pieces told a dumbed WAY down story about some of the toys released in the toy wave they were packaged with.
Dreamwave Comics(Armade 1-20 then Energon 1-10) These ran for about as long as Dreamwave's Gen 1 series and told the Armada and Energon stories as invisioned by Simon Furman. Very, Very diffirirent from the TV show but a great read.
The last comic I know of is another manga named Transformers: KISS, a huge point of conflict in the Transfandom as it is a manga about girls who kiss Transformers to give them powers and the Decepticon's with phalic tongues who wish to eat said girls. Yeah, that's pretty much it. Oh it's also a radio show, and a toy line that comes with girl PVC figures as well as TFs. I'll cover that another time.
CHARACTERS: Here's a run down of various major characters from various series.
G1:
Optimus Prime- The heroic leader of the Autobots until the year 2005 when he fell at the hands of Megatron. He started life as Orion Pax (or Optromix depending on continuity) and was rebuilt after an attack by Megatron during which time he was given the Matrix of Leadership.
Megatron The leadr of the evil Decepticons, Megatron is a cruel and ruthless tyrant. Who feels that he is perfection incarnate. Was gravely wounded by Optimus Prime and later reformated into Galvatron. Once killed himself in the Marvel comics.
Rodimus Prime Rodimus Prime eventually took over leadership of the Autobots from Optimus Prime. While fighting Galvatron inside of Unicron the power of the Matrix transformed him into Rodimus Prime allowing him to defeat Galvatron and use the power of the Matrix to destroy Unicron. Commanded the Autobots until the Ressurection of Optimus Prime.
Galvatron: Megatron was transformed by Unicron into Galvatron, more powerful than ever he led the Decepticons against the Autobots driving them nearly to extinction before his defeat at the hands of Rodimus Prime. Upon his return he was a changed mech, completly insane and irrational at times and only occastionaly showing a hint of the tactical genius he once was.
More mini-profiles to come.
ADDITIONAL INFO:
You can find more information about almost all things Transformer at seibertron.com, tfw2005.com, or at
Teletran-1, the TF Wiki