i always remember how weird and mysterious these aliens are,they are a unique take on the beast wars lore honestly,and this is the one reason why i love the franchise so much is how expensive the universe is with different factions and sub-factions,a third alien race jumping in between the war of giant robots empowerd by gods is a heavy lore
@@mitchdavis6001 Oh, is it because of all the throwaway alien species and planets that can be referenced and used to fill up the universe in later continuities?
Agree. Feels better when they’re just some alien race that acts as another enemy for the transformers to deal with that has nothing to do with them lore wise
Honestly the idea of the Vok being their own thing, despite the differing origins , is an awesome idea and honestly both versions of their origin could work together, having them be their own species, that after finding the swarm post purification, either incorporate them into their species, turning them into Vok, or both in some way combine their energy forms, creating the Vok as we know them. Either way I loved how they helped expand the Transformers universe, showing the different species in it
Could even have them be enemies of the Quintessons I mean the Quintessons once used time manipulation as a weapon and the Vok do value the integrity of space and time
The fact that they never really were explained adds such a unique flare to them. I like the idea of them repenting and trying to ensure a positive future through complex and misunderstood means, turning on good and evil alike when the fate of the timestream as a whole is at hand.
The supernatural nature of the Vok was always terrifying but the show’s interpretation takes the award for that. Their IDW introduction was quite chilling as well, even Megatron was terrified of them!
I really like the idea of them being survivors from a previous universe. Also makes me wonder if beings from the next universe could then be pulled back into the current one.
Kind of surprised you didn't mention Swindle's meeting them in Transformers Animated. Then again, it was just a single throw away line that Swindle made mentioning them.
@@captainamedeus7047 Alternatively, maybe Swindle didn't leave them unscathed! What if his purple eyes were a result of his encounter with the Vok, like his optics permanently changed upon witnessing their true form? Or, uh, I guess he could be embellishing as well. Sounds more impressive if you got a gadget from the Vok.
The Vok, in my eyes, will always be the more enigmatic of the Transformers universe. While the quintessons will always be seen in modern times to representative of judge, jury, and executioner; The Antillans a representation of hubris and ignorance going hand in hand, and many others. The Vok are perhaps the most versatile of the bunch due to their (mostly) ambiguous goals and scientific research. They are honestly a little creepy, even for the standards animation. Hell, I thought for sure they were quintessons evolved.
2:48 Another point to the list of alternate universes I would like to visit: the one where Bob Forward and Larry DiTillio were let to continue the Vok story as they wanted.
Today I can say that the mysterious nature of the Vok was one of the best part of Beast Wars and the fact that they were never fully explained makes them even better. Some things don't need to be explained!
It's a shame "Beast Wars" wasn't able to fully explain everything about the Vok's intentions, especially with Forward and Ditillio disagreeing on their origins. At least they still provided some interesting lore to the franchise and added extra tension to the Beast Wars. Also, having the Vok resemble skulls is a pretty clever way to reflect their status as an advanced alien race. It's as if they had seen everything from the past and there's supposedly nothing else for them to learn.
I agree, Hasbro should have let Forward and Ditillio do what they do with the vok since they are TV exclusive characters. I mean not eveything needs a god damn toy in transformers.
I mean the fact that they are never fully explained is kinda cool in its own way. While their origin is covered in later media, the fact they are these terrifying god like enemies that are so far above the main beast wars cast with unknown intentions makes them very interesting. Explaining it all would probably ruin that aspect a bit.
@@shumjuna1 And, inevitably, any explanation ends up being unsatisfactory somehow. I prefer the idea that they're just the end-point of all evolution and have been directing evolution towards themselves, but there are so many ways to mess up the execution of that. It's kind of cool that they're just out there, somewhere, of unknown and unknowable intent.
The Vok story being left an open-ended mystery worked really well in the series, and does present a lot of opportunities to be expanded on in other story lines. However, I think the fact that they intended to wipe out all life on earth kind of precludes both Forward and Ditillio's vision of their back story. I was kind of disappointed with the floating skull look, though. I feel like it should have been more abstract, like a celestial version of how they showed the Sparks.
I like that. Some of those weirder alien elements like Dark Nova & Vilin Jiger (I know I spelled that wrong) being retconned with Vok origins makes more sense
If I recall, they even retconned the fact that some art made Dark Nova look like Unicron by making it another Vok attempt to intimidate the Transformers by using his visage, like they did to Optimus Primal
In my imagination the Vok are from Beast Wars’ sister show, ReBoot. Another fantastic creation by Bob Forward and Larry DiTillo. In that universe there’s a lot of strange creatures that live in The Web, could very well be home for the Vok.
One thing you missed Chris I was hoping would get highlighted was the throw away reference to the vok in transformers animated when swindle says it in his introductory episode after using a technology he said he acquired from them My favorite origin for the vok is how they managed to combine the original origins from both writers, it was a good compromise and a overall interesting story.
Love the detail of the episodes central to the Vok having the "Other" adjective as a thematic connection across them; as a way to emphasize the otherworldly presence these straight up eldritch deities transmitted, above the comparatively minimal conflicts waged by the cybertronians and other various races.
i think a standalone toy would be a difficult sell tbh, but if they were included with a Tigerhawk or Tarantulas toy then I dont see any issues sales wise.
You,Thew, and Ben's collectables are all legends in my book I've been watching you guys for quite a while and you guys never fail to make my day Keep up the brilliant work!
I think I've watched every single one of your videos since discovering your channel a couple of weeks ago and I havr to say I love your content and the format you present it in. Thank you for another wonderful episode.
I favour Forward’s ideas of their origin. I speculated that the Vok had gone back to a set point in time, manipulating life on Earth to ensure their own eventual existence, the unexpected Maximal presence being regarded as contamination requiring a hard reset. It always made me wonder if the Vok were not fully aware of their own history, what had forced their hand - as it were - to mess with time travel, and what they really looked like! While I understand that the Swarm origin plays into mainstream lore, it feels too unsatisfyingly pat. I’d have liked to see the Vok as an ongoing mystery.
I think the Vok being kept a mystery is what works for them; A bunch of Cosmic Mad Scientists experimenting for their unknown and sinister purpose, until Munky/Barney showup.
I agree. I was always so fascinated by them growing up and learning they are a byproduct of transformers ruins their mystique imo. I would much prefer that they are their own thing like Forwards version or even the Japanese origin. Not everything needs to tie back into the transformers themselves
Ditto... I like the evolutionary origin, or no origin at all. But I also prefer the Quintesson origin to the Transformers themselves. I think there's something kinda' cool about them just being consumer goods that revolted against their maleficent creators instead of having some grand mythology.
@@CoryTheRaven I don't, because that doesn't explain why the Quintessons created something like Cybertron only once. Nor why the Quints didn't have a killswitch. I'm still up for the exploitative Quints seizing the living planet - which would also expain why a race of sentient machines ended up with several mythologies, like organic races (Cybertronians being adaptive and adoptive).
"Negatronic force field emitter. A little something I picked up in an arms deal with the Vok of Nexus Zero. Nice creatures, the Vok. If you're ever in the Nexus Zero area, do yourself a favor and check them out. You won't be sorry."
@@gabrielchee8470 Either the Vok were playing into Swindle's greed for some greater plan down the road or Swindle's even better at weaseling out of bad deals than we give him credit for.
“Negatronic force field emitter! A little thing I picked up during an arms deal with the Vok of Nexus Zero! Nice creatures The Vok! Say if you’re ever in the Nexus Zero area,do yourself a favor and check them out, You won’t be sorry!” --Swindle (TFA ep. S.U.V)
The Vok really are a testament to how good Beast Wsrs was. They explored the very depths of the franchise while also being the primary element that gave the show its conflict and depth. The show could have easily just been a G1 clone with beasts, but they instead chose to add this whole mystery element on top of it, and it was just perfect.
This could just be Josh Burcham’s art, but the Vok in IDW’s 2022 Beast Wars series kinda look like Tiki masks. Like, the first thing that came to mind when I saw them in the comic was “Wow, now I wanna play Crash Bandicoot.”
I remember watching the episodes with The Vok. Floating beings, long tentacles, menacing planetary plans; I thought they were precursors to the Quintessons.
The Vok episodes were some of my favourite ones from BW, second only to new stasis pod episodes. Not sure which origin I prefer; if I had to choose, I'd actually go for the Legends origin. I prefer the Vok as villainous, or at least morally uncaring, and I could see them experimenting on or trying to manipulate humanity to their own gains. IDW's scientist angle is good too, wish we managed to see more of it. I hope the Vok continue to be used in future stories, and maybe even television again; third parties in Transformers conflicts can be interesting.
Could you imagine if they were the time-traveling evolution of the Quintessons? Hence the jellyfish and the multiple bodiless faces every time they were depicted in their true forms?
I prefer them to not be tied to the Transformers as well. I find it kinda cringe how almost all of, if not all of, reality, revolves around the transforming Robots who turn into Cars.
I think the vok being force to be apart of TF race is to make Hasbro happy. They force the original writer's to write them out of the show because there were no toys made on the vok so now future writers are forced to make them apart if transformers just to make them happy. It trash..
Super cool video and I love that you went into the details as who the Vok were and why we didn't get much info about them. It had been so long sense I have seen the series fron start to finish so I didn't remember that all of the alien encounters were the Vok. Also didn't realize the two Vok that tried to possess Tarantulas were destroyed much like him near the series end. It's nice that not only we got the full origin's of the Vok but that their stories continued in the comics.
I don't like the idea of them being connected TO anything. Can't lovecraftian horrors just be unknowable lovecraftian horrors? That said, while I generally find the japanese contributions a bit... MUCH. Them using the Vok as 'oh hey all these weird thigns were actually them' works wonderfully well.
I agree, making them connected to the Transformers just makes the universe smaller. I much prefer if they're some mysterious aliens that just control the whole universe. They are kinda like Galactus in the Japanese version though and I think I like that
Hey Chris, in an episode of Transformers Animated that introduced Swindle, Swindle says, "If you're ever in Dimension Y, make sure you check out the Vock. You won't won't be sorry?" (Or words to that effect, but he does mention the Vock.
I like to view the vok’s original incarnation as chaotic neutral. Intelligent beings that seek to gain knowledge and learn the secrets of the universe. Only stepping in if it threatens there work or time and space itself.
I realize the Vok got cut short because TO SELL TOYS!, but honestly, I liked that we never really knew what they were or what they were trying to accomplish. It made the Transformers universe feel bigger, to me. Like there were major things going on that had nothing to do with humans or teansformers.
and here I thought the Vok is another species of Quintessons, in which the Quintessons choose mechanical bodies, the Vok choose more Energy based bodies also I find their method of Judgements a bit Similar (Best Solution - Destruction)
I love this concept of ancient civilization with vague past that we can't fully understand, like the Forerunners from Halo (in the original 3 games, of course)
My Robertverse uses their IDW version along with the established concepts from the original (including their survival after death) to incorporate them into the Aligned continuity. Along with what could've been shown in Collison Course.
Hmm, bit tricky to pick which Vok origin I like though I slightly lean for Japanese idea. Would be interesting to see how Quintessons and Vok would interact with one another.
I recall reading 3H productions transformers: the wreckers comic a while back and I recall that in one of the issues the team encountered a Quintesson who recognized the Vok’s handiwork when it saw Tigatron’s transmetal body. I think he said something along the lines of “this one reeks of the Vok.” Implying that the quints and the Vok have had encounters before. Just something I remembered of the top of my head.
I think I like their generation 2 origin, connecting them to the swarm, the best. But honestly, I've watched and rewatched Beast Wars nearly half a dozen times, and I always forget that The Vok even exist. Like I remember the appearance of the holographic form of Unicron, the second moon, the transmetal transformation, and tigerhawk. But I always forget that was all due to The Vok.
Did you know the Swarm had a another, very similar entity? The Phalanx from The X-Men event The Phalanx Covenant was a techno virus that could consume both technology as well as organic. Funny thing was that in the G2 comic there is a cameo by another Marvel entity, symbiotic creatures like the one that became Venom. I passed on the IDW comics, the art alone put me off immediately.
That is quite an interesting episode that you did Chris. I know The Vok best in Transformers Beast Wars cartoon, and I find their origins in the cartoon the most intriguing honestly. I haven't yet read the new Beast Wars comics, but until I do, I am going to stick with the cartoon as the best depiction about their mysterious nature. 👍 Also, I like the hilarious way in which Tarantulas blew up when the Vok killed him and themselves. 🤣
One of my favorite Easter eggs in transformers animated, was when Swindle was talking about the Vok of Nexus 0 and how they're good business partners apparently. A shame that wasn't directly mentioned in this video
Been waiting for this. I definitely watched G1 and G2 Transformers, but became a fan during beast wars. So much so that I remembered seeing the movie but when Unicron popped up in beast wars, though I understood he was a big deal from the scene itself, I didn't remember him distinctly. So when his presence in the series was shown as the Vox posturing their power to Primal, they were a bigger deal than Unicron with me for a number of years, until I better developed my understanding of the lore.
Since Beast Wars was the first Transformers series that I had ever seen, the Vok were basically my first exposure to Unicron and ever since, I have been kind of terrified of giant, moon/planet-sized monsters and weapons.
"We are the Vok, the guardians of the One. We are of the Source, the Core, forever committed to safeguard the Plan. But it was not always so." Based on that line there I always thought they were created by the one to serve Unicron seeing as how then Unicron went forward to destroy everything the one split Unicron making Unicron and Primus, & the reason why I thought they where on earth was to speed up the evolution of humanity because they would be Central to ending the great cybertronian Civil War.
I've always liked the idea that Tarantulas and the Tripredicus Council's "other origins" were from the G2 Cybertronian Empire, rather than Unicron. If so, it'd be fitting if the Vok were the Swarm ascendant; at the very least, it would explain why Tarantulas knows about and hates them so much.
IMO, the vok are definitely related to Quintessans. Obviously, the quints are 5 faces on 1 body, with misc tentacles. The Vok could be souls of individual faces, they are skulls without a face. or they could be an evolved version of quints, like the beasts are from the bots.
@@peterdanior4538 Except then the issue with the de-evolving into physical forms with far less technological advancement becomes an issue in such a storytelling. Remember, the Vok could destroy a planet with a moon-sized object they constructed that could transform into a weapon, could use energy to combine two cybertronians into one, etc. The Quintessons were beaten off of Cyberton by Cybertronians before they could even transform (G1 tv series timeline), couldn't escape the hate-plague, required spaceships to move around space, etc.
When the Beast Wars aired, i thought to myself, it would make so much more sence to link Vok and quintesons. Making them some unknown race, just showed to me at the time, the creators had no clue... and now i see they disagreed and we now have 3+ origins meaning nothing is legit for when the episodes came out. i dont care what they come out with now as an origin story, it's far too late (20 years too late).
"Negatronic Forcefield Emitter! A little something I picked up in an arms deal with the Vok of Nexus Zero. Nice creatures, the Vok. if you're ever in the Nexus Zero area, do yourself a favor and check them out. You won't be sorry." --Swindle, Transformers: Animated, Season 2 Episode 8; S.U.V. - Society of Ultimate Villainy
All the show presented was all we ever needed to know. Their origin didn't matter. Their goals, beyond the scope of the Beast Wars. They were The Other, and that was enough.
There was also the time where in Transformers Animated, Swindle mentioned the Voc when he used a force field against one of the human small-time villains.
Oh there was a very small miss. The Vok had a slight mention from Swindle in Transformers Animated. In the episode SUV: Society of Ultimate Villainy. Swindle would say "Negatronic force field emitter. A little something I picked up in an arms deal with the Vok of Nexus Zero. Nice creatures the Vok. If you're ever in the Nexus Zero area. Do yourself the favor and check them out. You won't be sorry." While not a full on cameo. It is a nice nod to the fact they exist and might of had a chance to appear in the series.
I wonder when the Vok we're possessing Tigerhawk and said they would like to speak with Optimus after dealing with Megatron would they have revealed their origins to him as I like the idea of them being a purified version of the swarm
You should do a dedicated "army builder" episode describing the mass produced armies like vehicons, sweeps, junkions etc. And the rare few given a personality.
I love the Vok. In my transformers headcannon which sort of blends G1, beastwars, and IDW together, there are numerous races of transforming beings including one created by the Vok who go undiscovered until long after the reformating of cybertron in beast machines. Because they were not of cybertron origin, they were not reformated into techno-organic forms. A battle with the Vok made transformers occurs until the Vok themselves remind everyone of their true biggest enemy. The believed creators of all machine life in the universe, the Quintasons. They, by this time, had rebuilt Unicron in their image more powerful than he had ever been before.
"...something I picked up in an arms deal with the Vok of Nexus Zero. Nice creatures the Vok. If your ever in the Nexus Zero area, do yourself a favor and check them out, you won't be sorry." - Swindel, Animated.
I picked up a Marvel comic here and there, but never got the full story until recently. I remember black suited Spider-Man and mention of the Savage Lands. With X-men airing the same time as Beast Wars, I conflated the Vox as a royalty free version of the aliens who built the Savage Land. I found their amorality intriguing. Not evil, but a power several rungs up the ladder. They remind me of the Shadows and Vorlons from Babylon 5. Best to stay below their radar.
They were always a cool idea, I just hate how fast paced the last season of Beast Wars was and we didn’t get to know or see more of them. Tarantulus was my favorite Transformer of all and would have loved to hear what he knew about them.
I hope day we can see the Vok reappear in some form of TF media. The air of mystery they bring with their presence certainly can help elevate any kind of media.
Fun Fact: In Transformers Animated, in Swindle’s debut episode, he mentions an arms deal with the Vok of Nexus Zero
I was wondering if someone was going to mention this. He left this out of the video.
I never liked Animated with its clumsily inserted references and fanpandering....
@@minicle426 bro doesn’t like lore
That is the worst take I've literally ever heard.
@@minicle426Imagine being a Transformers fan and hating fun references. How miserable does your life have to be?
i always remember how weird and mysterious these aliens are,they are a unique take on the beast wars lore honestly,and this is the one reason why i love the franchise so much is how expensive the universe is with different factions and sub-factions,a third alien race jumping in between the war of giant robots empowerd by gods is a heavy lore
You are gonna be really happy then if you watch gen 1 season 3
@@mitchdavis6001 why?
They weren't giant during the Beast Wars, around animal sized
The universe is very EXPENSIVE
@@mitchdavis6001 Oh, is it because of all the throwaway alien species and planets that can be referenced and used to fill up the universe in later continuities?
I want the Vok to get more screentime in the franchise. I've always liked the idea of them being the Rivals of the Quintissons.
I always thought the vok were the ancestors of the quintissons.
I had the same idea. A storyline called The Quintisson/Vok War would make a great story.
@@KevinSeyson hi
Honestly I think the Vok work best when they're not tied into any Cybertronian Lore. Just let aliens be aliens
I agree as it makes the universe feel small, I personally didn't like when Devastation made the lithone just another cybertronian colony
I agree. Not everything needs to start and end with Cybertron.
Actually, after thinking about it, it's more like "Starts with Cybertron, ends with Earth".
Agree. Feels better when they’re just some alien race that acts as another enemy for the transformers to deal with that has nothing to do with them lore wise
You know what I thought of the Vok the other day I would honestly like to see a series where the Vok have a war with the Quintessons
Honestly the idea of the Vok being their own thing, despite the differing origins , is an awesome idea and honestly both versions of their origin could work together, having them be their own species, that after finding the swarm post purification, either incorporate them into their species, turning them into Vok, or both in some way combine their energy forms, creating the Vok as we know them. Either way I loved how they helped expand the Transformers universe, showing the different species in it
Could even have them be enemies of the Quintessons
I mean the Quintessons once used time manipulation as a weapon and the Vok do value the integrity of space and time
The fact that they never really were explained adds such a unique flare to them.
I like the idea of them repenting and trying to ensure a positive future through complex and misunderstood means, turning on good and evil alike when the fate of the timestream as a whole is at hand.
i remember when i was kid,the scene of trantulas being getting killed by the vok had me cry in fear,what a horrifying memorie
I can see why given their 3D skull appearance
It still makes me cry, a weirdly anticlimactic end for my favorite character
Be was hardcore
@@michaelsimpson1224 Anticlimactic but _fully deserved._
Imagine if the vok were around in beast machines,it would of made it more interesting, probably would of freed more sparks having extra characters.
The supernatural nature of the Vok was always terrifying but the show’s interpretation takes the award for that. Their IDW introduction was quite chilling as well, even Megatron was terrified of them!
Whenever I need any info on Transformers I go to Chris. He's basically the Vector Sigma or Teletraan-1 of Transformers youtube.
Love the video!
I really like the idea of them being survivors from a previous universe. Also makes me wonder if beings from the next universe could then be pulled back into the current one.
Kind of surprised you didn't mention Swindle's meeting them in Transformers Animated. Then again, it was just a single throw away line that Swindle made mentioning them.
How did he not get planet busted by them though
@@gabrielchee8470
He probably escaped or he offered them some deal or invention that made them spare his life
@@captainamedeus7047 Alternatively, maybe Swindle didn't leave them unscathed! What if his purple eyes were a result of his encounter with the Vok, like his optics permanently changed upon witnessing their true form?
Or, uh, I guess he could be embellishing as well. Sounds more impressive if you got a gadget from the Vok.
@@gabrielchee8470 Lazy writing probably. Animated just liked to crowbar in clumsy shoutouts like that.
@@gabrielchee8470 He made an arms deal with them and he claimed they were nice.
The Vok, in my eyes, will always be the more enigmatic of the Transformers universe. While the quintessons will always be seen in modern times to representative of judge, jury, and executioner; The Antillans a representation of hubris and ignorance going hand in hand, and many others.
The Vok are perhaps the most versatile of the bunch due to their (mostly) ambiguous goals and scientific research. They are honestly a little creepy, even for the standards animation. Hell, I thought for sure they were quintessons evolved.
I found the floating skull thing rather goofy myself.
In what part of the franchise do the Antillans appear??
2:48 Another point to the list of alternate universes I would like to visit: the one where Bob Forward and Larry DiTillio were let to continue the Vok story as they wanted.
Today I can say that the mysterious nature of the Vok was one of the best part of Beast Wars and the fact that they were never fully explained makes them even better. Some things don't need to be explained!
They just felt like a gimmick to me. 🤷♂️
I learned more in these 10 minutes about the Vok than I did in 25 years since first seeing them in Beast Wars. Your videos are supremely informative.
Though, I grew up watching G1, I gotta admit the japanese were really dedicated to the lore after G1 ended.
It's a shame "Beast Wars" wasn't able to fully explain everything about the Vok's intentions, especially with Forward and Ditillio disagreeing on their origins. At least they still provided some interesting lore to the franchise and added extra tension to the Beast Wars. Also, having the Vok resemble skulls is a pretty clever way to reflect their status as an advanced alien race. It's as if they had seen everything from the past and there's supposedly nothing else for them to learn.
I agree, Hasbro should have let Forward and Ditillio do what they do with the vok since they are TV exclusive characters. I mean not eveything needs a god damn toy in transformers.
I mean the fact that they are never fully explained is kinda cool in its own way. While their origin is covered in later media, the fact they are these terrifying god like enemies that are so far above the main beast wars cast with unknown intentions makes them very interesting. Explaining it all would probably ruin that aspect a bit.
@@shumjuna1 And, inevitably, any explanation ends up being unsatisfactory somehow. I prefer the idea that they're just the end-point of all evolution and have been directing evolution towards themselves, but there are so many ways to mess up the execution of that. It's kind of cool that they're just out there, somewhere, of unknown and unknowable intent.
The Vok story being left an open-ended mystery worked really well in the series, and does present a lot of opportunities to be expanded on in other story lines. However, I think the fact that they intended to wipe out all life on earth kind of precludes both Forward and Ditillio's vision of their back story. I was kind of disappointed with the floating skull look, though. I feel like it should have been more abstract, like a celestial version of how they showed the Sparks.
@@ETH5626 Absolutely. I fail to see the harm in having an invisible, mysterious faction in a show designed to sell toys.
Oh cool, didn’t realize they were incorporated into Zone and Return of Convoy in Japan. Thanks for the video Chris!
I like that. Some of those weirder alien elements like Dark Nova & Vilin Jiger (I know I spelled that wrong) being retconned with Vok origins makes more sense
If I recall, they even retconned the fact that some art made Dark Nova look like Unicron by making it another Vok attempt to intimidate the Transformers by using his visage, like they did to Optimus Primal
@@smoldream2908 Yeah.. for that they drew the wok disguised as Unicron exactly like the cancelled Beast Wars Neo toy of him
@@hairball178 the japanse writers could have aded devil zed to the list
In my imagination the Vok are from Beast Wars’ sister show, ReBoot. Another fantastic creation by Bob Forward and Larry DiTillo. In that universe there’s a lot of strange creatures that live in The Web, could very well be home for the Vok.
One thing you missed Chris I was hoping would get highlighted was the throw away reference to the vok in transformers animated when swindle says it in his introductory episode after using a technology he said he acquired from them
My favorite origin for the vok is how they managed to combine the original origins from both writers, it was a good compromise and a overall interesting story.
You are my go to RUclipsr for transformers lore. Keep up the great work!
Love the detail of the episodes central to the Vok having the "Other" adjective as a thematic connection across them; as a way to emphasize the otherworldly presence these straight up eldritch deities transmitted, above the comparatively minimal conflicts waged by the cybertronians and other various races.
They also share Vs
Spooky alien skull things. Gave me a mighty spook when I was a wee lad.
The Vok origins are all pretty interesting and imagine if they had a toy
i think a standalone toy would be a difficult sell tbh, but if they were included with a Tigerhawk or Tarantulas toy then I dont see any issues sales wise.
I’m surprised the Vok in Japanese media were not connected to Devil Z as well as it was a strange energy being using the Decepticons as well
All-seeing, but unseen, all-knowing, but unknowable. Best description of Vok. Ever
You,Thew, and Ben's collectables are all legends in my book
I've been watching you guys for quite a while and you guys never fail to make my day
Keep up the brilliant work!
I think I've watched every single one of your videos since discovering your channel a couple of weeks ago and I havr to say I love your content and the format you present it in.
Thank you for another wonderful episode.
8:30
They look like Bionicles, just by the faces and the names
I favour Forward’s ideas of their origin. I speculated that the Vok had gone back to a set point in time, manipulating life on Earth to ensure their own eventual existence, the unexpected Maximal presence being regarded as contamination requiring a hard reset. It always made me wonder if the Vok were not fully aware of their own history, what had forced their hand - as it were - to mess with time travel, and what they really looked like!
While I understand that the Swarm origin plays into mainstream lore, it feels too unsatisfyingly pat. I’d have liked to see the Vok as an ongoing mystery.
I think the Vok being kept a mystery is what works for them;
A bunch of Cosmic Mad Scientists experimenting for their unknown and sinister purpose, until Munky/Barney showup.
I agree. I was always so fascinated by them growing up and learning they are a byproduct of transformers ruins their mystique imo. I would much prefer that they are their own thing like Forwards version or even the Japanese origin. Not everything needs to tie back into the transformers themselves
Ditto... I like the evolutionary origin, or no origin at all. But I also prefer the Quintesson origin to the Transformers themselves. I think there's something kinda' cool about them just being consumer goods that revolted against their maleficent creators instead of having some grand mythology.
@@CoryTheRaven That's the best origin for the G1 era.
@@CoryTheRaven I don't, because that doesn't explain why the Quintessons created something like Cybertron only once. Nor why the Quints didn't have a killswitch.
I'm still up for the exploitative Quints seizing the living planet - which would also expain why a race of sentient machines ended up with several mythologies, like organic races (Cybertronians being adaptive and adoptive).
"Negatronic force field emitter. A little something I picked up in an arms deal with the Vok of Nexus Zero. Nice creatures, the Vok. If you're ever in the Nexus Zero area, do yourself a favor and check them out. You won't be sorry."
How is Swindle still alive?
@@gabrielchee8470 the vok are just nice
@@gabrielchee8470 Either the Vok were playing into Swindle's greed for some greater plan down the road or Swindle's even better at weaseling out of bad deals than we give him credit for.
The vok and their existence always confused the hell out of me so I am super appreciative for this basics episode.
Would be cool to see THE VOK in Transformers Movies
“Negatronic force field emitter! A little thing I picked up during an arms deal with the Vok of Nexus Zero! Nice creatures The Vok! Say if you’re ever in the Nexus Zero area,do yourself a favor and check them out, You won’t be sorry!”
--Swindle (TFA ep. S.U.V)
Very good as always! McFeely, when are we going to get a basics on Sunstreaker?
The Vok really are a testament to how good Beast Wsrs was. They explored the very depths of the franchise while also being the primary element that gave the show its conflict and depth. The show could have easily just been a G1 clone with beasts, but they instead chose to add this whole mystery element on top of it, and it was just perfect.
Vok: **tries to prevent Maximal and Predacons from time travel**
Batman: If we had a week, I couldn't list all the reasons THAT won't work.
Justice League: Doom
@@captainlastreo5160 You wouldn't believe how often I quote that line in any given week
This could just be Josh Burcham’s art, but the Vok in IDW’s 2022 Beast Wars series kinda look like Tiki masks. Like, the first thing that came to mind when I saw them in the comic was “Wow, now I wanna play Crash Bandicoot.”
I remember watching the episodes with The Vok. Floating beings, long tentacles, menacing planetary plans; I thought they were precursors to the Quintessons.
I think it’s about time you did Tarantulas
I always felt like the vok were a missed oppotunity in the beast wars,they are what the quintessons are in g1 honestly
They're not at all like what the Quintessons were to the original show. The Vok are WAY less developed.
Really, I always found Beast Wars half-baked in its ideas and execution. 🤷♂️
@@minicle426 In a few ways, I prefer Beast Machines to Beast Wars, although I do admit Beast Wars looks a lot nicer.
Would like to see more Beast Wars character basics 2 of my favourite characters from Beast Wars are Rattrap and Tarantulas
"The Vok? A simple name for arroganr a race" -trantulas
The Vok episodes were some of my favourite ones from BW, second only to new stasis pod episodes.
Not sure which origin I prefer; if I had to choose, I'd actually go for the Legends origin. I prefer the Vok as villainous, or at least morally uncaring, and I could see them experimenting on or trying to manipulate humanity to their own gains. IDW's scientist angle is good too, wish we managed to see more of it.
I hope the Vok continue to be used in future stories, and maybe even television again; third parties in Transformers conflicts can be interesting.
Really hoping they're referenced in rise of the beasts. They're one of my favourite bits of transformers lore
Thanks, Chris for another awesome episode.
I prefer the vok just being aliens not directly related to the transformers. As a kid I thought they were really creepy jellyfish.
Could you imagine if they were the time-traveling evolution of the Quintessons? Hence the jellyfish and the multiple bodiless faces every time they were depicted in their true forms?
I prefer them to not be tied to the Transformers as well. I find it kinda cringe how almost all of, if not all of, reality, revolves around the transforming Robots who turn into Cars.
I think the vok being force to be apart of TF race is to make Hasbro happy. They force the original writer's to write them out of the show because there were no toys made on the vok so now future writers are forced to make them apart if transformers just to make them happy. It trash..
I love this channel every weekend morning if there's a new video available I always watch it keep it up
Super cool video and I love that you went into the details as who the Vok were and why we didn't get much info about them. It had been so long sense I have seen the series fron start to finish so I didn't remember that all of the alien encounters were the Vok. Also didn't realize the two Vok that tried to possess Tarantulas were destroyed much like him near the series end. It's nice that not only we got the full origin's of the Vok but that their stories continued in the comics.
Interesting The vok have allways been a mystery to me and i heard about their Swarm potential origin but this explains everything
Just wanted to say your videos are great! Thank you for supplying detailed TF lore in bite sized chunks in a balanced way.
Man I love watching these as it gives me so much insight to TF more then just G1 toon! Keep up the great work!
Great video as always Chris loved it can't wait for the next one
I don't like the idea of them being connected TO anything. Can't lovecraftian horrors just be unknowable lovecraftian horrors?
That said, while I generally find the japanese contributions a bit... MUCH. Them using the Vok as 'oh hey all these weird thigns were actually them' works wonderfully well.
I agree, making them connected to the Transformers just makes the universe smaller. I much prefer if they're some mysterious aliens that just control the whole universe. They are kinda like Galactus in the Japanese version though and I think I like that
I always lay in my bed and whisper to myself; man, i wish i could make a series as badass as Transformers
This was a great video. But I was also hoping you would run the clip for Transformers Animated where Swindle mentions them.
Hey Chris, in an episode of Transformers Animated that introduced Swindle, Swindle says, "If you're ever in Dimension Y, make sure you check out the Vock. You won't won't be sorry?" (Or words to that effect, but he does mention the Vock.
I like to view the vok’s original incarnation as chaotic neutral. Intelligent beings that seek to gain knowledge and learn the secrets of the universe. Only stepping in if it threatens there work or time and space itself.
I realize the Vok got cut short because TO SELL TOYS!, but honestly, I liked that we never really knew what they were or what they were trying to accomplish. It made the Transformers universe feel bigger, to me. Like there were major things going on that had nothing to do with humans or teansformers.
The Vok have always evoked a sense of mystery about themselves.
and here I thought the Vok is another species of Quintessons, in which the Quintessons choose mechanical bodies, the Vok choose more Energy based bodies
also I find their method of Judgements a bit Similar (Best Solution - Destruction)
I love this concept of ancient civilization with vague past that we can't fully understand, like the Forerunners from Halo (in the original 3 games, of course)
It’s crazy how literally unknowable lovecraftian nightmares just exist in the transformer universe.
My Robertverse uses their IDW version along with the established concepts from the original (including their survival after death) to incorporate them into the Aligned continuity.
Along with what could've been shown in Collison Course.
Hmm, bit tricky to pick which Vok origin I like though I slightly lean for Japanese idea.
Would be interesting to see how Quintessons and Vok would interact with one another.
The Quints would want to study and experiment on The Vok, while at the same time The Vok would be studying and experimenting on the The Quints. 🤣
I recall reading 3H productions transformers: the wreckers comic a while back and I recall that in one of the issues the team encountered a Quintesson who recognized the Vok’s handiwork when it saw Tigatron’s transmetal body. I think he said something along the lines of “this one reeks of the Vok.” Implying that the quints and the Vok have had encounters before. Just something I remembered of the top of my head.
I think I like their generation 2 origin, connecting them to the swarm, the best.
But honestly, I've watched and rewatched Beast Wars nearly half a dozen times, and I always forget that The Vok even exist.
Like I remember the appearance of the holographic form of Unicron, the second moon, the transmetal transformation, and tigerhawk. But I always forget that was all due to The Vok.
Did you know the Swarm had a another, very similar entity? The Phalanx from The X-Men event The Phalanx Covenant was a techno virus that could consume both technology as well as organic. Funny thing was that in the G2 comic there is a cameo by another Marvel entity, symbiotic creatures like the one that became Venom. I passed on the IDW comics, the art alone put me off immediately.
They need to do a Transformers series on Mars.
If Hasbro ever decided to reboot/remake Beast Wars, i hope theyd bring the Vok back, and better explain their motives.
I’d prefer it if we didn’t learn too much, too soon!
@@clogs4956 True, but learning their intentions, if not the reasons behind them, would be worth exploring in my opinion
The Vok scarred me as a kid when I watched the beast wars episode where they killed tarantulas
That is quite an interesting episode that you did Chris. I know The Vok best in Transformers Beast Wars cartoon, and I find their origins in the cartoon the most intriguing honestly. I haven't yet read the new Beast Wars comics, but until I do, I am going to stick with the cartoon as the best depiction about their mysterious nature. 👍 Also, I like the hilarious way in which Tarantulas blew up when the Vok killed him and themselves. 🤣
One of my favorite Easter eggs in transformers animated, was when Swindle was talking about the Vok of Nexus 0 and how they're good business partners apparently. A shame that wasn't directly mentioned in this video
Ugh. I hated Animated's overindulgence in fanservive and references...
Been waiting for this. I definitely watched G1 and G2 Transformers, but became a fan during beast wars. So much so that I remembered seeing the movie but when Unicron popped up in beast wars, though I understood he was a big deal from the scene itself, I didn't remember him distinctly. So when his presence in the series was shown as the Vox posturing their power to Primal, they were a bigger deal than Unicron with me for a number of years, until I better developed my understanding of the lore.
Since Beast Wars was the first Transformers series that I had ever seen, the Vok were basically my first exposure to Unicron and ever since, I have been kind of terrified of giant, moon/planet-sized monsters and weapons.
Interesting timing. Just finished watching UltraPrimal's reviews on Beast Wars two days ago
The text at 5:09 looks very similar to the Tamil language. Would anyone know what it is saying if it's not Tamil?
These designs always reminded me of the Dream Demons from the Freddy Dead movie 😅
beast wars gave so much
It's very overhyped I find.
"We are the Vok, the guardians of the One. We are of the Source, the Core, forever committed to safeguard the Plan. But it was not always so." Based on that line there I always thought they were created by the one to serve Unicron seeing as how then Unicron went forward to destroy everything the one split Unicron making Unicron and Primus, & the reason why I thought they where on earth was to speed up the evolution of humanity because they would be Central to ending the great cybertronian Civil War.
6:17 damn that paint job is badass
I've always liked the idea that Tarantulas and the Tripredicus Council's "other origins" were from the G2 Cybertronian Empire, rather than Unicron. If so, it'd be fitting if the Vok were the Swarm ascendant; at the very least, it would explain why Tarantulas knows about and hates them so much.
IMO, the vok are definitely related to Quintessans. Obviously, the quints are 5 faces on 1 body, with misc tentacles. The Vok could be souls of individual faces, they are skulls without a face.
or they could be an evolved version of quints, like the beasts are from the bots.
Or possibly, the future, time-traveling evolution of the Quintessons.
Or the ancestors of the Quints, & they eventually evolve to share bodies
@@peterdanior4538 Except then the issue with the de-evolving into physical forms with far less technological advancement becomes an issue in such a storytelling. Remember, the Vok could destroy a planet with a moon-sized object they constructed that could transform into a weapon, could use energy to combine two cybertronians into one, etc. The Quintessons were beaten off of Cyberton by Cybertronians before they could even transform (G1 tv series timeline), couldn't escape the hate-plague, required spaceships to move around space, etc.
@@peterdanior4538 like a Quintecombiner? Yeah, I've always felt like the mind of a combiner was like a quint, or a megazord...
When the Beast Wars aired, i thought to myself, it would make so much more sence to link Vok and quintesons. Making them some unknown race, just showed to me at the time, the creators had no clue... and now i see they disagreed and we now have 3+ origins meaning nothing is legit for when the episodes came out. i dont care what they come out with now as an origin story, it's far too late (20 years too late).
The Vok literally said to get on their level
"Negatronic Forcefield Emitter! A little something I picked up in an arms deal with the Vok of Nexus Zero. Nice creatures, the Vok. if you're ever in the Nexus Zero area, do yourself a favor and check them out. You won't be sorry." --Swindle, Transformers: Animated, Season 2 Episode 8; S.U.V. - Society of Ultimate Villainy
All the show presented was all we ever needed to know. Their origin didn't matter. Their goals, beyond the scope of the Beast Wars. They were The Other, and that was enough.
_"We are the THINGS that WERE and SHALL be AGAIN!"_
(Or something like that...)
Well this is pretty rad and cool hope yall have a great day
There was also the time where in Transformers Animated, Swindle mentioned the Voc when he used a force field against one of the human small-time villains.
Oh there was a very small miss. The Vok had a slight mention from Swindle in Transformers Animated. In the episode SUV: Society of Ultimate Villainy. Swindle would say "Negatronic force field emitter. A little something I picked up in an arms deal with the Vok of Nexus Zero. Nice creatures the Vok. If you're ever in the Nexus Zero area. Do yourself the favor and check them out. You won't be sorry."
While not a full on cameo. It is a nice nod to the fact they exist and might of had a chance to appear in the series.
I wonder when the Vok we're possessing Tigerhawk and said they would like to speak with Optimus after dealing with Megatron would they have revealed their origins to him as I like the idea of them being a purified version of the swarm
I saw the end of your panel at TFNation yesterday it was awesome
According to Swindle from Transformers Animated ‘Nice people the Vok’
You should do a dedicated "army builder" episode describing the mass produced armies like vehicons, sweeps, junkions etc. And the rare few given a personality.
I love the Vok. In my transformers headcannon which sort of blends G1, beastwars, and IDW together, there are numerous races of transforming beings including one created by the Vok who go undiscovered until long after the reformating of cybertron in beast machines. Because they were not of cybertron origin, they were not reformated into techno-organic forms. A battle with the Vok made transformers occurs until the Vok themselves remind everyone of their true biggest enemy. The believed creators of all machine life in the universe, the Quintasons. They, by this time, had rebuilt Unicron in their image more powerful than he had ever been before.
"...something I picked up in an arms deal with the Vok of Nexus Zero. Nice creatures the Vok. If your ever in the Nexus Zero area, do yourself a favor and check them out, you won't be sorry." - Swindel, Animated.
I like the Idea of them being the purified form of the Swarm trying to repent for their destructive past but inadvertently doing more harm than good
I love how they’ve been retconned into Dark Nova and Violin Jiger
I picked up a Marvel comic here and there, but never got the full story until recently. I remember black suited Spider-Man and mention of the Savage Lands. With X-men airing the same time as Beast Wars, I conflated the Vox as a royalty free version of the aliens who built the Savage Land.
I found their amorality intriguing. Not evil, but a power several rungs up the ladder. They remind me of the Shadows and Vorlons from Babylon 5. Best to stay below their radar.
This was surprise but a welcome one and also pls do the tripredacus council next
They were always a cool idea, I just hate how fast paced the last season of Beast Wars was and we didn’t get to know or see more of them.
Tarantulus was my favorite Transformer of all and would have loved to hear what he knew about them.
The third season was just weird frankly.
Really was but also not bad haha
Did feel rushed.
I hope day we can see the Vok reappear in some form of TF media. The air of mystery they bring with their presence certainly can help elevate any kind of media.