Spotlight Arcee - A Trans Woman's Perspective

[@171QA]

The origin of Arcee in the comics is pretty complicated. More ways than one. I just like the concept of there being female transformers existing and that Transformers have the freedom to change gender or pronouns if they feel more comfortable/healthier that way.

[@littlemisstfc]

Personally, I feel like Simon Furman’s good Transformers stories doesn’t excuse his dislike of female characters in Transformers for shallow reasons and his inability to accept criticism. Other than that little tangent, it’s very interesting hearing your perspective and Kumquat’s perspective on this comic! :) Great video! 💕

[@SomeOrangeCat]

Science fiction has long been used to explain real-world issues to people, unfortunately its not always handled with the most care.

[@inesatt1313]

Yup Static Shock was great at it

[@SomeOrangeCat]

@@inesatt1313 And certain socio-political issues that Star Trek: TNG just shat the bed on. Like the episode "Journey's End"

[@hesiod_delta9209]

My interpretation is that the story is about how trans people can be exploited in moments of crisis. Arcee was in a compromised state, and Jhiaxis took advantage of it so he could subject her to all kinds of dangerous experiments. The whole ordeal caused her to loathe her own identity as she began her quest for vengeance against Jhiaxus.

[@mdxque8393]

My problem with Arcee(IDW) is her violent out burst and the fact the rest of the Autobots are all like “well she is a murderer and a little crazy but hay let’s her go anyway because… uh… because yeah.” Also the “forced feminized” sounds down right scary! Retcon or not, that part just feels… I don’t how to describe other then scary and other words like it. As for you, it’s awesome you’re opening up a little about your past. It takes bravery to do that. As well getting a Trans person’s perspective. I’ll be sure check out the good Emperor’s video as well. ;)

[@inesatt1313]

🙄tell me about it

[@occam7382]

Yeah. Call me biased, but I personally prefer her Prime variant.

[@mdxque8393]

@@occam7382 Oh, Prime Arcee is my favorite too. 😍

[@coreymcgivney5897]

It’s certainly a rough beginning, while many of Simon firman TF stories and characteriation has been influential and important to me, this is certainly one of his absolute worst low points, and it’s a shame because I actually quite like IDW arcee, I’m glad that the character was able to be somewhat redeemed in the hands of other writers, basically once her origin got some major redos and retcons to make it not transphobic, I’m glad that the character and trans representation would get better as time went on, knowing there’s plenty more to go, it’s a real complex and frustrating issue but at least cooler and more open minded heads provailed in the end. I do really love IDW arcee, and it’s sad that her dodgey start can put kind of a black spot on the character but in later stories, I think she really grew into her own and both her and Ultra Primal remain my two favourite trans-bot icons. *Potential spoiler* Also she becomes a teacher in like TF animated which is adorable

[@Vivigreeny25]

“And little twig boys.” *Clip of TFP Starscream* This made me cackle Anyways, this is the first video I’ve seen on your channel and you seem really cool, so I think I’ll stick around! :)

[@wyndblayde6103]

Furman has always had a problematic attitude to female transformers, he claimed he didn't believe cybertronians would have gender, but it didn't bother him using he or him for the transformers, it's always felt like it was the female gender rather than gender in general that he had an issue with. Now I don't think furman is transphobic, I don't know if he even realised how this touched on trans issues, but i think he made his attitude to womanhood pretty clear.

[@autobotfan11]

Simon doesn’t have a problem written female characters, he has problem writing female transformers

[@TheOnlyCathyCat]

I think that the only problem with gender in the mythos of Transformers is that writers try and explain it. It should be as simple as: There are boy bots, girls bots, non-binary bots, fluid bots and transgender bots, with the only reason given being that: Gender and non-gender is useful to all species in various ways....or all the girl bots fucked off to Caminus a long time ago because of chud bots and wankers like Jhaxius.

[@laisphinto6372]

and if they want an explaination: " female transformers come from solus prime" instead of that weird screwed up story

[@coreymcgivney5897]

Hey Ultra I just wanted to say that I discovered your videos in a real rough time in my life, as a depressed, anxiety ridden guy who felt like was slowly losing a lot of the love for things that made him happy, seeing your videos really lightened my day and made me reconnect with my inner transformers fan, a series that means so much to me and really allowed me to be more accepting of LGBTQIA+ folk, especially as I know many trans, gay, non-binary people irl, some of which are my best friends, with me being a strong ally and supporter off. Me and Jetfire are ally Bros So just thank you, so much, for helping me, and in a way supporting me, even if you didn’t know it, and while I wish I could do more to support you. I can just spread love to everyone out there, specifically all my trans friends out there, I love you all. ❤️❤️

[@Overlord81]

The video is really good Ultra, totally agree, this story is forced and weird...I mean Acid Storm in Cyberverse can change gender whenever he/she feel like...why not Arcee?

[@Overlord81]

@@metal_fusion Uhhmm Thanks for the info?🤔

[@robrice7246]

6:21/6:24 That's how I interpret Aligned Arcee after she lost Tailgate.

[@goldengamer-b2z]

Here waird fact a person ask me is there a trans transformer and i said and i told him it was this version of arcee

[@nightlight-nuisance2971]

The way he wrote this doesn't make sense, A genderless robot that goes by he makes the first "female" cybertronian by altering his body and he hates it, this makes Jeaxius seem like a sexual creep. If you want to tell a story about how Jeaxius changed someone through mad science and now they cant stand to be in their body because something is wrong that's ok but to make this the origin of the first "female" transformer, that he were forcefully changed and that somehow made him "female" just makes this feel... predatory. If I had to re-write this Arcee is born genderless (everyone on cybertron uses they/them) and feels off throughout her life, something isn't right/ is missing. Through the war she is introduced to gender form other species and learns about males/females and finds the thing she found missing now identifying as trans female and using she/her pronouns. If Jiaxus had to be included Arcee could go to them for surgeries to fell better fit in her body and they would break the trust she had in them by using her body for science to make a better soldier or something.

[@thegamingkaiser2874]

0:05 Wait, Emperor Kumquat is Trans? Huh I would have never guessed, the more you know.

[@thaizilla1984]

I thought she is girl all along

[@dangamertop9253]

Her gender is seeker vehicon, that should be clear from the picture of her channel

[@thaizilla1984]

@@dangamertop9253 yeah i agree

[@God_gundam36]

How hard is it for writers to just go "some transformers look feminine" Like that's literally it

[@IrishKyokushin]

Yeah. He should have just introduced her and left the "Optimus builds her to appease Feminists" (this came before the "Only Vector Sigma can grant life" and the concept of Transformers having souls aka Sparks). I hope the new license holders dont feel the need to give her another potentially problematic origin.

[@SandwitchZebra]

You can blame old good Simon Furman Furman’s done a lot of work for the franchise (he came up with Primus, Unicron’s backstory, and a lot of modern Transformers lore); and I’m sure by no means he intended for this to come off as anything offensive or problematic, but for whatever reason he is absolutely mystified by the concept of female Transformers and always felt that everything he touched needed some kind of explanation for their existence, partially as a byproduct of always wanting to explain the old 80s “gimmicks” in coherent ways. As hinted in the video, in Marvel, it was the Autobots appeasing feminists. In Dreamwave, they were an unexplained “quirk” (explained because Dreamwave went out of business) and in IDW 2005 it was that they were forcibly introduced by Jhiaxus. This one comic led to a bunch of writers eventually having to conduct damage control eventually culminating in the retcons listed in the video. When the slate was finally wiped clear IDW rebooted, they just made them normal parts of society, no special circumstances or anything.

[@Aondeug]

It is so weird mentally for Furman to have written my favorite Dinobots stories but also my least favorite Arcee one. Though I will admit that I'm now fascinated by the idea of transmasc Arcee. I am extremely attached to the idea of sapphic Arcee but like. I don't know looking at how much she hates being called "she" and is so pissed about it makes me go "Oh that's kind of a mood though when I'm a dude. Hate when people call me she then." Like retrofitting Spotlight Arcee to instead have Arcee be a transdude. We'd still have the issues with how the transition is handled but still I'd like to see a fan retcon of it where he's just a cranky as fuck transdude. I guess the idea of forced feminization just speaks to me on some level as a concept because of the shit my mother's done to me over the years. Forced feminization of the sort I've actually gone through's a bit too close to home. Extremely stupid and over the top scifi misery that literally can't happen is a bit more approachable feeling. And it is something I'd like to see in art or even write myself because unpacking what's been done to me is very, very hard. And things are a bit less hard when I can first process it through made up stories. I could write a fanfic just for me I guess?

[@bumblebois798]

Love the video ultra! And happy pride month btw! :D

[@cedy413]

happy pride month UltraPrimal! I'm also your new subscriber!

[@AnnaTarouBrasil]

GOOGLE TRADUTOR BR. Destaque Arcee - A Perspectiva de uma Mulher Trans

[@dontemorgan1517]

I don't know I'm going to be honest not sure how I feel about this it's just super weird in a transformers universe to have a "trans transformers" like Arcee (plus her violent act) and just don't make any sense. I do love the Megatron storyline becoming an autobot, but still there are things that I don't like in IDW Transformers. And no wonder IDW is doing badly because now Darkhorse is buying off G.I.JOE and Transformers and hopefully they remove the weirdness and go back to regular transformers lore.

[@joaolucasnascimentoleite2831]

Exacly you have a great point, i enjoyed idw a lot but there was some elements that was a bit weird, like i get it that they were trying to introduce new concepts but that kinda got out of control maybe in the future the next comics start off with a bit more grounded and introduce the elements of the lore like mythology of the cybertronians like the fun publications comics did without the whole gender thing after that spotlight its better that they don't touch that councept again if they are going to give an explanation they should say it was because of Solus Prime and the explanation in the covenant of primus book about the origins of the primes gives a very good job explaning this topic about the whole female transformers.

[@dontemorgan1517]

@@joaolucasnascimentoleite2831 Thanks dude. Dark Horse did a good job with the Star Wars comics so let's see how they tackle on it and hopefully stick with transformers lore that is grounded.

[@Vivigreeny25]

Tbh I really disagree? Trans rep is really important, and I 100% think that it should always be apart of Transformers lore.

[@joaolucasnascimentoleite2831]

@PurpleOwlAnimation You have a good point but the way it was first show the execution wasn't the best , look i admit i don't understand much about the whole lgbt stuff but generally when that topic gets touched it really gets confusing for some people and i think they should stay with the explanation that Solus Prime was the reason and i think that the next continuity if they ever touch this topic again they should keep it a bit more grounded , i have nothing against trans people or anything i just think that they should have a more slow aproach . I'm sorry if i say anything wrong in from Brazil am my english is a bit rusty .

[@mzcyberbat]

Omg Dark horse bought it?!!!. I am so glad one if the big companies has the title.

[@TheGrimoiresVoice]

Ultra, I really love this little dive. As a fellow transgender Transformers fan, I really do love this version of Arcee, and I want to adapt this story into my own continuity. But of course, told more genuinely. But that's a story for another day. I'm just glad that people like us are represented more. Especially in characters like Arcee.

[@lilithofthevoid4922]

my trans butt appreciates this Collab because holy crap Furman could have done anything else but he chose the worst possible story

[@rafcor6799]

I was shocked after revealing that Galvatron was Arcee's brother, like, wow!

[@EmmatheGaymer]

i am new to transformers lore outside of litterally the first live action movie, but i have been looking around and i found the line "I was forged male, which did not match my spark." and i love this

[@whirl909]

Great video Ultra when do you think you will upload the video i suggest you? If you know what am i saying

[@ttangen8754]

Also Optimus prime is a dad a badass dad

[@Pyrobull16128]

there aint no more badass fembot then old arcee in my optics.

[@L.2.L]

This would imply that these usually gender less bots actively chose gender roles which means that the like of every transformer in the series is technically trans. I do find it interesting the the new movie is either going to have Arcee change into a female mid movie or have it so that she identifies as both kinda like how Blitzwing was with his personalities switching back and forth

[@blueraccoon1088]

UP i have a question I need to ask what is your thoughts on butch hartman ?

[@2TCHOLMES]

I will forever respect Simon Furman for everything he’s brought to the lore of Transformers. However, even I won’t deny that he SERIOUSLY needs to sort out his view on female Transformers.

[@bruticusdude65]

TFP Starscream as a Twink XD that be cool

[@occam7382]

Hey, Ultra. Good video, but I was wondering - and please don't take this as me nagging you - when are you going to release the next review of Transformers: Prime? Because I really like that series (It's the reason I subbed to your channel), and I really can't wait to see how you do the rest of the series. So, thanks for listening, and I hope you have a good day. P.S., around the 5:47 mark, you mention your dislike for how this comic portrays Cybertronians as male by "default", and you bring up your criticisms of that idea, and yeah, they are valid, but they also would be if the Cybertronians were supposed to all be female by default. You see, gender exists in certain species due to the fact that they reproduce sexually, and members of a species would have different reproductive organs, thus making them different genders (You most certainly know this already, but I just thought I'd bring it up for clarity). So if different genders only really exist in species that sexually reproduce, and the Cybertronians reproduce asexually (or at least, I assume they do, given the All-Spark and all that), the whole concept of gender wouldn't really make sense to them at all. So that's my two cents on that.

[@galvatron7881]

Me trans too also how have u been girl we miss u ☺️☺️☺️ glad to have u back

[@marlonrvlogs]

14:19 Psss ultra Ms Marvel is not in the lgbtq+ community in the trailer can you see Ms Marvel falling in love with a boy and ms marvel is also not in the lgbtq+ community in the comics. Ms Marvel is straight. The marvel superhero America Chavez☆ is a lesbian and in the lgbtq+ community🏳️‍🌈.👌🏻

[@UltraPrimal]

Yeah, I know. I meant just representation in general is good. Not just LGBTQ+ but different races and cultures too.

[@marlonrvlogs]

@@UltraPrimal ah okey ps awesome video 😀

[@fulltilt7270]

Not to be mean but I don't like the idea of Jhiaxus force arcee to be female but if she agree to it that ok

[@richardch.4356]

Kinda like arcee in this comic not only she's badass one thing that really caught my attention is how monstrous her mouth opens up with the sharp teeth

[@bumblebee6090]

UltraPrimal is it possible to make the perfect Transformers movie

[@bumblebee6090]

I don't think we need Back stories of how female Transformers exist because I prefer not to know

[@IrishKyokushin]

After seeing Elita One and the other Fembots, I thought there were Female Transformers, but just like real life Militaries (and that's really what the Autobots and Decepticons are. Opposing Militaries) that they are predominantly Male (atleast back then).

[@EmmatheGaymer]

"son of a glitch" i am now going to enjoy this phrase, thank you

[@fulltilt7270]

I have a friend who is trans and the only thing I don't like about it is when they call themselves a transformer but It doesn't mean that I get mad they are trans I just get mad over they call themselves transformers disclaimer i don't Hate Trans or gay or lesbian if you are a nice person Then I am cool with it

[@shelbybayer200]

I agree with your stands on this

[@monkeywrench1290]

Idw arcee is mad in general,even before the operation,riiiight?

[@millerlucerojames]

I honestly don't care what you are what matters is how you feel about your self .. trans, les, bi, gay doesn't really matter .. just part of me keeps a open mind and well live who you are that's all that matters in life and if needed talk to some one .. there is light in the darkness

[@TheArcSet]

Thanks for this video.

[@lunarlad8075]

they are literally a transformer? what do you mean?

[@apileofcandy1244]

Fun fact: Arcee’s original marvel origin is also problematic

[@manoftheusajones5147]

Well that's some interesting News

[@1eyeddevil929]

Personally, transgender are kinda like cyborgs irl. Both are augmented beings

[@PrincessAmi9756]

As an evil transgendicon myself, I felt like IDW kind of dropped the ball a little, but I still give them major props for trying. :)

[@stevengerou7914]

Simon Furman has a nomber of negative gender ideas that when I as a TF fan personlely find to be offensive. I do think the issue in question is one that despratly needed someone from the comunity working on it to help aviod the most damaging ellemments in its pages.

[@Elkantar_Rostorgh231]

Spotlight: Arcee was in fact retconned and thank goodness it was cause it's kind of a mess tbh.

[@inesatt1313]

Nice vid Keep up✊🏼️☺️❤😍

[@pokeprime94]

Hi Ultra, new to the channel from Komquat, who I didn’t realise was trans, dope. This has been interesting coming from a fairly sheltered existence as a “sis white male”( I think that’s the right term? I’m so lost lol), fascinating to learn about these topics and try to understand them better and I’m thankful for this insight. However I’m not sure about the robots being defaulted to as male after 1 female is made is that odd, yes in organic nature everything starts female which is correct, but they are machines that have interacted with alien species that do have gender, so my interpretation is that they picked up “he and him” from aliens of some sort after some assuming they were male based on voice and body shape? And in reality they probably wouldn’t have gender based pronouns like was said, but the issue being it’s a western media usually so it uses western concepts for ease of consumption. Again I’m not an expert at all, this is just my thoughts along a long road of learning, I’ll probably remember this comment in a year and facepalm at myself. Also Arcee being a little crazy I don’t ever really interpret as because she’s trans, but more because she was biologically tortured, as Fort Max has a similar PTS after Overlord tortured him. And I kind of love how unhinged Arcee is in these comics, although I haven’t finished the RID side, I followed MTMTE, LL and Wreckers the most. Anode was the first Trans character I’ve really had an exposure for, and while they weren’t really given enough time to be on the same level, I love for Anode to come back in more stories, trans treasure Hunter with a short sidekick partner? What’s not to love

[@jennyyy505]

btw I believe what ur looking for is "cis white male" with cis being the word opposite of trans. Trans meaning that you are a gender aside from the one you were assigned at birth, and cis meaning you are the gender you were assigned at birth. :D

[@DragonKingvolt]

but it was retcon

[@soupnoodles595]

I’m loving how feminine your voice has gotten.

[@somebodysomewhere5571]

It sounds like Chris chans feminine voice

[@ellorasg4525]

I thought Transformers didn't have genders rather they have frames. 🤔 Like Mech, Femme, Seeker, aerial bot, etc. Or did I get their bios wrong?

[@ellorasg4525]

@@metal_fusion so basically it's a one sided convenience lol

[@ellorasg4525]

@@metal_fusion that's true. It just feels a little strange to gender them as humans that's all.

[@ellorasg4525]

@@metal_fusion everyone forgets they are aliens and try to force representation. 😅

[@ellorasg4525]

@@metal_fusion it does get frustrating.

[@Ultrabot5964]

Wait I have watched your videos for like years and I just now learned your trans Jesus Christ I now have a transformers fan who is just like me

[@MutantsInDisguise]

Even when her writing by Furman was problematic, I liked IDW Arcee a lot because of her psychology and despite the controversy. Yes, even better than the revenge-hungry and overrated Prime version.

[@richardch.4356]

Also I don't make a big ass deal about the female bots or fembots they have good character plus being badass an all

[@frustratedpoland4340]

Hey Primal (here’s a joke I’ve herd as a trans transformers nerdy kid) I guess you could say you TRANS-formed *side note luv ur vids*

[@blueraccoon1088]

I already said my comment on the community also did you see link I sent trust me you definitely need to visit LA again especially this month in the city close to the port near my area

[@moonstarthepeacekeeper4442]

💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

[@SerdarAtiEge]

Leijk

[@M3XICAN_09]

TRANSformers

[@windowone]

The arcee origin is pretty weird, female transformers should be a normal thing, defiantly something G1 did right

[@darlinqq_]

Omw to sub to you as a fellow trans transformer fan 🏃🏻‍♂️

[@marionhitchcock5292]

I think in this new Nickelodeon Transformers TV series Magna have the subconscious if you look at all the teasers it doesn't look like any of the other parts of fighting any of the decepticons look like the other parts are here to look for new auto parts do week route I'm beside it doesn't look like the cheese Megatron Edam what does if they were teasing Megatron might not play a pic of wall in the Transformers TV series made by topping Nickelodeon Lisburn Star screen and some wave on all other other the decepticons sorry every time we do is make English is not good double only want to say about the new Nickelodeon so about Transformers

[@bumblebee6090]

There are positives and negatives why not have both

[@tylerleach8796]

As much as I like the idea of Arcee being trans…yikes, this was handled terribly at first. And all this because Simon thought an explanation was in any way necessary for female Transformers. Thank god other writers fixed it so Arcee could actually be considered POSITIVE Trans representation.

[@bumblebee6090]

I bet $500000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 dollars Ms Marvel going to fail

[@Black_Frost212]

Nah supposedly a lot of people actually like it while it’s for a younger audience that doesn’t mean it’s bad plus it makes sense because kamala is a teenager

[@tylerleach8796]

You’re going to owe someone a LOT of money, then

[@bumblebee6090]

Star Wars sequel Trilogy was a disaster oh and here is a bombshell for you rethink our strategy the writer and director Rian Johnson The Last Jedi heifer to have audiences divided that is the bombshell for you UltraPrimal

[@marlonrvlogs]

I love the star wars sequels 😀👌🏻

[@bumblebee6090]

@@marlonrvlogs I don't care Rian Johnson puffer to have audiences divided that is why I can't respect Rian Johnson and I can't respect J.Jabrams since he's a talentless hack oh and j.j. Abrams and Rian Johnson don't know how the force works

[@bumblebee6090]

@@marlonrvlogs white are you talking about the Star Wars sequel trilogy

[@tylerleach8796]

Get the hell out. This videeo has nothing to do with Star Wars and we don't need any of that here.

[@bumblebee6090]

@@tylerleach8796 well that's just Prime