>>1635I think Beast Wars is safe because it is specifically a sequel and prequel to G1 at the same time. It's its own continuity, but it's still based on the foundation of G1.
As Marvel Comics also touched on feelings, mortality, and birth and rebirth. Grimlock loses the Dinobots and he carries their bodies to a relic that would supposedly make him powerful enough to reawaken them. And it's the first time that Grimlock really gets meaningful development. Adding the concept of having a spark, I don't think, harms that. When someone starts bringing up Empurata, it's an issue. Pic related is from Alspark Almanac Vol 2 with Maccadam's menu. And it's little things like this that I think flesh out the world in a way that's not too intrusive. As in G1, they do make allusions to having their own food. It's just made of oil and mineral
Also if you like The Gambler then you'd love Marvel. There's multiple space travel arcs centered around societies just like it. There's this funny arc where Blaster, playing with children, accidentally causes an interstellar incident because they get sold off as entertainment slaves. And they cannot afford to buy them back.