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G.I. Joe and the Transformers (comic)

2012-08-30T01:31:07Z

108.7.73.11: /* Overview */

{{disambig2|the 1986 crossover by Marvel Comics|other stories with G.I. Joe|G.I. Joe crossovers}}

[[Image:Trans-joe tpb.jpg|thumb|right|300px|TPB Cover in B&W]]

'''''G.I. Joe and the Transformers''''' is a four-issue limited series produced by [[Marvel Comics]] in 1986. Set in the contemporary [[Marvel Comics continuity|''Generation 1'' continuity]], it follows the [[Transformer]]s, [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]], and [[Cobra]] as they struggle for control of [[Power Station Alpha]].

{{chapters|title=G.I. Joe and the Transformers issues:|content=
*[[Blood on the Tracks|#1]]
*[[Power Struggle|#2]]
*[[Ashes, Ashes...|#3]]
*[[...All Fall Down!|#4]]
}}

==Overview==
The crossover begins around issue #23 of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel ''Generation 1'' series]] and wraps up around issue #27. Scant reference is made to it by the main series, and apart from [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] becoming [[Goldbug (G1)|Goldbug]] and the disappearance of [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], its influence is minimal. It was entirely ignored in the pages of the ''G.I. Joe'' comic at the time, such that it was not even mentioned in [http://www.yojoe.com/comics/yb/yb3.shtml Yearbook #3, which covered the events of the 1986 series,] or [http://www.yojoe.com/comics/yb/yb4.shtml Yearbook #4, which recounted the issues from 1987].

The story is centered around Power Station Alpha, a mobile nuclear power plant that can beam energy across the globe. The Decepticons and Cobra both want it, and briefly ally themselves to steal it from the [[United States of America]]... until Cobra's agents discover that [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] has plans for the station that will bring about the destruction of the [[Earth]] itself.

The series was published at a time of considerable upheaval within the main Transformers book. During the course of the crossover, both [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] are killed off in the main title, with minimal explanation here. This makes for a somewhat disjointed story. On the G.I. Joe side, [[Serpentor]] replaces [[Cobra Commander]].

==Creative Team==
The series was written by [[Michael Higgins]]. Art is by [[Herb Trimpe]] and [[Vince Colletta]]. Regular Transformers colorist [[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]] also worked on the series.

==UK belated printing==

The mini-series is the only story from the Marvel US G1 cycle that was not immediately printed by the UK comic. Why this was is unclear, although as Marvel UK had only just acquired the licence to print ''[[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]]'' (the UK counterpart to G.I. Joe) and their reprints were some way behind the events in this story, it's possible the crossover was considered to be too confusing.

The changes made by the series were substituted or ignored. [[Bumblebee (G1)#Conflicting Goldbug origins|An alternative origin for Goldbug]] would appear in "[[Wanted: Galvatron — Dead or Alive!]]" and "[[Hunters]]". Dirge would appear alive in the later UK story "[[Salvage!]]"

Marvel UK would later run their own ''Transformers''/''Action Force'' crossover in "[[Ancient Relics!]]" in ''Transformers'' #125 and ''Action Force'' #24–27.

In 1990 problems with publication deadlines resulted in the latest US comic stories not yet being available for the UK comic. This problem had occurred twice already in the last year and the previous solution of printing reprints of past UK stories had resulted in many letters of protest. So instead the decision was taken to run the ''G.I. Joe and the Transformers'' series, although modifying the series title to ''Transformers and G.I. Joe the Action Force'', in order to create a much larger gap between the US and UK printings. The series appeared in issues #265–281.

No attempt was made to incorporate the series into the UK continuity. Instead the story was presented from the outset as a US tale that included their origin of Goldbug.

==Toys==
[[Image:StarscreamSkystriker.jpg|right|thumb|250px|]]
25 years after the publication of ''G.I Joe and the Transformers,'' [[Hasbro]] commemorated the series—and answered the wishes of many [[Fandom|fans]]—by releasing the first-ever toy to share the brands of both properties: a 2011-model G.I. Joe [[Skystriker]] meant to be an incarnation of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], and including [[Cobra Commander]] with a "human-scaled" [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] pistol. The package logo is a perfect match for the original ''G.I. Joe and the Transformers'' motif, and even includes a number 5 to imply a continuation of the storyline after the series had ended. The set was a 2011 San Diego Comic-Con exclusive.

The following year, Hasbro released another SDCC exclusive crossover set featuring a G.I. Joe: Retaliation [[HISS tank]] retooled into [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]. The tank included [[Destro]] in an all-purple Decepticon suit, a Cobra [[Battle Android Trooper|B.A.T.]] in Construction colors, a cart of energon cubes, and a "human-scaled" [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] cassette player with three cassettes representing [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]. Like the previous year's box, the package is designed to look like the cover of a "lost issue" 6 of the Marvel series.

==Collections==
* ''G.I. Joe and the Transformers'' TPB (February 1993) (ISBN 0-87135-973-1)
:The collection contains no issue covers, bonus material, or advertisements. The title page for issue #2 was omitted.
* ''G.I. Joe/Transformers, Volume 1'' TPB (August 2012) (ISBN 978-1613773529)
: Packaged along with the later [[Generation 2]] story from ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.'' The title given above is the indicia title; the cover title is ''G.I. Joe The Transformers 1.''
[[Category:Generation 1 comic series]]

G.I. Joe and the Transformers (comic)

2012-08-30T01:29:49Z

108.7.73.11: /* Collections */ A new collection.

{{disambig2|the 1986 crossover by Marvel Comics|other stories with G.I. Joe|G.I. Joe crossovers}}

[[Image:Trans-joe tpb.jpg|thumb|right|300px|TPB Cover in B&W]]

'''''G.I. Joe and the Transformers''''' is a four-issue limited series produced by [[Marvel Comics]] in 1986. Set in the contemporary [[Marvel Comics continuity|''Generation 1'' continuity]], it follows the [[Transformer]]s, [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]], and [[Cobra]] as they struggle for control of [[Power Station Alpha]].

{{chapters|title=G.I. Joe and the Transformers issues:|content=
*[[Blood on the Tracks|#1]]
*[[Power Struggle|#2]]
*[[Ashes, Ashes...|#3]]
*[[...All Fall Down!|#4]]
}}

==Overview==
The crossover begins around issue #23 of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel ''Generation 1'' series]] and wraps up around issue #27. Scant reference is made to it by the main series, and apart from [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] becoming [[Goldbug (G1)|Goldbug]] and the disappearance of [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], its influence is minimal. It was entirely ignored in the pages of the ''G.I. Joe'' comic at the time, such that it was not even mentioned in [http://www.yojoe.com/comics/yb/yb3.shtml Yearbook #3, which covered the events of the 1986 series,] or [http://www.yojoe.com/comics/yb/yb4.shtml Yearbook #4, which recounted the issues from 1987].

The story is centered around Power Station Alpha, a mobile nuclear power plant that can beam energy across the globe. The Decepticons and Cobra both want it, and briefly ally themselves to steal it from the [[United States of America]]... until Cobra's agents discover that [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] has plans for the station that will bring about the destruction of the [[Earth]] itself.

The series was published at a time of considerable upheaval within the main Transformers book. During the course of the crossover, both [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] are killed off, which makes for a somewhat disjointed story. On the G.I. Joe side, [[Serpentor]] replaces [[Cobra Commander]].

==Creative Team==
The series was written by [[Michael Higgins]]. Art is by [[Herb Trimpe]] and [[Vince Colletta]]. Regular Transformers colorist [[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]] also worked on the series.

==UK belated printing==

The mini-series is the only story from the Marvel US G1 cycle that was not immediately printed by the UK comic. Why this was is unclear, although as Marvel UK had only just acquired the licence to print ''[[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]]'' (the UK counterpart to G.I. Joe) and their reprints were some way behind the events in this story, it's possible the crossover was considered to be too confusing.

The changes made by the series were substituted or ignored. [[Bumblebee (G1)#Conflicting Goldbug origins|An alternative origin for Goldbug]] would appear in "[[Wanted: Galvatron — Dead or Alive!]]" and "[[Hunters]]". Dirge would appear alive in the later UK story "[[Salvage!]]"

Marvel UK would later run their own ''Transformers''/''Action Force'' crossover in "[[Ancient Relics!]]" in ''Transformers'' #125 and ''Action Force'' #24–27.

In 1990 problems with publication deadlines resulted in the latest US comic stories not yet being available for the UK comic. This problem had occurred twice already in the last year and the previous solution of printing reprints of past UK stories had resulted in many letters of protest. So instead the decision was taken to run the ''G.I. Joe and the Transformers'' series, although modifying the series title to ''Transformers and G.I. Joe the Action Force'', in order to create a much larger gap between the US and UK printings. The series appeared in issues #265–281.

No attempt was made to incorporate the series into the UK continuity. Instead the story was presented from the outset as a US tale that included their origin of Goldbug.

==Toys==
[[Image:StarscreamSkystriker.jpg|right|thumb|250px|]]
25 years after the publication of ''G.I Joe and the Transformers,'' [[Hasbro]] commemorated the series—and answered the wishes of many [[Fandom|fans]]—by releasing the first-ever toy to share the brands of both properties: a 2011-model G.I. Joe [[Skystriker]] meant to be an incarnation of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], and including [[Cobra Commander]] with a "human-scaled" [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] pistol. The package logo is a perfect match for the original ''G.I. Joe and the Transformers'' motif, and even includes a number 5 to imply a continuation of the storyline after the series had ended. The set was a 2011 San Diego Comic-Con exclusive.

The following year, Hasbro released another SDCC exclusive crossover set featuring a G.I. Joe: Retaliation [[HISS tank]] retooled into [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]. The tank included [[Destro]] in an all-purple Decepticon suit, a Cobra [[Battle Android Trooper|B.A.T.]] in Construction colors, a cart of energon cubes, and a "human-scaled" [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] cassette player with three cassettes representing [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]. Like the previous year's box, the package is designed to look like the cover of a "lost issue" 6 of the Marvel series.

==Collections==
* ''G.I. Joe and the Transformers'' TPB (February 1993) (ISBN 0-87135-973-1)
:The collection contains no issue covers, bonus material, or advertisements. The title page for issue #2 was omitted.
* ''G.I. Joe/Transformers, Volume 1'' TPB (August 2012) (ISBN 978-1613773529)
: Packaged along with the later [[Generation 2]] story from ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.'' The title given above is the indicia title; the cover title is ''G.I. Joe The Transformers 1.''
[[Category:Generation 1 comic series]]

Crisscross (episode)

2012-07-21T00:51:39Z

108.7.73.11: /* Continuity errors */ Jack mispronounces "sentient".

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 17
|prev=Operation: Breakdown
|next=Metal Attraction
|image=Airachnid and Silas.jpeg
|caption=They'll make you jump, jump.
|title="Crisscross"
|airdate=[[June 25]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Joseph Kuhr]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''Airachnid teams up with MECH to get revenge on Arcee and Jack.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Silas]] and three MECH soldiers are searching through a wooded area for a Decepticon. They jump into a web-shrouded ravine, but the three soldiers are snatched from the ground and stuck on one of the webs by [[Airachnid]]. Silas takes a shot at her, but is promptly thrown against a rock wall and webbed there. The Decepticon threatens to eviscerate him for what MECH did to [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]], but wants his help in finding [[Jack Darby]] and will give them [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]].

Jack arrives home with Arcee, to find [[June Darby|his mother]] mad that he's been breaking curfew and neglecting his job and schoolwork. She believes he may have been racing his motorcycle and grounds him for the next few weeks—with no motorcycle use. Arcee says she'll miss Jack during that time, but he points out that if she doesn't stay in the garage, his mom will think he's breaking her rules. Arcee promises she'll try to be back in the garage before his mom gets home each night.

[[Image:Motorcycle abuse.jpeg|thumb|left|300px|This must be some form of abuse, surely.]]
The next day, as Jack's leaving [[KO Burger]], he gets a call from his mother, who is on her way home early to make dinner for him. He frantically contacts Arcee, who's with [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] in the middle of a fight with some [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s. Arcee leaves Bumblebee to it and [[GroundBridge|bridges]] out. June arrives home to find the garage empty, and she blows up at Jack as he arrives on his bicycle. Arcee bridges into the garage behind her, but this merely results in June thinking one of Jack's friends snuck the motorcycle in. Jack spills all about the Autobots, but when Arcee refuses to transform, Jack's mom asks if he's been hanging out with a science fiction club. She leaves to return to work, the conversation unfinished.

[[Image:MECH ambush.jpeg|thumb|right|300px|"Jehova's Witnesses, ma'am. Take a leaflet!"]]
Silas uses images from the black box from Airachnid's ship to track down information on Jack, including the identity of his mother. A MECH vehicle soon arrives to abduct June as she leaves the [[Jasper Hospital|hospital]].

Jack arrives home on his cycle to find Arcee, but no mom. There's a package waiting for him, which turns out to be a MECH communicator. Silas tells the pair that MECH has June, and there are GPS coordinates that will lead them to the temporary MECH facility. Arcee attempts to contact base and gets an instant headache. Silas explains the communicator will scramble her brain as well as Autobot communications. Jack and Arcee follow the communicator's map to a disused factory, where they're met by Silas and a bunch of MECH goons. They race past the MECH guys to look for Jack's mom and instead find Airachnid. Airachnid webs Arcee, who is then zapped by a MECH soldier. The 'Con tells Jack he has until midnight to rescue his mother. Jack tries to plead with Silas for help, but the MECH leader pushes him back. Jack then races off to find his mom, followed by Airachnid. Silas tells his men to start working on Arcee, as he suspects Airachnid will double-cross them.

Jack runs through the factory, but is unable to find June until Airachnid points her out, dangling in a web cocoon from a building. At this point, June awakens both to discover her predicament and to spy Airachnid. Jack tells Airachnid he's found his mom, but she points out the task was to ''rescue'' June. Webbing Jack's hand to the ground, she prepares to destroy his family.

The MECH surgeons finish cutting through the web holding Arcee, and Silas instructs them go for the heart, as they only have time to take one part. Arcee has recovered consciousness by this point, and she tosses the MECH personnel aside before leaving to help Jack.

[[Image:Airachnidconcrete.jpg|left|thumb|300px|"Thanks a lot, Mixmaster."]]

As Jack continues to try to free his hand, Airachnid moves in on June. Before she can lay a hand on mom, however, Arcee comes barreling up a nearby roof and tackles her. Jack gets free and goes to help June, while Arcee and Airachnid battle on the factory superstructure. They eventually reach the ground, but Airachnid's laser fire damages the platform June is dangling from, and Jack has to scramble to avoid falling. Jack accidentally knocks against a lever, pouring concrete into a concrete truck on the ground. Arcee manages to kick Airachnid into a container nearby, and with Jack's help, pours concrete in on top of her. Airachnid starts climbing out, but is frozen by the quick-drying substance. Arcee goes to help June, but the concrete isn't enough, and Airachnid webs her back to the ground. Luckily, the cavalry arrives in the form of [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] with three helicopters armed with chain guns.

Silas wonders how Fowler was alerted, and then realizes Jack stole his radio earlier.

The helicopters stop firing, but this just allows Airachnid to [[scanning|scan]] Fowler's chopper and make her escape in her new [[alternate mode|altmode]]. Her scanning process is also observed by Silas.

Fowler introduces himself to June and attempts to weave a cover story, but June doesn't buy it. Jack introduces her to Arcee, and the next day, they go to the [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|Autobot base]] so she can meet the rest of the Autobots.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (5)
* [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (7)
* [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (12)
* [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (13)
* [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (16)

|c2=
* [[Airachnid]] (3)
* [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]s (8)

|c3=
* [[Silas]] (1)
* [[MECH]] soldiers (2)
* [[Jack Darby]] (4)
* [[June Darby]] (6)
* [[MECH Surgeon]] (9)
* [[William Fowler]] (10)
* Soldier (11)
* [[Miko Nakadai]] (14)
* [[Raf Esquivel]] (15)
}}

==Quotes==

"Tell me you haven't fallen in with a bad crowd." 
"W-what? N-no no no no, my friends are the good crowd, seriously good."
:—'''Jack''''s not wrong.

"Ah, the mother lode." 
"Government database?" 
"Social networking page."
:—'''Silas''' teaches '''Airachnid''' the fastest way to track down a teenager.

"Now, I know we promised the spider-bot that she would have first crack at you, but something tells me she's going to turn our mutual crisscross... into a double-cross."
:—'''Silas'''

"Jack, your motorcycle?" 
"I can explain, Mom. Wait, I already did."
:—Even with '''June Darby''' in mortal peril, '''Jack''' can still crack wise.

"Oh, not again!"
:—'''Agent Fowler''' is exasperated at Decepticons copying his vehicles.

"So that's how it's done. Genius."
:—'''Silas''' on seeing how Airachnid scans a vehicle mode.

"It's time you knew the truth. For the past several months, Jack has been... interning for me at the agency." 
"Agent Fowler, Mom's not gonna buy that." 
"He's got that right."
:—'''Agent Fowler''''s first meeting with '''June''' hits a rocky start.

"Motorcycle, Guardian, Autobot, friend."
:—'''Jack''' lists '''Arcee''''s status to his mom.

"Mom, meet my science fiction club!"
:—'''Jack''' introducing June to the Autobots

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*The amount of cement shown pouring onto Airachnid isn't actually enough to cover her ''entire'' body.

===Continuity errors===
* June takes an early break from work to cook Jack a dinner, but then as soon as she gets home, she returns to work.
*Airachnid scans Agent Fowler's helicopter, which resembles a [[wikipedia:Bell UH-1 Iroquois|UH-1 "Huey"]], but the alt-mode she adopts is of a completely different design, resembling a futuristic [[wikipedia:Boeing/Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche|RAH-66 Comanche]].

===Other errors===
* Jack mispronounces "sentient". He says "sen-tee-ent"; it should rhyme with "patient".

===Continuity notes===
*Airachnid wants revenge on Arcee and Jack for the events in "[[Predatory]]".
*The rumors June heard about Jack racing his motorcycle may have been referencing the events of "[[Speed Metal]]".
*Airachnid has heard of Breakdown's treatment by MECH, which happened in [[Operation: Breakdown|the previous episode]].
*Messages on Jack's social networking page refer back to "Speed Metal" (Sierra refers to a race) and "[[Con Job]]" (Miko's message about a monster truck rally references a line of dialog from that episode).
*Agent Fowler previously had a vehicle of his scanned for an alternate mode by Skyquake back in "[[Masters & Students]]".
*The soldier who reports to Fowler at the end is the same one who was on the train in "[[Convoy (episode)|Convoy]]".

===Transformers references===
*The final sequence of Arcee and Jack taking June to the Autobot base is an almost shot-for-shot replica of the first time Jack, Miko and Raf were taken there back in the pilot. Even the same musical piece, "We Have Returned", is used.

===Real-world references===
* The title of this episode is a reference to Alfred Hitchcock's [[wikipedia:Strangers on a Train (film)|''Strangers on a Train'']], which famously originated the use of the word "crisscross" for a team-up murder plot in which each participant takes out the enemy of the other. Silas even uses the term to describe MECH's alliance with Airachnid.
* [[Super Guitar Band]], which Miko posts on Jack's social networking page, is an amalgam of ''[[wikipedia:Guitar Hero|Guitar Hero]]'', ''[[wikipedia:Rock Band|Rock Band]]'' and the plethora of video games with Super- as a suffix.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Der Hinterhalt'''" ("The Ambush")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 13|13 January]] [[2012]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Túszjátszma'''" ("Hostage Game")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 31|31 January]] [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Rivelazioni'''" ("Revelations")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 20|20 November]] [[2011]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Geomi ui Boksu'''" (거미의 복수, "Spider's Revenge")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 24|24 October]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 27|27 December]] [[2011]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 27|27 February]] [[2011]]

===Trivia===
*MECH has a really funny concept of "suppression fire".
*The name of the social networking page is partially obscured, but begins with "Some Social".
*Fowler got someone else to pilot his helicopter for him this time.
*Silas calls June Darby "Miss Darby", but Fowler calls her "Mrs. Darby".
*Optimus Prime, Ratchet, Bulkhead, Raf, and Miko all cameo at the end, but have no lines.
*The way Airachnid says "'Transformer', was it", implies that Cybertronians don't use that term themselves and that it's mainly an invention of humans.
*This is the first time anyone from the Autobots' team meets Silas face to face.
*The photo in the Darby household is the opening shot from [[Darkness Rising, Part 1]], only flipped.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Deus ex Machina

2012-07-15T03:14:40Z

108.7.73.11: /* Continuity errors */ It should be night in Greece.

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 10
|prev=Convoy (episode)
|next=Speed Metal
|image=DeusExMachina-Screamer grins.jpg
|caption="With this map, I shall find all of the [[Cyber Planet Key|Cyber Planet K]]— wait. Wrong franchise."
|title="Deus ex Machina"
|airdate=[[March 11]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Nicole Dubuc]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''When Bulkhead makes a discovery in Greece, the race is on to recover an Energon Harvester.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] is failing to enjoy some detention when Bulkhead hauls up outside the school, blaring loud music. She takes advantage of an inattentive teacher to sneak out and join her Autobot buddy, who's obliged to act as her getaway car when a teacher approaches. They head for [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|base]] while Bulkhead tries to explain to Miko that she'll never get into college if she flunks out. Ratchet reports he's found an [[energon]] pulse in [[Greece]].

Meanwhile, [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] has finally arrived on the ''[[Nemesis (Prime)|Nemesis]]'', which took some time as he had to drive (something [[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] disdains). Knock Out assumes he's been brought to provide [[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] with a laboratory assist, when Starscream takes him to the [[Decepticon leader]]'s sick bed.

Bulkhead and Miko arrive at an excavation site in Greece, but to her disappointment, he's intending her to research her history report. Bulkhead says the humans have hit an energon vein, but then he spots something Cybertronian in an ancient fresco among the ruins.

[[Image:TFPrime_KnockOutDrill.JPG|left|thumb|300px|Ha HA! Phallic symbolism.]]

Starscream explains Megatron's condition to Knock Out. While Starscream was content to let nature take its course with Megatron, the crew of the ''Nemesis'' took a vote and decided to bring in a specialist. Knock Out says things would be easier with his assistant, but [[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] is on the trail of some energon.

Bulkhead identifies the object in the fresco as an [[Energon Harvester]], but as Miko snaps a picture, they're interrupted by the arrival of Breakdown. Wondering if Bulkhead's new pet plays fetch, Breakdown throws a pillar at Miko. Bulkhead intercepts the pillar and is tackled by Breakdown, who slams him into the fresco, shattering it. The Decepticon races off, but Miko shows Bulkhead the image she snapped of the fresco.

Back at base, [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] confirms that the depicted device is an Energon Harvester. The Autobots are relieved that the fresco was broken, as they think it means the Decepticons won't be able to find the Harvester, but [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] points out that there are photos of the thing online, as the actual Harvester is held in a museum. The Autobots try to contact [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] for help, but he's away on a training retreat. Optimus says they'll have to obtain the Harvester themselves, and Miko volunteers the kids to help.

[[Image:DeusExMachina-fourcons.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Would you say this episode has a...''plethora'' of named Decepticons?]]

[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] has found the same photo using Breakdown's description of the Harvester, and Starscream says Megatron's revival will have to wait.

The Autobots move into position around the museum before the kids move in via [[GroundBridge]] on a motorized scissor lift. Miko deals with a security camera by taking a picture of the Harvester and balancing [[Miko's phone|her phone]] on top of the camera. While they move towards the statue holding the Harvester, Optimus has an encounter outside with Knock Out and Breakdown, the latter of whom fires a missile at the museum. Optimus manages to catch the missile, but Knock Out shocks him with an energon staff. Breakdown barrels towards the museum entrance, with [[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] and [[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] failing to stop him. Bulkhead joins the fight as well, but the disturbance sets off the museum's alarms, alerting the security guard. The kids finally manage to get the Harvester onto their lift platform and head for the exit. Miko, scouting ahead on foot, is caught by the security guard, who whisks her away. Raf and [[Jack Darby|Jack]] run toward a half-open loading ramp door, expecting Arcee, but instead it's Soundwave, who grabs the Harvester and departs. Knock Out and Breakdown spot him leaving and make their getaway as well. Meanwhile, Miko attempts to spin a yarn to the security guard about how she got locked in the museum while researching her history report.

[[Image:Tfprime_Soundwave_flying.jpg‎ ‎|left|thumb|300px|Hi dere, ima stealin ur golden ball. K thx bai.]]
Believing that Starscream will attempt to use the Harvester to gather energon as quickly as possible, Optimus, Bumblebee and Arcee go out attempting to intercept them. [[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] works on a replica Harvester to return to the museum in place of the stolen one, while Bulkhead realizes that the Decepticons might be intending to go after the energon seam in Greece.

Indeed, Starscream, Knock Out and Breakdown are at the excavation site. When the other two Decepticons attempt to correct him on who's to thank for the Harvester, Starscream demonstrates the device's effectiveness on a hapless [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]], and the pair are suddenly a lot more submissive. While Starscream starts tapping the energon seam, Bulkhead attempts to sneak up behind the Decepticons but clumsily lets them know he's there. He manages to deal with Knock Out and Breakdown until Starscream turns the Harvester on him. Struggling to stay upright, Bulkhead reaches Starscream, smashes the 'Con in the face, and breaks the Harvester. He throws the device into the sky, where it explodes. The Decepticons are about to move in and finish the weakened Bulkhead when the rest of the Autobots arrive and chase them off.

Miko is starting to run out of Greek history to bore the museum security guard with, when Fowler turns up to collect her. The guard is surprised when Fowler points out the replica Harvester in place on the statue. Outside, Miko is reunited with Bulkhead and tells him all about how she's going to write her report on how the Autobots interacted with ancient Greece.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (4)
*[[Ratchet (Prime)|Ratchet]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (Prime)|Optimus Prime]] (12)
*[[Arcee (Prime)|Arcee]] (14)
*[[Bumblebee (Prime)|Bumblebee]] (15)

|c2=
*[[Starscream (Prime)|Starscream]] (7)
*[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] (8)
*[[Megatron (Prime)|Megatron]] (10)
*[[Breakdown (Prime)|Breakdown]] (11)
*[[Soundwave (Prime)|Soundwave]] (16)
*[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (9)

|c3=
*[[Miko Nakadai]] (1)
*[[Sierra's friend]] (2)
*[[Miko's teacher]] (3)
*[[Jack Darby]] (5)
*[[Raf Esquivel]] (13)
*[[Museum security guard]] (17)
*[[William Fowler]] (18)

}}

==Quotes==
"Miko, listen. If you fail high school, you can't go to—uh...uni...kesa...colls...w-wait, what's that word again?" 
"Uh, 'college'?"
:—'''Bulkhead''' tries to give '''Miko''' a lecture on academia.

"Look Miko, before I became a warrior I was a laborer—construction. I can build stuff, I can break stuff, and that's it." 
"I love breaking stuff! I wanna be just like you, Bulk." 
"Aaargh...why would you wanna be like me, when you can be a medic like Ratchet?"
:—'''Bulkhead''' fails to convince '''Miko''' regarding the benefits of education.

"It's about time, Knock Out. I do not enjoy being kept waiting!" 
"Ah, it was a long drive, Starscream. I'm still picking bugs out of my grille." 
"Yes, right, you're one of ''those''." 
"Come again?" 
"Never understood why any self-respecting Decepticon would choose 'automobile' as his vehicle mode when he could have [[flight]]!" 
"I like the way I look in steel-belted radials."
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Knock Out''' discuss an infraction of [[Autobot Cars|the]] [[Decepticon Planes|norm]].

"We have a history." 
"''(chuckles)'' And you have a [[Miko Nakadai|pet]]. Does it play catch?"
:—'''Bulkhead''' and '''Breakdown'''

"You've reached Special Agent William Fowler. I'm currently on an ''intensive training retreat'' and unavailable until Tuesday." 
"I hate talking to machines."
:—'''Agent Fowler''''s answering machine and '''Ratchet''' pull off their own version of a [[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]] gag.

"[wolf whistles] Sweet rims. 24 gauge? You're ''reeeeeeal'' heavy-duty! Just like my [[Breakdown (Prime)|friend]] here!"
:—[[Side Burn (RID)|Side Burn]]'s got red cars, '''Knock Out''''s got [[Optimus Prime (Prime)|red trucks]].

"We're already trespassers and thieves. Why not add forgery to the list?"
:—'''Jack''' sarcastically comments on the crimes.

"Wait! What are you doing?!" 
"What I do best: ''(grabs Energon Harvester)'' Breaking things!" ''(punches Starscream)''
:—'''Starscream''' is no match for '''Bulkhead''''s sheer awesomeness.

"He's a glutton for punishment." 
''(Autobots arrive)'' 
"Fight?" 
"Mmm, drive."
:—'''Knock Out''' and '''Breakdown''' are prevented from killing Bulkhead.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* When Optimus, Arcee and Bumblebee find Bulkhead lying on the ground, Arcee and Bumblebee's optics are dim, while Optimus's and Bulkhead's are not.
* Miko's teacher is reading a copy of ''[[The Jasper Daily]]''. It is once again printed with the "Sports" page on the left instead of the right. The security guard at the museum is reading the same issue, despite the museum being located in a big city that is obviously not [[Jasper]]. It's also the same issue of the publication (with the same reverse page order) that Raf was using to make his papier-mâché volcano in "[[Masters & Students]]", despite being a daily.
* The two pages in Miko's open textbook are mirror images of each other.
* The normally clear bits of Arcee's chest are pink in this episode.
* When Knock Out stands on top of Optimus, and signals to Breakdown with his headlights, the sound of his Energon Prod is still going, despite there being no glow to signify its still on.
* As Knock Out drives off from the parking area, a couple of laser blasts appear to strike his car mode, yet the "hit effects" appear on the ground, right next to him.

===Continuity errors===
* Bulkhead picks Miko up from school during detention -- presumably 3pm-ish, Nevada time. They teleport to Greece later that same day, probably within an hour or two. Given that Greece is nine time zones later than Nevada, it should be the middle of the night there, but instead it appears to be dusk.
* The police have the worst response time imaginable. The guard presumably called them right after the Harvester was stolen, yet they never show up. Even accounting for the fact that Fowler would have called them off eventually, it should have only taken them minutes to get there.

===Real-world references===
[[Image:DeusexMachina-godfresco.jpg|thumb|250px|"Nothing is true, everything is permitted."]]

*A ''[[Wikipedia:Deus ex machina|deus ex machina]]'', meaning "god from the machine", is a plot device in which a major conflict is instantly resolved by the uncanny, often unexpected appearance of a character, object, or other form of deliverance. Miko explains this to the museum security guard just before Fowler suddenly walks in and saves her from her predicament. While this is obviously intended to be a ''deus ex machina'' itself, there ''had'' been plenty of foreshadowing, with Optimus even declaring earlier that Fowler was Miko's best hope.
*The god depicted on the fresco is presumably [[Wikipedia:Poseidon|Poseidon]], because he bears his symbolic trident. The soldiers appear to be [[wikipedia:Sparta|Spartans]], as their shields bear the [[Wikipedia:Lambda|Lambda]]—which is odd, as their patron god was [[Wikipedia:Ares|Ares]].

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Die Energon-Erntekugel'''" ("The Energon-Harvestingball")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 18|18 November]] [[2011]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Deus ex machina'''"
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 20|20 January]] [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Deus ex machina'''"
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 29|29 October]] [[2011]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' '''Mōgeki Henkei! Futari no Shikaku''' (猛撃変形!二人の刺客, ''All-Out Assault Transformation! The Pair of Assassins'')
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 9|9 June]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Eneojon Chuchulgi'''" (에너존 추출기, "The Energon Harvester")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 27|27 September]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Deus ex machina'''"
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 16|16 December]] [[2011]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 9|9 January]] [[2012]]

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 9|9 January]] [[2012]]

===Trivia===
*Starscream's contempt for Knock Out choosing a non-flight alternate mode is strange, as most of the Vehicons are cars. Did they ''not'' get to choose?
*Some fans have interpreted Starscream's "you're one of ''those"'' line, Knock Out's wolf-whistling appraisal of Optimus's truck mode, the vanity about his appearance, and [[Daran Norris]]'s somewhat campy performance to be clues that Knock Out is [[Transformer romance|gay]]. Moreover, the term "knockout" is commonly used to describe an attractive ''woman,'' and the character's vanity suggests that that correlation is intentional. Make of all this what you will; very little [[Humanization#Sexuality|robotic sexuality]] of any kind has been evident in ''Prime'' so far, outside of a lightly-implied connection between [[Cliffjumper (Prime)|Cliffjumper]] and Arcee.
*There is a painting of [[Big Rocks National Park]] in the security guard's office, as well as a calendar set to March, which handily matches the month this episode first aired. Although on that calendar, March started on a Sunday instead of a Tuesday.
*Knock Out is the first ''Prime'' Decepticon to debut after the pilot miniseries and survive the experience. Breakdown might be considered to share that distinction, but technically he debuted ''before'' the cartoon, as he appeared in the [[Transformers: War for Cybertron (games)|''War for Cybertron'' video games]] and the [[Transformers: Prime (comic)|''Prime'' comic]] first.
*When Miko takes a picture and puts the cellphone display in front of the security camera, the picture comes out flawless on the guard's screen. In real life, it would look blurry.
*In his several decades of acting, this is [[Reggie Bannister|Reggie Bannister's]] first and so far only appearance in animation. In an episode that features a sphere that can kill Cybertronians with relative ease. [[wikipedia:Phantasm_(film)|Hmmm...]]
*Knowledge of Megatron's condition appears to have been confined to the crew of the ''Nemesis''.
*Initial descriptions of this episode, as well as the one on HubWorld.com's episode-viewing page,<ref name="hubworld">[http://www.hubworld.com/transformers/shows/prime/videos/tfp-deus-ex-machina "Deus ex Machina" viewable on HubWorld.com]</ref> say that "Miko and Bulkhead head to Greece on a field trip to bring back an Energon Harvester." Miko and Bulkhead do indeed go on what Bulkhead calls a "field trip" to Greece, but the Harvester is in an American museum at that point. By the time Bulkhead actually ''does'' go back to Greece to get the stolen Harvester, Miko is stuck in said museum.
*Twice in promotional blurbs for the episode, it was mentioned [[Lugnut (WFC)|Lugnut]] would be in the episode,<ref>[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=31247 Comic Book Resources sneak-peek article]</ref><ref>[http://www.allspark.com/content/view/8582/20/ Allspark.com episode blurb]</ref> an error repeated on HubWorld.com's episode-viewing page.<ref name="hubworld" /> At [[BotCon 2011]] it was revealed that Lugnut was a pre-production name for [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]] that was ultimately changed for not being "sexy" enough. Adding another wrinkle, the Season 1 Blu-Ray commentary claims that Breakdown's place in the show was originally intended to belong to Lugnut, since a fiercely loyal Decepticon bruiser was desired, but the show creators wanted a land-based Decepticon instead.

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Prime episodes]]