The Gift Horse

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|- {{#if: IDW Publishing | |Publisher || IDW Publishing}} |- {{#if: | |Published by || }} |- {{#if: | |Imprint || }} |- {{#if: | |Published in || }} |- {{#if: February 17, 2010 | |First published || February 17, 2010}} |- {{#if: | |Shipping date || }} |- {{#if: | |On-sale date || }} |- {{#if: February 2010 | |Cover date || February 2010}} |- {{#if: | |Credits || }} |- {{#if: | |By || }} |- {{#if: | |Manga || }} |- {{#if: | |Manga by || }} |- {{#if: | |Original story || }} |- {{#if: | |Story & art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Story and color art || }} |- {{#if: | |Story || }} |- {{#if: | |Story by || }} |- {{#if: | |Story consultants || }} |- {{#if: | |Story concept || }} |- {{#if: | |Screenplay by || }} |- {{#if: | |Screenplay || }} |- {{#if: | |Adaptation by || }} |- {{#if: | |Adapted by || }} |- {{#if: | |Adaptation || }} |- {{#if: | |Based on || }} |- {{#if: Zander Cannon | |Writer || Zander Cannon}} |- {{#if: | |Writers || }} |- {{#if: | |Writing || }} |- {{#if: | |Written by || }} |- {{#if: | |Written & art || }} |- {{#if: | |Plotter || }} |- {{#if: | |Plotters || }} |- {{#if: | |Plot || }} |- {{#if: | |Plot by || }} |- {{#if: | |Plot/Script || }} |- {{#if: | |Scripter || }} |- {{#if: | |Scripters || }} |- {{#if: | |Script || }} |- {{#if: | |Scripting || }} |- {{#if: | |Script by || }} |- {{#if: | |Script and art || }} |- {{#if: | |Sript [sic] consultant || }} |- {{#if: | |Translation by || }} |- {{#if: Chee Yang Ong | |Artist || Chee Yang Ong}} |- {{#if: | |Comic artist || }} |- {{#if: | |Artists || }} |- {{#if: | |Art || }} |- {{#if: | |Art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Additional art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Flashback art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Art assistant || }} |- {{#if: | |Art assist by || }} |- {{#if: | |Line-art || }} |- {{#if: | |Line-art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Line art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Penciller || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencillers || }} |- {{#if: | |Penciler || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencilers || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencil art || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencils || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencils by || }} |- {{#if: | |Penciled by || }} |- {{#if: | |Penciling || }} |- {{#if: | |Guest penciler || }} |- {{#if: | |Layouts || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencil breakdowns || }} |- {{#if: | |Breakdowns || }} |- {{#if: | |Breakdowns by || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustration || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustrations || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustrator || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustrated by || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustration by || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustrations by || }} |- {{#if: | |Finished pencils || }} |- {{#if: | |Finishes || }} |- {{#if: | |Finished art || }} |- {{#if: | |Finishes by || }} |- {{#if: | |Inker || }} |- {{#if: | |Guest inker || }} |- {{#if: | |Inkers || }} |- {{#if: | |Inks || }} |- {{#if: | |Inks by || }} |- {{#if: | |Ink finishes || }} |- {{#if: | |Ink assist by || }} |- {{#if: | |Additional inks || }} |- {{#if: | |Inking || }} |- {{#if: | |Backgrounds || }} |- {{#if: | |Backgrounds by || }} |- {{#if: Moose Baumann | |Colorist || Moose Baumann}} |- {{#if: | |Colorists || }} |- {{#if: | |Colourist || }} |- {{#if: | |Colourists || }} |- {{#if: | |Color || }} |- {{#if: | |Colors || }} |- {{#if: | |Color art || }} |- {{#if: | |Colour || }} |- {{#if: | |Colours || }} |- {{#if: | |Colored by || }} |- {{#if: | |Color by || }} |- {{#if: | |Colors by || }} |- {{#if: | |Color art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Colors assist by || }} |- {{#if: | |Color assists || }} |- {{#if: | |Color assistance by || }} |- {{#if: | |Additional colors || }} |- {{#if: | |Additional colors by || }} |- {{#if: | |Color assist by || }} |- {{#if: | |Colour/Computer FX || }} |- {{#if: | |Computer coloring/effects || }} |- {{#if: | |Color Reconstruction || }} |- {{#if: | |Flats || }} |- {{#if: | |Flats by || }} |- {{#if: | |MTMTE Profiles || }} |- {{#if: Neil Uyetake | |Letterer || Neil Uyetake}} |- {{#if: | |Letterers || }} |- {{#if: | |Lettering || }} |- {{#if: | |Letters || }} |- {{#if: | |Letters by || }} |- {{#if: | |Lettered by || }} |- {{#if: | |Lettering|Production || }} |- {{#if: | |Special Thanks{{#if: | To}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Collaborators || }} |- {{#if: | |Contributors || }} |- {{#if: Andy Schmidt | |Editor || Andy Schmidt}} |- {{#if: | |Editors || }} |- {{#if: | |Editing || }} |- {{#if: | |Edits by || }} |- {{#if: | |Compiled and Edited by || }} |- {{#if: | |Original series editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Original Edits by || }} |- {{#if: | |Deputy editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Assistant editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Editorial assistant{{#if: |s}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Editorial Assistance
provided by || }} |- {{#if: | |Senior editor || }} |- {{#if: Denton J. Tipton | |Associate editor || Denton J. Tipton}} |- {{#if: | |Story consultant || }} |- {{#if: | |Project manager || }} |- {{#if: | |Production by || }} |- {{#if: | |Designer || }} |- {{#if: | |Design by || }} |- {{#if: | |Designed by || }} |- {{#if: | |Design/editorial || }} |- {{#if: | |Book design by || }} |- {{#if: | |Collection designer || }} |- {{#if: | |Collection editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Collection Edits by || }} |- {{#if: | |Graphic design || }} |- {{#if: | |Graphic design by || }} |- {{#if: | |Collection Design by || }} |- {{#if: | |Creative Director{{#if: | / Layout}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Contributing editors || }} |- {{#if: | |Research editor{{#if: |s}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Managing editor || }} |- {{#if: | |{{#if: |Editor-in-chief|Editor in chief}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Editorial consultant || }} |- {{#if: | |Dinosaur consultant || }} |- {{#if: | |Publishing manager || }} |- {{#if: | |Cover || }} |- {{#if: | |Cover art{{#if: |ist}}{{#if: | by}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Cover Design {{#if: |and Elements }}by || }} |- {{#if: | |Inside cover || }} |- {{#if: | |Apologies to || }} |- {{#if: 2005 IDW continuity | |Continuity || 2005 IDW continuity}} |- {{#if: Current era (2010) | |Chronology || Current era (2010)}} |- {{#if: | |ISBN || }} |- {{#if: | |TPB ISBN || ISBN }} |- {{#if: | |UPC || }} |- {{#if: | |Page count || }} |- {{#if: | |Price || }} |- {{#if: | |Packaged with || }} |- {{#if: | |Printed in || }} |- {{#if: | |Animation || }} |- {{#if: | |Music || }} |}{{#switch:{{#sub:xx|2|14}}|dark cybertron=}}

Bumblebee begins to question the morality of what he is doing as he goes on a solo mission to find the device that will free the Autobots...

Synopsis

Colonel Horiuchi and Lieutenants Klonowski and Larsen drive to the Autobots hideout to replace Bumblebee's damaged and unresponsive badge, which (they believe) has trapped Bumblebee in vehicle mode. Klonowski worries that their unauthorized methods will be discovered, but the Colonel believes that his control of the Autobots and Skywarp's capture will earn commendation for their actions.

At the cave, Ratchet welcomes the Colonel and tells him that, regardless of what Bumblebee said yesterday, the rest of them fully support Horiuchi's plan. While Klonowski is replacing the damaged badge, Horiuchi turns to Ratchet and tries to ease tensions, proposing that after they succeed, the alliance could go public, but his suggestion of setting aside a piece of land for the Autobots sounds more like imprisonment to Ratchet. Klonowski notices some rust and a new license plate on the silent Bamboozlebee, but does not catch on. When Horiuchi punches Bumblebee's call sign into his control board, nothing happens. He gives up and angrily orders Klonowski to tell Sanjay Bharwaney that he needs a replacement control board. Believing that the badge may have caused more damage to Bumblebee than previously thought, Horiuchi puts Ratchet in charge and orders him to fix Bumblebee. Klonowski, unsure if his suspicions are correct, dismisses them and departs with the Colonel.

Wheeljack, via text-only frequency, tells Bumblebee that the decoy worked and passes information on Sanjay, who they now expect is constructing a second control board (at his home, due to the Horiuchi's unofficial activities). Wheeljack suggests stealing the board so that he can modify it to disable all the kill-switch badges. Bumblebee observes Sanjay's daughter Serena playing in the front yard, honks his horn to get her attention, and lures her to a hiding spot around the corner, where he transforms and reveals himself to her. Serena, like any other child, is filled with wonder and excitement, but their conversation and games are interrupted when Sanjay's housekeeper, Swati, calls Serena in for lunch from the house. Bumblebee asks Serena to get the control board for him while inside, [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (TV special)#Plot|{{#if:claiming that it's broken|claiming that it's broken|How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (TV special)#Plot}}]], and that Sanjay could get hurt if he tries to use it. Not wanting her father to get hurt, Serena agrees to do so.

Meanwhile, Ratchet accidentally answers a texted question from Cliffjumper verbally. Back at Skywatch, Klonowski monitors the Autobots and overhears the answer with no question. Curious again, he begins searching other frequencies and eventually discovers the text communications between the Autobots. Shocked at his discovery, he prepares to tell the Colonel about his discovery when the computer alerts him of a new transmission. He listens in while Bumblebee discusses with Wheeljack and Ratchet his betrayal of Serena's trust; Bumblebee's guilt causes Klonowski to consider his own morality.

At the ruins of Skywatch's Phillips Base, a raiding Skywarp discovers information regarding the control board and muses that if only the humans had cooperated, then their deaths may not have been necessary. He transforms and flies off into the sky.

Serena returns to Bumblebee with the control board. Bumblebee sends the schematics to Ratchet, who discovers that the device contains tracking devices and cannot be taken undiscovered. Standing up to Ratchet and Wheeljack, Bumblebee refuses to abort the mission after coming so far, and convinces them to walk him though the alteration over the text frequency. Bumblebee finishes and hands the case containing the control board back to Serena and tells her to put it back where she found it. While she does, Bumblebee transforms and drives off, regretting abusing her trust, and hoping to one day repay her, unaware that Skywarp has teleported overhead.

Featured characters

{{#if:* Ratchet (4)

Hound (5)
Cliffjumper (6)
Omega Supreme (7)
Wheeljack (8)
Bumblebee (10)
Blaster (12)|

{{#if:* Ratchet (4)

Hound (5)
Cliffjumper (6)
Omega Supreme (7)
Wheeljack (8)
Bumblebee (10)
Blaster (12)|| style="background:#ffdddd;" valign="top" |
Ratchet (4)
Hound (5)
Cliffjumper (6)
Omega Supreme (7)
Wheeljack (8)
Bumblebee (10)
Blaster (12) }}{{#if:* Skywarp (15)|

Autobots }}{{#if:* Skywarp (15)\|	Decepticons }}{{#if:* Colonel Gordon Horiuchi (1) Lieutenant Larsen (2) Lieutenant Daniel Klonowski (3) Sanjay Bharwaney (9) Serena Bharwaney (11) Collins (13) Swati (14)\|	Humans }}{{#if:\|	Others }}{{#if:\|	Misc }}{{#if:\|	Misc }}
Skywarp (15) }}{{#if:* Colonel Gordon Horiuchi (1) Lieutenant Larsen (2) Lieutenant Daniel Klonowski (3) Sanjay Bharwaney (9) Serena Bharwaney (11) Collins (13) Swati (14)\|	Colonel Gordon Horiuchi (1) Lieutenant Larsen (2) Lieutenant Daniel Klonowski (3) Sanjay Bharwaney (9) Serena Bharwaney (11) Collins (13) Swati (14) }}{{#if:\|	}}{{#if:\|	}}{{#if:\|	}}

Quotes

"After you prove yourselves, and we may go public, both to Skywatch and the rest of the world... Well, who knows? The Government may be able to set aside a piece of land for you. A sovereign nation, safely apart from the humans."

—Col. Gordon Horiuchi proposes the ~~Indian~~ Autobot Appropriations Act

"Hey... Is that rust? I didn't think you Autobots got rusty."

—Lieutenant Daniel Klonowski apparently doesn't know about Cosmic Rust

"Are—Are all cars robots? Ha!"
"No, not all cars are robots, Serena, just special ones. Just... ...uhh...German ones."

—Serena Bharwaney has Bumblebee explain the technical wonder that is the [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Volkswagen Beetle|{{#if:||Volkswagen Beetle}}]]

Notes

Since the titles of the other issues in this mini-series are inspired by ancient Greek myths, we can assume that "The Gift Horse" refers to the [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Trojan Horse|{{#if:||Trojan Horse}}]] and not [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Horse teeth|{{#if:a certain unrelated proverb|a certain unrelated proverb|Horse teeth}}]].

Errors

Sanjay Bharwaney is a pretty odd name for a white dude, even before considering his red-haired daughter. And don't forget their housekeeper, Swati! Do we blame the colorist or the artist on this one?
The Autobots uses their communications devices to text in each other in English. Surely, it would have made more sense for the Autobots to text(or speak) in their native Cybertronian language to avoid their conversations from being intercepted by Lt. Klonowski.

Covers (3)

Cover A: A close up shot of Bumblebee's face while he is snooping through the shipping yard with Scavenger behind him; art by Guido Guidi with colors by Josh Burcham.
Cover B: A full body shot of Bumblebee crouched down and casting a shadow against some rubble; art by Chee Yang Ong with colors by Moose Baumann
Cover RI: Black and white sketch version of Cover B.

Scavenger's bringing home a baby Bumblebee...
Next I will make a little birdie!
...Or a giant robot with horns!

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The Gift Horse

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Synopsis

Featured characters

Quotes

Notes

Errors

Covers (3)

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The Gift Horse

Synopsis

Featured characters

Quotes

Notes

Errors

Covers (3)

Advertisements

Reprints

Navigation menu

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