Movie Prequel issue 4

From MediaWiki
Revision as of 12:48, 30 May 2019 by Jalaguy (talk | contribs)
Jump to navigationJump to search


It is being brought.
It is being brought.
Oh, he's doin' somethin'...

Another editor is doing extensive changes to this article right now, and is requesting that all other editors hold off on any edits until their work is finished, in order to make sure nothing important gets lost.

« Transformers: Movie Prequel #4 »

Oops, wrong comic!
Publisher IDW Publishing
First published May 2, 2007
Cover date May 2007
Written by Simon Furman and Chris Ryall
Art by Don Figueroa
Colors by Josh Burcham
Color assist by Mark Bristow
Letters by Robbie Robbins
Edits by Dan Taylor
Continuity Movie continuity

Starscream is a capable leader for once.

Synopsis

The year is 2003, and three Decepticons have just made planetfall on Earth. Near Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Starscream shoots down an F-22 Raptor jet and assumes its form as his new alternate mode. Nearby, Blackout and Barricade have similarly assumed new vehicular forms, and the trio set out to regroup and begin searching the planet. Starscream's first priority is the AllSpark, but he is swiftly reminded that their missing leader must also be located. Meanwhile, in Baton Rouge, Louisana, their Autobot enemy Bumblebee continues his own investigation, having located the institute in which Archibald Witwicky was held following his otherworldly encounter. A scan of the building reveals it to be long-abandoned and derelict, and the Autobot scout proceeds on his way.

In New Mexico, Agent Simmons and his Sector Seven team are setting things up at the disused Cold War bunker that is to become a trap for the alien known to them as N.B.E.-2. The bait is to be an isotope derived from the cube artifact held beneath Hoover Dam, emitting radiation identical to that of the original object. Two days later, the team is still waiting, although Sector Seven has had several encounters with N.B.E.-2 in increasingly nearby states, and Simmons is confident that the alien is closing in on their trap. As they keep watch on the bunker from their entrenchment, Simmons discusses his family's history with the N.B.E.s, revealing that his own great grandfather was there when "Mega-Man" was dug out of the ice.

Elsewhere, in the town of Tranquility, Sam Witwicky is showing his great-great-grandfather's effects to his friend Miles, who is thoroughly unimpressed. Miles doesn't rate Sam's chances of turning the artifacts into a car fund, although suggests trying an online auction. Alas, Sam's father has prohibited him from opening his own account until he's sixteen, so any such plans will have to wait for the time being. As he puts away his ancestor's old spectacles, little does Sam know that a certain alien being would be very interested in acquiring them... In Colorado, a damaged Bumblebee sputters to a stop on a roadside, but is reenergized when he suddenly detects a radiation signature matching the AllSpark! Barrelling away at high speeds, the Autobot scout sets a course for New Mexico.

Some time later, Bumblebee enters the vicinity of Sector Seven's bunker trap, and Agent Simmons prepares for engagement. Things are complicated, however, when they spot Barricade's police car form in pursuit of N.B.E.-2. Sector Seven have barely realized that they're looking at a potential N.B.E.-3 when Blackout appears on the scene in helicopter form, promptly levelling the trap bunker with a missile strike. Two of Sector Seven's own helicopters attempt to move in for a cryo-freeze attack, but are promptly obliterated by Starscream in his jet fighter mode. Meanwhile, Blackout takes advantage of the confusion to tap into Sector Seven's on-site computers, having realized that the humans' ability to mimic AllSpark radiation likely means that they know where the genuine article is. Unluckily for the Decepticon, Simmons has data connections cut as soon as the digital attack is detected, and Blackout comes away having learned only that their opponents are named "Sector Seven" and that they are connected to the United States Department of Defense.

However, the Decepticons do have one last option: Barricade suggests letting Bumblebee go loose, suspecting that the Autobot may have information they don't and that he could potentially lead them to the AllSpark. After a quick ram to make it make it convincing, Barricade lets Bumblebee deploy explosive countermeasures and drive away into the distance, the Autobot totally unaware that Starscream is watching him from high altitude. Sector Seven is left to pick up the pieces from their failed operation, the Decepticons split up, using their vehicle modes to hide in plain sight, and Bumblebee continues his investigation. And Sam Witwicky sits at home in Tranquility, totally unaware of the role he will play in events to come...

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots Decepticons Humans

Errors

  • Considering how thoroughly Blackout later wipes out SOCCENT, it's a bit unclear why the Decepticons don't bother to finish off their Sector 7 opponents.
  • The time frame of this story is quite wonky. The early events of this issue are set in 2003, a timeframe featuring a 12-year-old Sam. The end of the story, however, leads directly into the live-action movie, with a driving-age Sam. What the heck did Bumblebee (and the Decepticons, and Sector 7) do for the intervening four years?
  • What's more, Sam's hair has grown tremendously since the last issue, from nearly military-short in issue 3 to a much longer, curly hairstyle on page 11 in this issue. Even though, supposedly, the two scenes are set merely two days apart. Both issues were drawn by Don Figueroa, so... what happened?
  • If we are to assume that the events of "Interlude" are set in-continuity with this issue (see below for details), Barricade's comment to Blackout that Bumblebee "got wise to [him]" doesn't make a lot of sense: If he's referring to the events at the end of Interlude, then the fact that Barricade transformed (for no apparent reason, after Bumblebee had also just transformed for no apparent reason) and attacked Bumblebee should have been reason enough for Bumblebee to realize that a Decepticon is after him; if he's referring to a recent attempt to chase Bumblebee in secret, then the fact that Bumblebee should already be familiar with Barricade's disguise following their previous encounter should have also been an obvious clue.

Items of note

  • The events of "Interlude" occur part-way through this story, beginning after Bumblebee scans the abandoned Psychopathic Institute. That story ends with an attack by Barricade that (presumably) leaves Bumblebee smoking and damaged, as seen when he stops by the roadside in Colorado.
  • The songs Bumblebee plays on his radio feature lyrics that are similar, but not quite identical to those of existing songs, possibly to avoid licensing issues. The original songs are:
    • Ghost in this House, originally by Shenandoah
    • No One Said It Would Be Easy by Sheryl Crow
    • Tubthumping by Chumbawumba
    • Everyday Is A Winding Road by Sheryl Crow

Other notes

Covers (3)

Let's see what you can see...

This article is in need of images.

Specifics: Alt covers

—all by Don Figueroa

  • Cover A: Wraparound battle
  • Cover B: Uncolored sketch of left portion of cover A
  • Cover RI: Uncolored sketch of cover A, full wraparound

Advertisements

Retrieved from "https://tfwiki.duckdns.org/index.php?title=Movie_Prequel_issue_4&oldid=1351641"