Transformers Animated Volume 4

« Transformers Animated Volume 4 »
Publisher	IDW Publishing
First published	August 27, 2008
Screenplay by	Marty Isenberg ("Along Came a Spider") Henry Gilroy ("Sound and Fury")
Adaptation by	Zachary Rau
Letters by	Tom B. Long
Edits by	Justin Eisinger
Continuity	Animated cartoon continuity
ISBN	ISBN 1600102174
Page count	96

Spiders and Soundwave, oh my.

Synopsis

This book recounts the events of "Along Came a Spider" and "Sound and Fury", through the use of cartoon screen captures arranged in comic book style panels.

Notes

Along Came a Spider

• The start of the first scene is trimmed, cutting straight to Optimus's description of Halloween.
• As Sari is describing how they have to select a costume, Bulkhead laments "Why would I want to wear a costume? I scare people enough as it is." Sari has an extra line as well—reminding Optimus that she's not a 20 foot robot and can't fly down from the hay bales as he starts daydreaming.
• Elita-1's "I have no idea" line is skipped.
• After Bumblebee shows off his Count Dracu-Bot costume, he adds "Wait! Wait! You haven't seen the best part!" We never do get to find out what the best part is.
• The end of the scene after Sari says she has a lot of surprises planned is missing, switching straight to flashback without any lead in.
• Much of the first spider encounter is skipped, so it goes from Sentinel, Optimus and Elita-1 looking directly at the spider, to Elita-1 warning Sentinel to look at the huge spider behind him.
• Optimus's line about being outclassed is missing.
• The scene at the base with Sari unveiling her costume is left out completely, as is much of the start of the next scene, with Sari, Bulkhead and Bumblebee going trick or treating. Much of Bumblebee's description of the giant spider is excised too.
• The last two lines of the scene are swapped in order.
• The bit with Optimus finding the Decepticon ship is missing, he's shown looking at the energon cubes in the hold though.
• Much of the fight with the spiders is again trimmed. Once Elita downloads Optimus's power, they head straight for the roof.
• Optimus's line about the ship being about to blow is missing.
• Bumblebee and Blackarachnia swap lines for "Keep away from the girl" and "That's just what I was gonna say".
• The first few lines of Blackarachnia's dialog with Sari are missing.
• Blackarachnia's "you're coming with me" line becomes "You're not my partner; you're my hostage."
• The episode ends with Blackarachnia leaving Optimus on the roof, omitting the last two scenes.

Sound and Fury

• The entire encounter with Professor Princess is understandably left out, the scene ending after Sari says "Something loud!"
• Bulkhead's disruption of the birthday party is skipped, jumping straight to Bumblebee asking if anyone wants a ride.
• Bulkhead and Sari lamenting that the other kids don't like them is left out.
• Soundwave's dialog balloons get a blue gradient background. Likewise, Megatron's transmissions get a green gradient.
• The moment when Bulkhead glimpses Soundwave moving is omitted.
• Megatron's "very unexpected" line is missing.
• Bulkhead and Prime's conversation about Sari coming around is also left out.
• Sari's "Fine! Maybe I will!" line is left out.
• Bumblebee accusing Bulkhead of taking too many hits to the core processor, also left out.
• While Sari and Soundwave wait on the subway platform, we don't get any of Megatron's dialog or his orders to Soundwave. The next we hear from him is when he contacts Soundwave using the televisions.
• Sari trying to contact the Autobots and being menaced by Tutor Bot is left out.
• After Tutor Bot takes Sari to Soundwave, the tail end of the scene is missing after "Now we will all evolve and rule the world."
• Ratchet and Bulkhead's dialog as the robots close in on them is missing. The majority of the fight itself, including Soundwave impersonating Bumblebee, is also left out.
• One of Bulkhead's speech balloons gets Soundwave's gradient by mistake.
• Megatron's final lines are missing. He just watches Sari and Bulkhead silently. Creepy.

Trivia

• From this volume onward, each episode gets a full title page. Previously the title would be restricted to the top of the first page of the comic and headed up "The Transformers in...".