Transformers Animated: The Arrival
Transformers Animated: The Arrival is a 6-issue mini-series published by IDW Publishing, debuting in August 2008, and set in the Transformers Animated continuity. Each story seems to be mostly self-contained and (broadly) non-conflicting with the cartoon. In this regard it is of some significance as the first comic to be explicitly set in the same continuity as a concurrently ongoing animated series.[1]
| The Arrival issues: |
|---|
| #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 (see note below) |
Overview
The Arrival occurs concurrently with the Animated cartoon, taking place in-between—and in some cases, during—various episodes of the series, often fleshing out off-screen events and explaining how certain events that were merely alluded to onscreen went down in detail. After the opening issue, which retells the pilot movie from different perspectives, the bulk of the series (issues #2–5) is set during the early portion of the show's first season, taking place between "Total Meltdown" and "The Thrill of the Hunt" (and in one instance, during the latter), with two stories taking the form of flashbacks detailing events in the characters' pasts.
Optimus Prime's space bridge repair crew encounters Megatron, and all are lost in the Space Bridge. Both the Autobots and Decepticons deliver eulogies for their lost comrades. On Earth, Isaac Sumdac discovers Megatron's head, and over time, progresses from simple attempts at reverse-engineering to the establishment of Sumdac Systems. The Autobots awaken and meet Sari, establishing themselves as Detroit's new heroes. Dispatches
Starscream refuses to team up with Blackarachnia, but during their scuffle, crashes into the Earth's Moon. Later, he makes his way to Earth and attacks the Autobots, and during the battle, the AllSpark is briefly opened. The resulting energy burst is detected by both the Autobots and the Decepticons, and the two groups make tracks for Earth. Dispatches
As Angry Archer attempts to rob a used car lot, he is foiled by a superhero named The Wraith. Bumblebee steals The Wraith's thunder, however, and exposes him as a hack. The Wraith seeks revenge by staging a phony attack by Bumblebee at a football game, causing the Autobots to intervene. The Wraith is caught and sent to an insane asylum. Attention Surplus Disorder
After his battle with Optimus, Starscream is in temporary stasis lock and has an embarrassing encounter with Professor Princess, who accidentally reactivates him. Whatever Happened To Whatisname?
Sumdac is robbed by a former kick boxer turned industrial saboteur named Stiletto. The professor reveals that the stolen materials were two new prototypes: a new kind of metal alloy and a high-power laser scalpel. The Autobots catch up to her, and she gives them a good battle, but she's finally captured by Optimus Prime. Megatron, watching the news feed of the capture, considers this test of the material he plans to use for his new swords a successful field run. Stilleto
In Cybertron's past, Ratchet find dozens of Transformers, both Autobot and Decepticon, killed by a chemical weapon created by the Decepticons that's been nicknamed "Cosmic Rust". When a Decepticon calls for a medic, Ratchet helps, despite his misgivings. The 'Con reveals he can develop an antidote with Ratchet's help, and the medic agrees. As it's created, the two almost become friends before Oil Slick turns on Ratchet, infecting him with the rust. Ratchet is able to steal same of the antidote to not only cure himself but to bring back for mass production. He muses on the little bit of deception he learned from Oil Slick...and whether or not something from the Autobots might rub off on the Decepticons one day. 'Bots of Science
Porter C. Powell markets a consumer vehicle line called the Bulkhead, a gas-guzzling "mega van" inspired by the Autobot of the same name. Bulkhead objects but legally has no recourse, and the vans cause chaos throughout the city. Bulkhead disguises himself as a Powell-themed vehicle and takes Powell on a dangerous, high-speed joyride, during which a terrified Powell confesses the perilous design flaws of the unit. A hidden camera captures Powell's entire confession, forcing a recall of the defective vehicles. The Insincerest Form of Flattery
On New Kaon, Lockdown is hired by Blitzwing to bring in the Autobot presumed responsible for Megatron's death. He tracks the Nemesis to the location of its crash on the Moon and determines that a repair crew led by Optimus Prime was responsible. However, he is suddenly ambushed by Blackarachnia, who was also investigating the crash. The pair come to blows, and they are both eventually knocked unconscious. When Lockdown comes to, Blackarachnia is seemingly gone, so he boards his ship and heads down to Detroit in pursuit of his real target, Optimus Prime, little realizing that Blackarachnia, stowing away aboard his ship and hidden from its scanners thanks to her techno-organic make-up, has hitched a free ride to Earth and is now hot in pursuit of the very same Autobot... A Few Loose Strands
Creative team
All stories in The Arrival were written by Marty Isenberg and drawn by . Isenberg is also the story editor for the Animated cartoon and has written several episodes. Art duties were handled by Dario Brizuela, Leonardo Corral, Marcelo Matere, Boo and Matthew Frank. Some of the stories were colored by the artists themselves, otherwise they were colored by Liam Shalloo.
Items of note
- Issue #6 was originally solicited to introduce Jetfire and Jetstorm, but was canceled and later released as a pack-in with the Safeguard two-pack. It was also included in the trade paperback.
Collections
- Collects issues 1–6; notably, this is the only way to get issue #6 besides buying the toy.
- Bonus material includes all the individual covers.
- Smaller format: 8.8 x 5.8 inches.
References
- ↑ Unlike, for example, the Marvel G1 Comic and concurrent G1 cartoon or later Energon anime and Dreamwave's Energon comic, which were both examples of conflicting parallel continuities of the same respective franchises and continuity families.
