THE TRANSFORMERS: COMICS, BOOKS AND MANGA

CURRENT TRANSFORMERS COMICS FROM IDW PUBLISHING

Transformers Animated: Arrival

| #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 | TPB |

Transformers Animated: Arrival #1

Released August 13th 2008. Written by Marty Isenberg Pencils by Dario Brizuela Inks by Leandro Corral Colors by Liam Shalloo Letters by Chris Mowry Edits by Denton J. Tipton $3.99 cover price.

Synopsis: The issue opens up with Ultra Magnus briefing the Elite Guard about Optimus Prime’s crew locating the Allspark and a Decepticon warship lead by Megatron tracking them. He informs them that they lost contact with Optimus Prime’s ship and were unable to track the Decepticon warship as well. Attempts by search and rescue teams were unsuccessful in turning up signs of either ship.

The issue changes its point of view character every couple of pages. The next POV is Optimus Prime, while in Stasis mode, as he recalls the events that appeared in “Transform and Roll Out, part 1”, in which Megatron attacks Prime’s ship in search of the Allspark but is defeated by the combined forces of the Autobots and a bomb planted on his back by Starscream.

Next we go to New Kaon, a Decepticon refugee colony on the Galactic Rim. Blitzwing is standing next to a statue of Megatron in front a large crowd of Decepticons and is informing them of Megatron’s destruction. Cut to another funeral at Iacon City on Cybertron, where Sentinel Prime is eulogizing Optimus Prime and his crew. After the service, he’s confronted by Longarm Prime, who tries to convince him to keep searching for the Allspark. Sentinel turns him down, stating that the Allspark was never meant to be found. Back on New Kaon, Blitzwing’s speech is interrupted by Lugnut, who attacks Blitzwing for not having faith that Megatron is still alive.

It turns out that Lugnut was right. We cut to Paw Paw, Michigan on Earth, where a young Isaac Sumdac has stumbled upon the remains of Megatron (who crash landed there after his confrontation with the Autobots outside of Earth’s atmosphere.) Sumdac reverse-engineers Megatron’s technology to create his robotic empire.

We cut to the present, where we witness the Autobot’s first battle on Earth against an out of control Sumdac robot. We witness the same battle that was shown in “Transform and Roll Out, part 2”, from the POVs of Captain Fanzone, Sari, Bumblebee and Prowl. Bumblebee saves Sari from the monster and befriends her. The Autobots eventually defeat the monster, but not before Prowl is mortally wounded. Luckily for him, Sari’s Allspark Key is able to revive him. Ratchet examines the Key, but is unable to determine how it works. The Autobots agree to stay on Earth and befriend Sari.

As the Autobots make themselves at home on Earth, Starscream is keeping an eye on them from the ruins of the Decepticon warship orbiting Earth’s atmosphere. He is visited by Blackarachnia, who offers to work with him to retrieve the Allspark. Starscream declines and kicks her off the ship, but not before she plants a tracking device on him. Starscream’s ship crash lands on an unknown planet near Earth (or possibly Earth’s moon) shortly thereafter.

Back on Earth, Bulkhead is becoming very happy with his new home planet as we see the Autobots settle in to their new home. All is well and good until they're attacked by Starscream. The battle plays out like it does in “Transform and Roll Out, part 3”, Starscream taking on all five Autobots easily. They use the Allspark to lure him near the top of a skyscrapper where he and Optimus Prime meet face-to-face. As they fight for control of the Allspark, it sends out an energy signal that is noticed by Blackarachnia, Lugnut, Blitzwing and the Autobot Elite Guard on Cybertron -- all of whom decide to head to Earth to try and retrieve it.

Characters Featured [in rough order of appearance]: Optimus Prime, Megatron (flashback and later deactivated), Longarm Prime, Sentinel Prime, Ultra Magnus, Blurr, Omega Supreme (starship mode only), Blitzwing, Lugnut, Isaac Sumdac, Captain Fanzone, Sari Sumdac, Bulkhead, Bumblebee, Prowl, Ratchet, Starscream, Blackarachnia, Jazz.

Reviews & Commentary: Reviewed by Blitzwing, Reviewed by Blackjack

Transformers Animated: Arrival #2

Released September 11th 2008. Written by: Marty Isenberg Letters by: Chris Mowry Edits by: Denton J. Tipton $3.99 cover price. This issue featured two stories:

"ATTENTION SURPLUS DISORDER"

Pencils by: Dario Brizuela  •  Inks by: Leandro Corral  •  Colors by: Liam Shalloo

Synopsis: The Angry Archer, a familiar villain from the Animated cartoon series turns up at the filming of a commercial for a used car salesman. The Archer attempts to rob him, but is confronted by Detroit superhero, the Wraith. The Wraith is a caped superhero that appears in a cloud of pink smoke. While the Archer and the Wraith are fighting, Bumblebee interjects and apprehends the Archer easily. Bumblebee is joined by Prowl, who quickly exposes the Wraith as being just a projection from a nearby van. Unfortunately for the Wraith, the cameras filming the commercial find out his secret as well.

Later, Cyrus "The Colossus" Rhodes, Meltdown's sidekick from the Animated cartoon series, is seen causing a ruckus in the city. The Wraith shows up to stop him, but Rhodes knows that the Wraith is really in a nearby van and defeats him easily. Bumblebee shows up to save the day and the Wraith. He defeats Rhodes after a short battle. The Wraith walks away angry that Bumblebee and the Autobots are getting all the glory in Detroit.

When it is announced that Bumblebee will replace the Wraith as the guest of honor at Michigan University's homecoming game, the Wraith decides that he'll get his revenge there. He lures Bumblebee away from the game and then traps him by placing boots on his wheels. The Wraith returns to the game and uses his projection abilities to show Bumblebee attacking the stadium. Bumblebee breaks free from the boots and gets to the stadium in time to confront the Wraith with the help of the other Autobots who saw the attack on TV. The Wraith is captured by Optimus Prime and is taken to a mental asylum.

Characters (in order of appearance): Bumblebee, Prowl, Angry Archer, the Wraith, Optimus Prime, Bulkhead, Ratchet, Cyrus "the Colossus" Rhodes

"WHATEVER HAPPENED TO WHATISNAME?"

Art by: Marcelo Matere

Synopsis: Starscream is lying in very bad shape in the middle of a secluded forest. The last thing he remembers was fighting with Optimus Prime over the Allspark. He is in Stasis Lock, so he can talk but is unable to move. He is eventually found by Power Princess, a villain from the Animated cartoon series. He tells her to activate his manual restart switch, but she blasts him for not saying, "please". He asks her again nicely, and she agrees to do it, but not before she "fixes him up first". She puts lipstick and makeup on his faceplate and puts a pretty pink wig on his head. When Starscream sees his reflection in her mirror, he freaks out and threatens her. This leads her to blast him, which jump-starts his internal mechanics and brings him out of stasis. He is about to blast her, when she tells him that if she's hurt, the projection image of Starscream in her make up and wig will be broadcast all over the world and possibly the galaxy. Starscream decides to leave her alone and forget this ever happened. He takes to the air without realizing that Power Princess had painted rainbows and flowers all over his back.

Characters (in order of appearance): Starscream, Power Princess

Reviews & Commentary: Reviewed by Blitzwing, Reviewed by Blackjack

Transformers Animated: Arrival #3

Released October 8th 2008. Written by: Marty Isenberg Colors by: Liam Shalloo Letters by: Chris Mowry Edits by: Denton J. Tipton $3.99 cover price. This issue featured two stories:

"STILETTO"

Pencils by: Dario Brizuela  •  Inks by: Leandro Corral

Synopsis: The Autobots and Captain Fanzone are investigating a break in at Sumdac Labs. The security cameras reveal that a thief for hire named "Stiletto" appeared to have broken in and stolen a prototype laser scalpel and some metal alloy. The Autobots promise Professor Sumdac that they will get the stolen goods back from Stiletto.

Later, Stiletto appears at the "Ambassador Bridge", threatening to use her stolen goods to collapse the bridge by slicing its cables. The Autobots show up on the scene and try to apprehend her. With the help of her laser scalpel high heels and quick speed, she manages to elude Prowl, Bumblebee and Bulkhead. She eventually gets her heels stuck in Optimus Prime's Axe when she tries to attack him. She takes them off and makes a break for it, but Optimus Prime tosses them back at her and they pin her to the wall of the bridge.

The last panel shows Megatron's decapitated head inside of Sumdac tower. It turns out that he was the one that hired Stiletto to steal the laser scalpel and metal alloy from Sumdac Labs in order to make the helicopter blades and swords for his new body.

Characters (in order of appearance): Optimus Prime, Bulkhead, Bumblebee, Prowl, Ratchet, Sari, Professor Sumdac, Captain Fanzone, Stiletto, Megatron (head only).

"BOTS OF SCIENCE"

Art by: Boo

Synopsis: This story takes place back on Cybertron during the "Great Wars". Ratchet is looking for survivors at the grounds where a battle between the Autobots and Decepticons just took place. He finds a wounded Decepticon calling for a Medic, who turns out to be Oilslick. Autobot Command tells him to leave the Decepticon, but Ratchet ignores the order because he believes that everyone deserves to have medical attention after a battle. Ratchet believes that it's not the fault of the ground soldier that their commanders decide to use chemical weapons on them.

Oilslick is covered in cyber-oxidants, also known as "Cosmic Rust". He informs Ratchet that he has the chemicals necessary to combat the Cosmic Rust, but he needs his help to mix it. Ratchet is reluctant to trust Oilslick, but eventually decides to help him out in the name of science. Unfortunately for Ratchet, as soon as Oilslick is healed, he turns on Ratchet and infects him with the Cosmic Rust. Oilslick informs Ratchet that he is in fact the one who created the Cosmic Rust and was only infected because he miscalculated the wind shift. As Oilslick takes off, Ratchet quickly uses his electro-magnet to grab the antidote and cleanses himself.

Characters (in order of appearance): Ratchet, Oilslick, (several injured Autobots and Decepticons are seen scattered throughout and their identities will be speculated upon in the Notes section of the review).

Reviews & Commentary: Reviewed by Blitzwing, Reviewed by Blackjack

Transformers Animated: Arrival #4

Released November 12th 2008. Written by: Marty Isenberg $3.99 cover price. This issue featured two stories:

"THE INSINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY"

Pencils by: Dario Brizuela • Inks by: Leandro Corral • Colours by: Liam Shalloo

Synopsis: Powter C Powell presents his newest line of vehicles — the Bulkhead, modelled right after the Autobot himself. A pissed-off Bulkhead arrives and argues with Powell, but Powell edits his words to support his products before broadcasting the advertisement. Bulkhead is angry, but the Autobots calm him down. Soon Bulkhead vans start to appear in every part of the city, and Bulkhead gets mistaken by the Witwicky family for their van.

Bulkhead chases after the Angry Archer, who has his own Bulkhead van, while Professor Princess comments that the Bulkhead vans are ugly toys. Due to the unwieldy nature of the van and a little help from Princess, Bulkhead easily apprehends the Angry Archer, before the Archer's bulkhead van exploded.

Ratchet realizes that the bulkhead vans are a danger hazard, and the fuel tanks would ignite easily. Meanwhile, Powell has created a 'Pimp my Bulkhead' contest, and Bulkhead hatches a plan. During the contest he painted himself with Powell's face. When Powell gets inside him, he took Powell for a risky ride, in which Powell screams that the Bulkhead vans are 'gas guzzling death traps'. All of these are caught on a camera hidden on a fake driver. The Bulkhead vans are subsequently recalled, but Bumblebee, inspired by the contest, paints himself in a custom paintjob.

Characters (in order of appearance): Powter C Powell, Bulkhead, Optimus Prime, Ratchet, Prowl, Bumblebee, Sari Sumdac, the Witwicky family, the Angry Archer, Professor Princess

"A FEW LOOSE ENDS"

Art by: Boo

Synopsis: Bounty hunter Lockdown, knowing he's the best, lands on the Moon near the wreckage of the Nemesis. He recalls back to a conversation with Blitzwing, who hired him to catch Optimus Prime. Crazy Blitzwing promises him Lugnut's "Punch of Kill Everything" once Prime is delivered to the Decepticons.

Lockdown enters the Nemesis and learns about the Autobot crew, before being confronted by Blackarachnia. Blackarachnia recognizes Optimus Prime's face, but feigns ignorance. That doesn't work, though, and Lockdown attacks her. While Lockdown monologues, Blackarachnia uses her cybersting to absorb Lockdown's power and knocks him out. However, the upgrades that Lockdown applies to himself are too much for Blackarachnia to handle, and she seemingly passed out.

When Lockdown came to, he discovers himself alone. He decides to keep his eye on the target, and rides his ship to Earth. After scanning the guise of a muscle car, he departs to hunt Prime. Meanwhile, Blackarachnia steps out of Lockdown's ship, before swinging to her own hunt for Prime.

Characters (in order of appearance): Lockdown, Blitzwing (flashback), Lugnut (flashback), Oil Slick (flashback). Plus mugshots of Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Ratchet, Bulkhead and Omega Supreme (as Teletraan-1) on the monitor screen.

Reviews & Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

Transformers Animated: Arrival #5

Released December 4th 2008. Written by: Marty Isenberg $3.99 cover price. This issue featured two stories:

"SURVIVAL SKILLS"

Art by: Dario Brizuela  •  Inking by: Leandro Corral  •  Colours by: Liam Shalloo

Synopsis: Optimus is stuck in an unnamed planet without any supplies, after a fudged training exercise. A ship arrives in the horizon, and Optimus realises it is Megatron. The two fight, a panicked Optimus clearly outgunned and outmatched. He is barely holding his ground by blocking Megs' sword with his axe.

Optimus manages to temporarily blind Megatron with his wrist fluids, giving him the time needed to use his grapple guns to bind Megatron's legs. Optimus then slices off Megatron's fusion cannon and is about to deliver a blow to the Decepticon leader. However, before he realises it, Megatron stabs his sword into Optimus' chest, tearing out his spark.

Optimus wakes up to see Sentinel and Elita-One, the former mocking him for losing in the simulated combat. Ultra Magnus arrives and congratulates Optimus for getting the highest score ever in the combat simulator. Magnus tells Optimus that he expects great things from him.

Characters (in order of appearance): Optimus, Megatron (simulation), Sentinel Minor, Elita-One, Ultra Magnus.

"EVERYTHING MUST GO"

Art by: Boo  •  Colours by: Liam Shalloo

Synopsis: Blitzwing is negotiating with Lockdown over the price for Optimus, when Lugnut suddenly punches him from the back. The two fight each other and Lugnut easily gains the upper hand. Swindle arrives, selling an anti gravity cannon to Blitzwing. Blitzwing easily defeats Lugnut. Swindle then approaches the downed Lugnut, and sells him a Talosian Triple Crusher Cannon.

Lugnut uses his new weapon to compact Blitzwing. Swindle approaches Blitzwing, restoring him to mint condition before selling him more weaponry. Blitzwing uses some kind of gas and a giant mace to shatter Lugnut. Swindle rebuilds Lugnut, and sells him an Omega bomb. When Lugnut confronts Blitzwing in space, it appears that Blitzwing has a similar weapon. Both bombs detonate, but Lugnut and Blitzwing are mostly unhurt due to nemesis shields. The two Decepticons realise that they've been punked by Swindle, and confront the con artist. The two Decepticons 'exchange' Swindle's parts, leaving him tied up like a ball.

Characters (in order of appearance): Blitzwing, Lockdown, Optimus Prime, Lugnut, Swindle.

Reviews & Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

Transformers Animated: Arrival #6

Was due January 2009. Publisher solicitation: A special standalone tale concludes the first-ever TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED miniseries. The AUTOBOT Elite Guard sets into motion a plan to use a captive STARSCREAM to help create a first: A flying AUTOBOT! But they get much more than they bargained for! Twice as much in fact: witness the debut of JETFIRE and his twin brother JETSTORM! $3.99 cover price. This issue was cancelled. The material was subsequently made available only as a pack-in with the Jetstorm/Jetfire toys and in the trade paperback edition of The Arrival.

Synopsis: Ultra Magnus is trying to find a way to quell the Decepticon uprising. Despite Megatron being seemingly dead and Starscream under Elite Guard custody, Magnus decides to explore alternate combat upgrade protocols by creating a flying Autobot, to the protests of Sentinel Prime and Jazz. Downloading the flight protocols unique to Decepticons from Starscream, Magnus inadvertently allows Starscream a chance to escape. Soon, Magnus reveals 'Project Safeguard', but due to a fear of wasting resources and troops, he tells Perceptor to use somebody disposable.

Meanwhile, two brothers are working in an energon refinery. The two are arguing with each other, and it causes an explosion, severely damaging the two. Perceptor decides to use them, and with the help of Wheeljack and several others, they develop the flight programming. However, Wheeljack reveals that the Autobot bodies might react to the Decepticon code with some side effects. Finally, the two new Autobots are revealed, upgraded into flying Autobots. Magnus orders a very reluctant Sentinel Prime to train the duo.

After giving them the name of Jetfire and Jetfire, the Twins explain (!) to Sentinel that this would be confusing. Thus Sentinel renames the second twin Jetstorm. The Twins show off their flying skills, accidentally attracting the automated defensive systems which thinks they are Decepticons. The Twins easily manage not to get blown up, while Sentinel gets off on the excuse that the Twins could use a real world combat scenario.

Due to the destructive nature of their latest training, Jazz takes over to teach them martial arts. After some confusion with Earth slang, the Twins manage to pull off a sneak attack on Jazz, who is impressed.

Simulated combat provides no better option, as their flight capabilities are more than enough to handle any simulated combat mission. Perceptor adds some Decepticon code into the virtual simulator in the form of a virtual Starscream. However, something is wrong, and the virtual Starscream beats Jetstorm badly. The injuries felt on the virtual world are felt by the real Jetstorm. For some reason, Jetstorm's body crackles with electricity, and the Autobots outside can neither disconnect them nor shut the simulation down.

An angry Jetfire bursts into flames and uses the flame power to attack the virtual Starscream, and the real Jetfire bursts into flames as well. Jetstorm uses his wind turbines to cool both the virtual and real Jetfire off. As the two congratulate each other, Starscream arrives and attacks. Jetfire and Jetstorm combine into one larger Autobot, and later into a larger jet, which kills virtual Starscream, allowing Perceptor to take back control of the program.

Later, Magnus receives a report that Autobot traitor Wasp had escaped, and promotes Jetfire and Jetstorm into Elite Guard Junior officers.

Characters (in order of appearance): Starscream (in the flesh and as a rogue computer program), Jazz, Sentinel Prime, Ultra Magnus, Perceptor, Wheeljack, Jetfire, Jetstorm, Red Alert, Safeguard

Reviews & Commentary: Reviewed by Blackjack

Transformers Animated: Arrival TPB

Amazon estimate April 2008. $19.99 list price. Reprints issues #1-6 of Arrival. Publisher solicitation: Transformers Animated series head writer Marty Isenberg and artist Dario Brizuela continue their tales of Detroit's favorite alien robots in Transformers Animated: Arrival. Based on the Transformers Animated series airing on Cartoon Network, take a brand-new look at the story behind the Autobots' arrival on Earth. You've seen the Transformers Animated television movie, but do you know the whole story? You will, as Ultra Magnus, Sentinel Prime, Starscream, Black Arachnia, and many more tell their sides of the story that started it all! Browse at Amazon.com | Browse at Amazon.co.uk

 

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