Transformers: Movie Prequel

Transformers: Movie Prequel, published by IDW Publishing, is a 2007 comic book limited series that serves as a prequel to the 2007 film Transformers. It is written by Simon Furman and IDW editor-in-chief Chris Ryall, who was allowed to read the film's script,^[1] and penciled by artist Don Figueroa. Transformers: Movie Adaptation, a 4 issue adaptation of the film itself, was released weekly throughout the month of June in the run up to the film's release.

Plot summary

Optimus Prime and Lord High Protector Megatron rule Cybertron, protecting the Allspark, an enormous cube of energy that gave life to the Transformers. However, Megatron secretly desires the Allspark's power for himself and has formed a like-minded army of separatists - the Decepticons - with Starscream at his side. He then plunges Cybertron into civil war, killing millions. During the Battle of Tyger Pax, Autobot Bumblebee leads a team to hold back overwhelming odds of Dreadwing, Payload and Swindle Drones while Prime attempts to launch the Allspark into space, making a last-ditch attempt to prevent Megatron from claiming it. The Decepticons capture Bumblebee and torture him. Bumblebee keeps Megatron distracted long enough for the Allspark to be launched into space. A determined Megatron flies into space to find it, but not before punishing Bumblebee by crushing his voice processor. After finding a way to tell Prime and the other Autobots of Megatron's plan, Bumblebee is among the first to volunteer to find it before he does.^[2]

Megatron, keeping a close psychic bond with the Allspark, soon locates it on Earth. Heating up during entry into the atmosphere, he crashes and sinks under the Arctic ice sheets. The sudden temperature drop and loss of energon forces him into stasis lock. In 1897, the National Arctic Circle Expedition headed by Captain Archibald Witwicky discovers Megatron frozen solid, and accidentally reactivates the Decepticon's navigational system. The location of the Allspark is burned into Captain Witwicky's glasses, blinding him and eventually driving him insane. At the Boston Secure Hospital, the government takes great interest in his story and the Sector 7 group begins excavating for Megatron, codenamed the "Ice-man". In 1902, the Allspark is discovered to be in the Colorado River,^[3] and by 1935, work begins on the Hoover Dam over it with plans to move Megatron there.^[4]

In 2003, Bumblebee lands on Mars before landing in Virginia, and takes up the form of a 1976 Chevrolet Camaro. Designated N.B.E - 2, he avoids Sector 7's gaze, forcing Agent Simmons to step up an operation to capture him. Bumblebee begins finding information on Captain Witwicky, and Sector 7 attempts to spring a trap with a replica Allspark.^[5] Starscream, Blackout and Barricade follow suit, destroying the Beagle 2 Mars rover in the process. They scan and destroy vehicles^[4] and defeat Sector 7's trap. They let Bumblebee escape as they know he can lead them to the Allspark. Elsewhere, Sam Witwicky is given his ancestor's glasses.^[5] A Target Corporation-exclusive follow-up shows Bumblebee tracking down Sam by checking outside Archibald's asylum and looking for his son, Clarence, to Springfield, Missouri, where he learns of his son Herbert, his six children and starts to look for each, one-by-one. All the while he is being followed by Sector 7 and Barricade.^[6]

Publication

The first issue was due for release in February 2007,^[7] but was moved back to March 6 due to a printing error.^[8] It was part of Free Comic Book Day on May 5, 2007.^[9] A trade paperback is scheduled for release on June 25,^[10] with an adaptation of the movie itself released the same day.^[11]

Issues 1 and 2 sold out.^[12]

Issue 3

Issue 3 contains a number of cameo homages to Generation 1 Transformer vehicle modes; dotted throughout the issue are vehicles which resemble the original Optimus Prime, Trailbreaker, Ironhide, Motormaster and Bumblebee, as well as Scourge from the Robots in Disguise series. Issue 3 also parodies Google with a search engine called "Shwiggle". This is apparently an in-joke name for colorist Josh Burcham. An IDW Comics webpage is also shown. Furthermore, the last few panels of issue 3 reveal the events of what we see in the announcement trailer from the perspective of those responsible; it is revealed that the Mars rover had been destroyed specifically by Starscream, however in other versions it was revealed that it was Bumblebee

Related media

After the close of the prequel series, IDW Publishing also published a 4-issue adaptation of the film itself to tie-in with the film's release, written by Kris Oprisko and drawn by Alex Milne. It was released weekly in June 2007; on the 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th. It also featured concept art and interviews.^[13]

In July 2007, Titan Books released a UK Transformers magazine, featuring original material closely based on the IDW prequel comic, in addition to reprints of the prequel comic itself. For example, issue 1's strip on Optimus Prime would show where he was during the events of issue #1 of the prequel comic,^[14] while issue 2's strip on Megatron followed on from Megatron's departure from Cybertron .^[15]

IDW has also produced a miniseries that acts as a sequel to the Movie, titled Transformers: The Reign of Starscream.^[16]

Animated Adaptation

For the release of the Transformers DVD, The Wal-Mart edition of the DVD included an animated version of the prequel comic book, entitled Transformers: Beginnings. Beginnings followed the comics almost page for page, with a few exceptions of removed content—for instance it removed all non-movie Transformers such as Arcee and Swindle. Arcee still appears in a non speaking role.

Voice Cast

• Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime
• Frank Welker as Megatron
• Mark Ryan as Bumblebee
• Patrick Hallahan as Starscream / Additional Voices
• Brian Stepanek as Blackout / Agent Reggie Simmons
• Kevin Dunn as Ron Witwicky
• Patrick Viall as Captain Archibald Witwicky / Additional Voices
• Harold Hayes, Jr. as Bald Sector 7 Agent
• Justin Foley as Additional Voices
• Kenny Luper as Additional Voices
• Ryan Pfeiffer as Additional Voices

Unknown voice actors voice Sam, Barricade and Epps

See also

• Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday
• Transformers: The Reign of Starscream

References