Transformers: Movie Prequel
Encyclopedia
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
, 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.
, 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 Decepticon
s - 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.
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
, and by 1935, work begins on the Hoover Dam
over it with plans to move Megatron there.
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. Starscream, Blackout and Barricade follow suit, destroying the Beagle 2
Mars rover in the process. They scan and destroy vehicles 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. 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.
on May 5, 2007. A trade paperback is scheduled for release on June 25, with an adaptation of the movie itself released the same day.
Issues 1 and 2 sold out.
, 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
.
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.
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 , while issue 2's strip on Megatron followed on from Megatron's departure from Cybertron .
IDW
has also produced a miniseries that acts as a sequel to the Movie, titled The Reign of Starscream .
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.
Unknown voice actors voice Sam, Barricade
and Epps
IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...
, is a 2007 comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
limited series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
that serves as a prequel
Prequel
A prequel is a work that supplements a previously completed one, and has an earlier time setting.The widely recognized term was a 20th-century neologism, and a portmanteau from pre- and sequel...
to the 2007 film Transformers. It is written by Simon Furman
Simon Furman
Simon Christopher Francis Furman is a comic book writer, particularly associated with of a number of notable Transformers comics for Marvel UK, Marvel US, Dreamwave, and most recently, IDW...
and IDW editor-in-chief
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
Chris Ryall
Chris Ryall
Christopher "Chris" Ryall is best known as the Chief Creative Officer and Editor-in-Chief of IDW Publishing , and as a writer in the comic book industry. In February 2011, his Eisner Award-nominated series, Zombies vs. Robots, co-created with artist Ashley Wood, was optioned by Sony Pictures for...
, who was allowed to read the film's script
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
, and penciled by artist Don Figueroa
Don Figueroa
Don Allan Figueroa is a Filipino American comic book artist and toy designer. He is best known for his work on many different Transformers designs, for both the defunct Dreamwave Productions and with IDW Publishing.-Dreamwave Productions:...
. Transformers: Movie Adaptation
Transformers: Movie Adaptation
Transformers: Movie Adaptation, published by IDW Publishing, is a 2007 comic book limited series that serves as an adaptation of the 2007 film Transformers....
, 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 CybertronCybertron
Cybertron is a fictional planet, the homeworld of the Transformers in the various fictional incarnations of the metaseries and toyline by Hasbro. In the Japanese series, the planet is referred to as "Cybertron" pronounced as セイバートロン Seibātoron...
, 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 Decepticon
Decepticon
The Decepticons are usually depicted as the antagonists in the fictional universes of the Transformers stoyline and related comics and cartoons, and the enemies of the Autobots and the University of California Davis Aggies...
s - with Starscream
Starscream (Transformers)
Starscream is a fictional character in the Transformers franchise. He is one of the most prolific characters in the Transformers fictional work, appearing in almost all incarnations of the story. Starscream is usually portrayed with the same characterization...
at his side. He then plunges Cybertron into civil war
Civil war
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same nation state or republic, or, less commonly, between two countries created from a formerly-united nation state....
, killing millions. During the Battle of Tyger Pax, Autobot
Autobot
Autobot, a faction of sentient robots from the planet Cybertron, are usually the main protagonists in the fictional universe of the Transformers, a collection of various toys, graphic novels, paperback books, cartoons and movies first introduced in 1984. In all but one Transformer story, the...
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.
Megatron, keeping a close psychic bond with the Allspark, soon locates it on Earth. Heating up during entry into the atmosphere
Atmosphere
An atmosphere is a layer of gases that may surround a material body of sufficient mass, and that is held in place by the gravity of the body. An atmosphere may be retained for a longer duration, if the gravity is high and the atmosphere's temperature is low...
, 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
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
, and by 1935, work begins on the Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam, once known as Boulder Dam, is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the US states of Arizona and Nevada. It was constructed between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression and was dedicated on September 30, 1935, by President...
over it with plans to move Megatron there.
In 2003, Bumblebee lands on Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
before landing in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, and takes up the form of a 1976 Chevrolet Camaro
Chevrolet Camaro
The Chevrolet Camaro is an automobile manufactured by General Motors under the Chevrolet brand, classified as a pony car and some versions also as a muscle car. It went on sale on September 29, 1966, for the 1967 model year and was designed as a competing model to the Ford Mustang...
. 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. Starscream, Blackout and Barricade follow suit, destroying the Beagle 2
Beagle 2
Beagle 2 was an unsuccessful British landing spacecraft that formed part of the European Space Agency's 2003 Mars Express mission. All contact with it was lost upon its separation from the Mars Express six days before its scheduled entry into the atmosphere...
Mars rover in the process. They scan and destroy vehicles 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. A Target Corporation
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
-exclusive follow-up shows Bumblebee tracking down Sam by checking outside Archibald's asylum and looking for his son, Clarence, to Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
, 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.
Publication
The first issue was due for release in February 2007, but was moved back to March 6 due to a printing error. It was part of Free Comic Book DayFree Comic Book Day
Free Comic Book Day is an annual promotional effort by the North American comic book industry to help bring new readers into independent comic book stores. Retailer Joe Field of in Concord, CA brainstormed the event in his "Big Picture" column in the August 2001 issue of Comics & Games Retailer...
on May 5, 2007. A trade paperback is scheduled for release on June 25, with an adaptation of the movie itself released the same day.
Issues 1 and 2 sold out.
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 PrimeOptimus Prime
Optimus Prime is a fictional character from the Transformers franchise. Prime is the leader of the autobots, a faction of transforming robots from the planet Cybertron. The autobots are constantly waging war against a rival faction of transforming robots called Decepticons...
, Trailbreaker
Trailbreaker
Trailbreaker is the name of several fictional characters from the Transformers toy line and animated television series. Due to trademark issues, newer toys of the character are named Trailcutter.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
, Ironhide
Ironhide
Ironhide is the name of several different fictional characters in the Transformers universes. According to the original creator of the Transformers names, Bob Budiansky, Ironhide was named after the television series Ironside.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
, Motormaster
Motormaster
Motormaster is the name of several fictional characters from the Transformers universe. Motormaster made his first appearance in the Marvel Transformers comic before appearing in the animated series. Other than in Transformers: War for Cybertron, Motormaster is the leader of the Stunticons, an...
and Bumblebee
Bumblebee (Transformers)
Bumblebee is the name of several fictional characters from the various Transformers universes. In most incarnations, Bumblebee is a small, yellow Autobot with the altmode of a compact car.- Transformers: Generation 1 :...
, as well as Scourge from the Robots in Disguise series. Issue 3 also parodies Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
with a search engine
Search engine
A search engine is an information retrieval system designed to help find information stored on a computer system. The search results are usually presented in a list and are commonly called hits. Search engines help to minimize the time required to find information and the amount of information...
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
Starscream (Transformers)
Starscream is a fictional character in the Transformers franchise. He is one of the most prolific characters in the Transformers fictional work, appearing in almost all incarnations of the story. Starscream is usually portrayed with the same characterization...
.
Related media
After the close of the prequel series, IDW PublishingIDW Publishing
IDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...
also published a 4-issue adaptation of the film itself
Transformers: Movie Adaptation
Transformers: Movie Adaptation, published by IDW Publishing, is a 2007 comic book limited series that serves as an adaptation of the 2007 film Transformers....
to tie-in
Tie-in
A tie-in is an authorized product based on a media property a company is releasing, such as a movie or video/DVD, computer game, video game, television program/television series, board game, web site, role-playing game or literary property...
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
Concept art
Concept art is a form of illustration where the main goal is to convey a visual representation of a design, idea, and/or mood for use in films, video games, animation, or comic books before it is put into the final product. Concept art is also referred to as visual development and/or concept design...
and interviews.
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 , while issue 2's strip on Megatron followed on from Megatron's departure from Cybertron .
IDW
IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...
has also produced a miniseries that acts as a sequel to the Movie, titled The Reign of Starscream .
Animated Adaptation
For the release of the Transformers DVD, The Wal-MartWal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
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
Arcee
Arcee is the name of a fictional character in the Transformers franchise. She is a female Autobot, usually pink in color. Being the most famous of the Female Transformers, she has two primary forms...
and Swindle
Swindle
The term swindle may refer to:* Swindle, a confidence trick* Swindle, a kind of fraud* Swindle , a ruse by which a chess player in a losing position tricks his opponentIn media and popular culture, Swindle can refer to:...
. Arcee still appears in a non speaking role.
Voice Cast
- Peter CullenPeter CullenPeter Claver Cullen is a Canadian voice actor, known as the voice of Eeyore in the Winnie-the-Pooh franchise, Optimus Prime and Ironhide in the original Transformers series, and the narrator in both of the original American Voltron series...
as Optimus Prime - Frank WelkerFrank WelkerFranklin Wendell "Frank" Welker is an American actor who specializes in voice acting and has contributed character voices and other vocal effects to American television and motion pictures.-Acting career:...
as Megatron - Mark Ryan as Bumblebee
- Patrick HallahanPatrick HallahanPatrick Hallahan is an American drummer with the Kentucky-based rock outfit My Morning Jacket. While the sound of early MMJ included softer drums behind reverb, on It Still Moves and Z Hallahan's drumming became much more powerful and prominent, drawing comparisons to Led Zeppelin drummer John...
as StarscreamStarscream (Transformers)Starscream is a fictional character in the Transformers franchise. He is one of the most prolific characters in the Transformers fictional work, appearing in almost all incarnations of the story. Starscream is usually portrayed with the same characterization...
/ Additional Voices - Brian StepanekBrian StepanekBrian Stepanek is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Arwin Hawkhauser in the Disney Channel Original Series The Suite Life of Zack & Cody...
as Blackout / Agent Reggie Simmons - Kevin DunnKevin DunnKevin Dunn is an American actor who has appeared in supporting roles in a number of films since the 1980s. His roles include Colonel Hicks in the 1998 version of Godzilla, Sam Witwicky's father in Transformers, and Oscar Galvin, the primary antagonist in the 2010 action thriller...
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
Barricade (Transformers)
Barricade is the name of four fictional characters in the various Transformers universes.-Transformers: Generation 1:Barricade first featured in 1990 as part of a Decepticon race track patrol team, his vehicle mode being a Formula One racing car....
and Epps
See also
- Transformers: Ghosts of YesterdayTransformers: Ghosts of YesterdayTransformers: Ghosts of Yesterday, is a prequel novel to the Michael Bay Transformers film. It was written by Alan Dean Foster, based on a story by David Cian.-Plot summary:...
- Transformers: The Reign of Starscream