Transformers Comic issue 4.12

The Evil Shred
As Bumblebee and Raf are locked in a struggle, Raf reflects to how they got into this situation. Earlier that day, the Autobots are engaging in a fight with Vehicons in The Wave. Watching from afar, Starscream laments that his troops are getting slaughtered and demands the nearby Soundwave do something. Soundwave responds by pointing at Bumblebee and moments later, the scout is knocked down. While Ratchet tends to Bumblebee, the other Autobots open fire on the two Decepticons higher up. Ratchet attaches a brace to Bumblebee's chest and sends him back to base with Raf for some peace and quiet until the medic is able to effect more substantial repairs.
 * Script: Robin Etherington
 * Art: Dario Brizuela
 * Colours: Dario Brizuela with Franco Riesco
 * Lettering: Comicraft
 * Continuity: Transformers: Prime

Reasoning that cartoons are the best medicine, Raf sits Bumblebee down to watch the classic horror Mummies Have Feelings II. The pair are soon asleep on the sofa, but as Bumblebee slumbers, something begins to break through his bandage. The Autobot wakes with a start to find that Soundwave's disembodied hand is crawling out of his chest wound. 'Bee grabs the hand and throws it across the base into a pile of trash while Raf wonders if he really saw what he just saw.

Though Raf insists it was just an hallucination, Bumblebee pokes around in the pile of trash, and Soundwave's hand comes flying out past him. Raf optimistically tries using the TV remote control on it. Naturally this fails, and the hand uses a lever to dump a pile of junk on Bumblebee before trying to strangle the Autobot. Luckily Raf spots Miko's Party Kit nearby, which happens to be full of fireworks. He duct-tapes the largest skyrocket to Soundwave's hand and Bumblebee lights the fuse on some sparks, firing Soundwave's hand out through the top of the mountain. Moments later, the rest of the Autobots arrive back to find a disaster zone, and Miko demands to know why Raf set off the Big Banger.

Much later, Starscream and Soundwave search the desert for the latter's hand, and Starscream suggests his companion builds a spare one next time.

Autobots

 * Bumblebee
 * Ratchet
 * Arcee
 * Optimus Prime
 * Bulkhead

Decepticons

 * Vehicons


 * Starscream


 * Soundwave

Humans

 * Raf Esquivel


 * Jack Darby


 * Miko Nakadai

Quotes
"Besides, this ambush was your idea! When are you going to take matters in hand?" [Soundwave points at Bumblebee] "Stop pointing! That's not what I mean by "Taking it in hand!" I hope you're not developing a sense of humour..."
 * —Starscream

"We just shared a hallucination, that's all. That sort of thing happens in comics all the time!"
 * —Raf has flagrant disregard for the fourth wall.

"Liftoff! Enjoy our handiwork!"
 * —Raf

"Oh, bravo, Soundwave! That's one down, three fingers and a thumb still to go!"
 * —Starscream as the hunt for Soundwave's hand continues.

Errors

 * Somehow Bumblebee is small enough to sit on the sofa next to Raf.

Articles and features

 * Use Raf's codebreaker to crack the Cybertronian codes in this comic!
 * Prime Viewing — a preview of Prime season 2, with lots of spoilers!
 * Competition: win Geomag police sets!
 * Bumblebee's Brainteasers
 * Poster with Ratchet and Bumblebee posing dramatically.
 * Airachnid profile
 * Soundwave's Stumpers (Starscream is indisposed)
 * Transformers Roll Call! Update — a very brief piece on the Optimus Prime Truck Tour.
 * Mega-Mouth: Megatron and Arcee answer letters and critique art.
 * Competition: Win Transformers: Prime weaponisers!

Free Gift!

 * Mystery Gifts! (seriously, that's all it says on their web site)

Mega-Mouth
"This time no excuses will be accepted, puny Earth-people. I demand picture perfection and I demand it NOW!!!" "You're forgetting the magic words, Megapants" "I have no need for magic, Autobot. Brute force has always served me well."


 * —Megatron and Arcee

Errors

 * The "Next Time" section displays the release of the next comic as "January 2012", instead of "January 2013".

Trivia

 * It's pretty clear by now that the magazine has gone quarter-yearly. In doing so, the episode guide appears to have gotten dumped, but with only four issues a year, it would have been extraordinarily out of date anyway.

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