The Need for Read

« Transformers: EarthSpark ep 37 »
"The Need for Read"
Season	3
No. in season	1
Production company	Hasbro Entertainment Nickelodeon
Airdate	October 25, 2024 (Paramount+) TBA, 2024 (Nickelodeon)
Writer	Dale Malinowski
Director	Vinton Heuck
Animation studio	88 Pictures
Watch this episode on Paramount+

Bumblebee and Breakdown’s friendship is put to the test when he, Mo, and Thrash enter the dome .

Synopsis

Bumblebee and Breakdown fire fruitlessly at the Chaos Dome enclosing Terratronus, but are unable to breach it. Bumblebee regrets that he can't free his friend — getting Robby and Mo to bring down the dome would free all of the Decepticons after all. Promising to try again tomorrow, Bee drives off.

At the Malto farm, Robby, Mo, Twitch and Thrash are reading Transformers comics. Robby discovers he's missing the vital last issue in the series due to being busy saving the world at the time, and the issue is now sold out. As Robby and Twitch head off to find something else to do, Bumblebee rolls up and Mo fills him in on the problem. She suddenly has an idea — the comic shop inside the dome must have the issue Robby is after and she can get them into the dome to get it. Sensing an opportunity to free Breakdown, Bee is all for this idea.

The trio arrive at a remote part of the Chaos Dome where Mo uses her cyber-sleeve to create an opening so they can head inside. Within, they discover some of the hazards — red lightning coming from the sky and Skywarp and Nova Storm making futile attempts to escape the dome. They stop to admire Terratronus and also Starscream, still trapped inside her noggin. Bee touches Terratronus and absorbs a charge of chaos energy, flinging him back and causing his blaster to fire wildly, which inevitably attracts Decepticon attention. Soundwave and Breakdown quickly arrive, with the latter expressing disappointment that Bee knows how to get in but didn't tell him. Bee manages to talk Breakdown around while the pair duel, and Breakdown cooperates with taking down Soundwave and the cassettes, allowing the trio to escape.

Bee and Thrash head down the road towards Witwicky, attempting to avoid the patches of chaos fog on the road. Bee's admission he's never beaten Breakdown in a fight or race distracts Thrash long enough that he hits a patch of fog and for a few moments is diving out of control, but fortunately Bumblebee is able to prevent him flying off the road. They continue on to the comic store, only to find that Skullcruncher is running rampant outside it. Mo and Thrash are startled when Breakdown arrives ready to help, and then disappointed in Bee when they realize this is why he came on the mission, but he manages to convince them Breakdown is on their side. While Bee and Breakdown keep Skullcruncher busy, Thrash and Mo retrieve the comic from the store. Skullcruncher charges them as they emerge, but Bumblebee and Breakdown cooperate to defeat the Con before the four of them head to the edge of the dome.

Just as they're celebrating their victory, the comic is snatched from Mo's hands by Shockwave. To Bee's shock, Breakdown moves to stand with Shockwave, Soundwave and Skullcruncher, explaining that while Bee is his friend, the Cons are his family. Shockwave offers them the comic book back, but only if Mo frees the Decepticons from the dome. Mo is not willing to do that or to leave the comic behind, but Bumblebee has a better idea and challenges Breakdown to a race, winner take all. Knowing Bee has never beaten Breakdown in a race, Shockwave sees the logic in accepting, so soon Bumblebee and Breakdown are lined up for a no-rules race around "Chaos County". Laserbeak provides footage and commentary as the pair take off. As expected, Breakdown employs all manner of cheating to try to slow Bumblebee down, but as they approach the finish line, Bumblebee intentionally drives into a bolt of chaos energy, temporarily supercharging him so he finishes first. Shockwave reluctantly concedes and allows Bumblebee, Mo and Thrash to leave with the comic.

Later, they present the comic to an overjoyed Robby, who immediately reads through it and reacts with shock at the ending.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes

"Why can't my life be normal again?"
"Because it's not scripted like comics?"
"I wish someone was writing my life. I bet I'd have it pretty sweet for saving the world twice."

—Robby and Twitch

"Sis, you know Thrash loves the wacky. (gasp) Maybe that's my catchphrase. I should practice that!"

—Thrash

"Thrash does not like the wacky. No longer my catchphrase."

—Also Thrash

"Your logic suggests a stalemate, and I will not accept an inconclusive outcome."

—Shockwave

"Good luck! Sorry, you kinda need it. ...What?"

—Thrash has utmost confidence in Bumblebee.

Notes

Continuity notes

Transformers references

• The 4th issue of a Transformers comic ending on a massive cliffhanger.
• The cover of the comic the Maltos are after is partly based on the famous cover for The Transformers #5, featuring Shockwave striking the same pose as his Marvel counterpart.

Real-world references

• The opening scene evokes a stereotypical Old West film gunfight until it's revealed Bumblebee and Breakdown are firing at the dome.
• In addition to the aforementioned Shockwave homage, Robby's comic also takes heavy inspiration from the oft-homaged cover to Uncanny X-Men #141, which features a similar "wanted poster" of multiple deceased or captured X-Men.

Errors

• This whole episode's plot really hinges on a lack of digital comic purchasing in the 2020s, unless Robby prefers to only collect physical copies of comic books.
• Roger Craig Smith is listed in the credits as "Roger Criag Smith".

Trivia