Ben 10 Returns: Part 1

Ben 10 Returns: Part 1 is the first episode of the first season of Ben 10: Alien Force, and the first episode overall.
==Synopsis==
Ben Tennyson is a normal teenager who has put away his toys including the Omnitrix that gave him his powers. Ben's life takes a turn when he is attacked by an alien and discovers Grandpa Max is missing. To find his grandpa, Ben teams up with his cousin, Gwen, his grandpa's partner, Magister Labrid, and even his former nemesis, Kevin 11. When they discover the Forever Knights (a secret organization that deals in illegal alien technology) and DNAliens (the Highbreed's henchmen) are trading dangerous weapons, Ben decides to once again put on the Omnitrix and quickly learns he can now transform into ten new aliens.
==Plot==
At a DNAlien lair, a Highbreed is informed of an individual leaking the alien's operations to the authorities for several months. The source of the leak has been located: Max Tennyson. The Highbreed orders that Max be eliminated to prevent further interference with their plans.
A soccer game is shown being held at Ben Tennyson's school. Ben, now 15, is his team's goalkeeper while bullies Cash and JT are among the opposing team. With little time left, Cash and JT nearly score a goal but are stopped by Ben just as the time stops. Following the match, Ben meets a girl named Julie Yamamoto, who congratulates him on his victory. Ben bikes to his grandfather's RV, the Rustbucket 2 and knocks on the door, unaware he is being watched. When no one answers, Ben sees that the lights inside are off. He finds the vehicle's key and manages to enter, finding the interior ransacked. The bathroom is empty despite supposed noises coming from inside. As he is leaving, Ben is attacked by a DNAlien and is unable to defend himself without the Omnitrix. The DNAlien momentarily loses sight of Ben, who takes advantage of the situation and scares off the alien with a fire extinguisher.
Ben attempts operating the vehicle's dashboard when a compartment opens with a device inside. The device contains a pre-recorded holographic message from Max, who informs Ben of renewed alien activity on Earth that he is investigating and that the Omnitrix is safe with him. Ben does not notice the appearance of a DNAlien on the recording as it ends. Ben rushes home to see if Max was serious. The Omnitrix is indeed there in his room inside a box. Ben is confused of Max's motives.
Ben leaves to see Gwen at her karate class. Ben tells her he needs her advice on something. He shows her the recording, believing Max is telling him to begin reusing the Omnitrix, but Gwen disagrees, remembering that it was always Ben's choice as to whether or not he wanted to use it. Ben says how he used to feel special wearing the watch, but Gwen tells Ben he was the one that was special. She warns that his regular teenage life will come to an end once he starts using the Omnitrix again, but Ben is confident Max is in need of his help. The man watching Ben at the Rustbucket reappears asking for the Omnitrix. Ben refuses and attempts to run, but the man pursues them and reveals himself to in fact be an alien known as Magister Labrid. He shoots Ben when the latter attempts to run; Gwen harnesses her greatly enhanced magical prowess to restrain Labrid. They interrogate him and learn he is a Plumber like Max. He reports that Max went missing in the middle of a case. The Magister suddenly realizes who he's talking to and apologizes for mistaking Ben for a random thieving child. He agrees to help them find Max.
Ben then decides to put on the Omnitrix again. The three head to an abandoned train station, having been informed by Max that an illegal alien tech delivery is being carried out by the Forever Knights. Taking cover, they watch as more shipments arrive followed by a green muscle car. Out steps the Knights' supplier: Kevin Levin, who Ben and Gwen instantly recognize. The trade takes place as planned. Being delivered is a weapon called the Laser Lance, which Kevin tests on a nearby train car. Labrid is enraged that Level 5 technology is present on Earth (the planet's standard being Level 2). However, the human weapon suppliers are in fact DNAliens. The Magister uses his pistol to create a fire barrier between his group and the criminals. The Forever Knights, still continue to converge on them. Ben attempts to fight them through activating the Omnitrix, but the Omnitrix is dysfunctional.
Gwen uses her powers to combat the Knights and creates a shield before them to protect Ben. Both Gwen and Labrid become immobilized by the DNAliens' slime-like salivary material. Ben watches the Omnitrix suddenly change its appearance on the spot. With his watch recalibrated, Ben sees a newer collection of species to transform into. Selecting at random, Ben finds himself transforming into a plant-based, odorous creature called Swampfire.
Swampfire uses his great strength to fend off his enemies. He is unimpeded by incoming gunfire, which appears to harmlessly impale his body. A shot fired suddenly severs his arm, but his powers enable him to reattach lost limbs. Kevin, meanwhile, confronts Swampfire for revenge for his defeat and imprisonment years ago. His new abilities allow him to literally absorb any form of matter, resulting in his skin being composed of said matter instead. He and Swampfire duel. Kevin tries using a train car to attack Swampfire. However, using his ability of producing fire, Swampfire blasts the car, incapacitating Kevin. Swampfire transforms back into Ben and Labrid places special cuffs on Kevin that suppress his matter absorption ability.
With the Knights having escaped with the weaponry, Labrid wants Kevin to disclose their location as he set up the deal. Kevin agrees to help as he was never paid. They travel in his car. Labrid explains that the weapons deal would lead them to the alien activity Max mentioned, before Max vanished. Gwen jokes that Max is lying to them and is enjoying leisure instead, but Ben angrily lashes out at her for it. This enrages Kevin, who stops the car and orders Ben to apologize. Ben complies, though Gwen understands his worries. Labrid points out Ben is the one with the Omnitrix and he should be trying to find Max. They arrive at a large castle. Gwen uses her abilities to lower the drawbridge, but the place is deserted. Kevin is sure this is still the right place and instructs them to look out for a hidden door. Ben accidentally knocks over a suit of armor, and the sound awakens a massive dragon-like creature.
==Noteworthy Events==
===Major Events===
*Max Tennyson goes missing, which leads Ben and Gwen to go on a quest to search for him.
*It is revealed that Ben took off the Omnitrix at some point after the Original Series.
*The Omnitrix reconfigure after Ben puts it back on his wrist for the first time in a while.
* Kevin returns since his previous encounter with Ben and Gwen.
====Character Debuts====
*Ben Tennyson (Alien Force debut)
*Gwen Tennyson (Alien Force debut)
*Kevin Levin (Alien Force debut)
*Magister Labrid
*Highbreed
*DNAliens
*Forever Knights (Alien Force debut)
*Mech Dragon
*Max Tennyson (Alien Force debut)
*Cash Murray (Alien Force debut)
*JT (Alien Force debut)
*Julie Yamamoto
*Sandra Tennyson
*Sensei
*Sparring Partner
====Omnitrix Alien Debut==== 
*Swampfire
===Minor Events===
*It is revealed that Kevin can absorb matter.
== Characters==
===Main Characters===
*Ben Tennyson (first reappearance)
*Gwen Tennyson (first reappearance)
*Kevin Levin (first reappearance)
===Supporting Characters===
*Magister Labrid (first appearance)
===Antagonists===
*Highbreed (first appearance)
*DNAliens (first appearance)
*Forever Knights (first reappearance)
*Mech Dragon (first appearance)
===Other Characters===
*Max Tennyson (first reappearance; hologram)
*Cash Murray (first reappearance)
*JT (first reappearance)
*Julie Yamamoto (first appearance)
*Sandra Tennyson (first appearance; cameo)
*Sensei (first appearance)
*Sparring Partner (first appearance)
==Aliens Used==
*Swampfire (first appearance)
== Quotes ==
==Naming and Translations==
==Cast==
== Continuity==
*Ben tells Magister Labrid that they've tangled with the Forever Knights before, referring to their encounters in the Original Series.
*Ben states that Kevin is still supposed to be in the Null Void after the events of Back With a Vengeance.
==Allusions==
*In both this and the first episode of the Original Series, Ben transforms into his fire-based alien first.
*The soccer clothes Ben wears in the beginning of the episode are based off the clothes he wore in the Original Series.
==Errors== 
*When Ben dodges the DNAlien, as he reaches for his Omnitrix, his left arm does not have a sleeve for a few frames.
*When Ben passes Sandra, her hair is brown instead of blonde.
*When Ben is sleeping in the gym of Gwen's school, in the first shot, his belly is seen, but in the next shot, his belly is covered.
*When Ben first watches Max's recording, his image changes to a DNAlien for the last second, but this doesn't occur when he views it again in front of Gwen.
*When Ben puts the Omnitrix on his wrist, it is smaller than usual.
*When the Omnitrix reconfigure, it gets smaller, but after Ben tries to activate it, it is bigger.
*The gap between the Omnitrix and Ben's sleeve changes between shots.
*When Ben cycles through his new aliens, the Jetray hologram has no legs.
*When Kevin examines a gold goblet in the castle, its design changes between shots.
*Echo Echo and Humungousaur are listed in the end credits despite not appearing in the episode.
B10R1 (149).png|Brown hair
B10R1 (194).png|Belly seen
B10R1 (196).png|Belly covered
B10R1 (276).png|Small original Omnitrix
B10R1 (414).png|Small reconfigured Omnitrix
B10R1 (415).png|Bigger reconfigured Omnitrix
B10R1 (416).png|Sleeve error
B10R1 (419).png|Hologram error
B10R1 (610).png|First goblet design
B10R1 (612).png|Second goblet design
B10R1 (629).png|Echo Echo and Humungousaur in the credits
==Trivia== 
*The episode's title is listed as Ben 10 Returns Part One within the episode itself, Ben 10 Returns: Pt. 1 on the Ben 10 Alien Force: Volume 1 DVD, Ben 10 Returns Part 1 on the Cartoon Network website, Ben 10 Returns (Part 1) on Amazon Prime Video, and Ben 10 Returns, Pt. 1 on iTunes.
*When introduced in the Original Series, it was established that the Plumbers were a secret government organization comprised of only humans.Truth Beginning in Alien Force, the Plumbers are instead portrayed as an intergalactic police force with human and alien membership.
*In this episode, Ben didn't know that Kevin could absorb matter. This is retconned in Omniverse, as Ben sees Kevin absorbing matter in front of him.From Hedorium to Eternity
*In this episode, Ben still considers Kevin his enemy. This is retconned in Omniverse, Ben trusts Kevin and believes that Kevin became a hero.
*The Omnitrix's hourglass-like symbol was previously a hallmark of Azmuth and his inventions, seen in his clothing and suit.Ben 10: Secret of the Omnitrix However, this is changed to the insignia for the Plumbers, as seen on the Plumber Badges.
*Although they share the same voice actor, the DNAlien at the beginning of the episode was not Max.
==Notes==
==References==
===Crew Statements===
====T.J. Collins====
====Dwayne McDuffie====
===Cartoon Network===
===Ben 10 Planet===
es:Ben 10 regresa
it:Il Ritorno di Ben 10 (Prima parte)
pl:Ben 10 powraca: część 1
pt-br:O Retorno de Ben 10: Parte 1
ro:Ben 10 se întoarce: Partea 1
ru:Возвращение Бена: Часть 1
tr:Ben 10 Returns (Part 1)
Category:Episodes
Category:Two Part Episode
Category:Ben 10: Alien Force Episodes
Category:Ben 10: Alien Force Season 1 Episodes
Category:Highbreed Wars
Category:Episodes Written by Dwayne McDuffie
Category:Episodes Directed by Dan Riba