TRANSFORMERS #12, by Image Comics & Skybound on 9/11/24, brings the second arc to a close when Optimus leads a final battle against Shockwave to destroy the portal connecting Earth to Cybertron.
Credits:
- Writer: Daniel Warren Johnson
- Artist: Jorge Corona
- Colorist: Mike Spicer
- Letterer: Rus Wooton
- Cover Artist: Daniel Warren Johnson, Mike Spicer (cover A)
- Publisher: Image Comics
- Release Date: September 11, 2024
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 24
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of TRANSFORMERS #12:
First Impressions:
If you’re going to end an arc with a bang, you might as well end the arc with a very big BANG! Writer Daniel Warren Johnson concludes the second arc on a high note in Transformers #12, and Optimus Prime will never be the same after the devastating choices he’s forced to make.
Plot Analysis:
When last we left the Cybertronians in Transformers #11, the Autobots staged a surprise attack on Shockwave at their Nemesis base to save Cliffjumper and Jazz from torture. At the decisive moment in the battle, Ultra Magnus panicked when faced with Devastator and the prospect of more violence.
In Transformers #12, the battle rages on at the Harvester beam that holds Cybertron in Earth’s orbit and feeds a steady supply of Energon back to the Decepticon stronghold. Optimus plans on blowing up the Harvester, but he can’t send the signal while Soundwave holds Cliffjumper right next to the Harvester ring. Suddenly, Carly drives her van through the portal that leads to the heart of the battle, knocking Cliffjumper free from Soundwave’s grip.
This is it, Folks. Daniel Warren Johnson steps on the gas by picking up in the middle of a heated battle where every page turn gives you another twist as the momentum sways back and forth. Johnson’s edge-of-your-seat storytelling grabs you on the first panel and won’t let go.
Sadly, Cliffjumper is freed from one frying pan before Devastator kicks him into another. After Cliffjumper pries Carly out of the smashed van, Devastator lands a kaiju-sized punt that sends Cliffjumper and the wrecked van hurtling through the Harvester’s portal and into a trio of Combaticons waiting on the other side. Seizing the distraction opportunity, the Autobots attack Devastator en force and knock him down, toppling him on top of the Harvester engine. With the Harvester shutting down, the teleporter beam holding Cybertron dwindles, forcing Cybertron to resume its place in space.
Johnson smartly uses the battle to further the story with high-stakes consequences for both sides. By forcing Cliffjumper through to Cybertron while the beam begins to fade, Johnson establishes a ticking clock that forces the Autobots to quickly choose who they can and can’t recover, raising the tension considerably.
Unwilling to abandon Cliffjumper a second time, Optimus Prime races through the portal and attacks the Combaticons surrounding Cliffjumper. The smaller Decepticons are easily sent fleeing, but one Decepticon remains – Shockwave. Optimus knows he’ll receive no mercy, so he attacks first and blows Shockwave’s arm off. The two battle until only one Transformer remains standing.
The issue concludes with Elita burning bridges for selfish reasons, Optimus making a painful choice, and one heck of a tubular rescue.
Overall, Transformers #12 lands punch after punch of bombastic action, gut-wrenching emotional beats, hard choices with painful consequences, and a wild ending. This series won two Eisners for best ongoing and best writing, and at this rate, Transformers will repeat that success next year.
Artwork and Presentation:
Jorge Corona continues to impress by taking Daniel Warren Johnson’s explosive script and packing in all the excitement and energy humanly possible in every panel. If Corona can hang in on this series with Johnson as long as possible, everybody wins. Plus, Mike Spicer’s colors are outstanding.
Art Samples:
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
Transformers has been touted as part of the interconnected universe since the beginning. However, there have yet to be any G.I. Joe appearances since a brief cameo by Duke early in the first arc. If there’s to be a massive crossover in the future, the seeds for that event have yet to sprout.
Creator Insights:
Daniel Warren Johnson is largely responsible for the success of this series, but sadly, Johnson won’t be around forever. As of this writing, Daniel Warren Johnson has announced he’s leaving the title after issue #24. The writer replacing him has yet to be announced.
Final Thoughts:
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TRANSFORMERS #12 is a mesmerizing display of bombastic, over-the-top action, drama, and mature themes from start to finish. Daniel Warren Johnson is giving his all to a series that keeps getting better, and Jorge Corona’s art suits Johnson’s storytelling vibe to a tee.
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