TRANSFORMERS #18, by Image Comics & Skybound on 3/12/25, hits every group with maximum impact when Cliffjumper’s new creation decimates the Decepticons, Ultra Magnus’s isolation is interrupted by G.I. Joe, and the Battle in Seattle ends in the worst way for the Autobots.
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: May 12, 2025
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 32
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of TRANSFORMERS #18:
Recap:
When we last left the robots in disguise in Transformers #17, Thundercracker learned the horrible truth behind Skywarp’s dissection for parts in the Ark. Cliffjumper led his allies to the Hall of Sparks to use the remnants of his past Autobots-In-Arms to create a new Autobot. Lastly, Bruticus and Devastator began their second fight while the Autobots rescue the citizens of Seattle.
Plot Analysis:
In Transformers #18, the tide turns more than once. On Cybertron, Elita-1 and her team are pinned down by Decepticons in a firefight. When a well-aimed grenade tears down the Autobot barricade, it seems all hope is lost. Suddenly, the team is rescued when Cliffhanger’s new creation – Shredhead – tears through the Decepticons easily.
Elsewhere, Arcee and Carly work together to convince Ultra Magnus that Shockwave’s reign of terror is over and it’s time to rejoin the Autobots. Ultra is swayed but not convinced. Before Ultra commits to ending his isolation, the group is attacked by… G.I. Joe Infantry units. After a tense firefight, most Autobots escape to prevent loss of life, but Ultra Magnus and Carly are captured.
In Seattle, the battle between Bruticus and Devastator rages while Optimus Prime and the Autobots frantically evacuate the humans. Soundwave and Starscream support their respective giants, causing devastation in all directions. The fight takes a wild turn when the giants climb a skyscraper to continue the fight and fall from a terrific height.
The issue concludes when Megatron arrives to reclaim his role as ruler of the Decepticons, relieving Soundwave, sending Starscream fleeing and forcing the Autobots to retreat.
First Impressions:
Transformers #17 takes everything great about issue #18 and adds delicious scoopfuls of jaw-dropping drama and wow moments. Writer Daniel Warren Johnson brings the leader of the Decepticons back at the perfect moment for maximum impact, elevating the excellent series to another level.
Artwork and Presentation:
Jorge Corona must be very busy because there is action, emotion, drama, and massive amounts of detail on every page to give fans every penny’s worth of comic visual goodness. The character designs look great, the action is loud (in the best way), and Corona’s ability to tell the story through the art is outstanding.
Art Samples:
Story Positives & Negatives:
The Positives:
Daniel Warren Johnson’s wow moments are the deal maker in Transformers #17. You get Kaiju-sized robot fights, surprise arrivals in every subplot, and turning tides on every front. It’s impossible to guess where this series is headed next, but we’re enjoying every minute of it.
The Negatives:
Daniel Warren Johnson makes a creative choice that doesn’t sit quite right. When G.I. Joe forces arrive, they take lethal measures when Ultra begins firing on the advancing soldiers, knowing there are civilians present (Carly and Spike). That doesn’t seem like a very Joe thing to do.
The Bigger Picture:
Series Continuity:
More than any previous issue, Transformers #18 comes closest to the highly anticipated G.I. Joe/ Transformers crossover when Infantry forces actively engage in a small skirmish. To be fair, there isn’t a recognizable Joe in the bunch because all you see are generic soldiers with Joe patches on their uniforms, but that appearance is still moving the series to an eventual showdown. When will that showdown occur? Skybound hasn’t announced a date, but we’ll report on it when they do.
Final Thoughts:
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TRANSFORMERS #18 is a hard-hitting, action-packed collection of wow moments and big entrances to get your Transformers-loving heart pumping. Daniel Warren Johnson keeps multiple plots moving with maximum impact and interest, and Jorge Corona’s storytelling-art is fantastic.
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