TRANSFORMERS #19, by Image Comics & Skybound on 4/9/25, recounts Megatron’s earlier days as the leader of his Decepticon clan when he was captured and forced to fight in a trial by combat.
Credits:
- Writer: Daniel Warren Johnson
- Artist: Ludo Lullabi
- Colorist: Adriano Lucas
- Letterer: Rus Wooton
- Cover Artist: Daniel Warren Johnson (cover A)
- Publisher: Image Comics
- Release Date: April 9, 2025
- Comic Rating: Teen
- Cover Price: $3.99
- Page Count: 32
- Format: Single Issue
Covers:
Analysis of TRANSFORMERS #19:
Recap:
When we last left the robots in disguise in Transformers #18, Bruticus and Devastator tore up the city in their second fight while the Autobots rushed to evacuate the human population. The fight ended when both Kaiju-sized combatants fell from a skyscraper to the streets below, and Megatron arrived to assume control of his squabbling underlings.
Plot Analysis:
Transformers #19 begins with Megatron waking up aboard a strange spaceship. A Quintesson named Dezimir, accompanied by Skuxxoid guards, tells Megatron he has been captured to participate in a trial. Megatron demands to be released, but Dezimir wields the Matrix and controls Megatron’s every move. Megatron is dragged into an arena and ordered to fight for his life in the trial.
The combat begins with a horde of Sharkitons. Megatron bests the toothsome opponents easily, but the second round begins when the floor panels beneath his feet separate to reveal a pool of lava that keeps the Decepticon confined to small plates. Megatron’s battle gets tougher when he’s attacked by a giant, metallic dragon named Mechanokoar. The dragon destroys Megatron.
Megatron wakes up in the same arena and is ordered to begin the trial again. History repeats itself hundreds of times until Megatron’s spirit of defiance is broken. Finally, Dezimir’s master arrives and declares the trial over. The master (unseen) orders Dezimir to use the Matrix to reconfigure Megatron to give him his third form – an ultra-powerful fusion cannon that gives Megatron control of whoever wields it.
First Impressions:
Casual fans who may have wondered what form Megatron can transform into – a tank or a gun – get their answer with another great issue from Daniel Warren Johnson and gust artist Ludo Lullabi. Not only do you get an answer to a long-standing question, but Johnson uses the opportunity to build out a significant piece of Megatron’s backstory and elevate his character as a formidable foe.
Artwork and Presentation:
Ludo Lullabi steps in (temporarily) for Jorge Corona to present a set of visuals that are dynamic, dramatic, and pretty darn cool. The last time we reviewed a comic with Lullabi on the internal pages was on the fan-favorite Battle Chasers series, so if you’re a fan of Battle Chasers (and who isn’t?), you’ll love the look in this issue.
Art Samples:
Story Positives & Negatives:
The Positives:
Megatron is the OG villain of Transformers, so it’s quite a feat for Daniel Warren Johnson to deliver such an entertaining series for eighteen issues without Megatron’s presence. That said, it’s good to bring Megatron back, and Johnson rewards the reader’s patience with an all-Megatron issue leader that shows the Decepticon villain in action from start to finish, with a cool reminder of why he’s the best Transformer to lead the Decepticons.
The Negatives:
An all-Megatron issue may be a crowd-pleaser for fans, but the action pushes the pretext and details aside. How is Dezimir’s master? We never find out. How and when was Megatron captured? We don’t know. Why did Dezimir’s master, presumably a Quintesson, go through all the trouble of the trials just to upgrade Megatron? It’s not clear.
Big Picture:
Series Continuity:
Will the Transformers cross over with the Energon version of G.I. Joe? Presumably, yes. The Joes have made brief appearances in the series, but we have yet to see a meeting of the main characters (e.g. Duke and Optimus Prime). Robert Kirkman stated that a crossover event will take place, but the timing and details are TBD.
Final Thoughts:
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TRANSFORMERS #19 delivers an all-Megatron issue to explain the origin of the Decepticon’s Fusion Canon and give readers a ton of Megatron fighting action. Daniel Warren Johnson’s ode to the Decepticon leader is packed with power, albeit light on setup and details, and guest artist Ludo Lullabi does a phenomenal job with the material.
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