TRANSFORMERS #25 – New Comic Review

Transformers #25, by Image Comics on 10/8/25, finds Megatron scolding his battered troops, Ultra Magnus facing defeat, and the Autobots risk everything for an unlikely alliance.

Credits:

• Writer: Robert Kirkman
• Artist: Dan Mora, Jorge Corona
• Colorist: Mike Spicer
• Letterer: Rus Wooton
• Cover Artist: David Nakayama (cover A)
• Publisher: Image Comics
• Release Date: October 8, 2025
• Comic Rating: Teen
• Cover Price: $4.99
• Page Count: 36
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of TRANSFORMERS #25:

First Impressions:

This issue slaps down a cold metal gauntlet, refusing to let the reader breathe between scenes of metallic agony and battered hope. The Autobots and Decepticons flail through loss, quick arguments, and brutal leadership that keeps things tense. It’s one of those comics where nobody’s allowed a win, but the journey is packed with enough grit to keep the engine running until the next disaster.

Recap:

Transformers #24 slammed the Autobots into the meat grinder: Optimus Prime was impaled and forced into a cruel choice by Megatron, Starscream shot himself out of guilt-induced clarity, and a newly created Autobot cut down Megatron to save Optimus. The battered resistance survived another round in Chicago’s ruins, but the battered war machine kept chewing, leaving the Autobots and Decepticons broken and angry, bracing for another round in the shadow of annihilation.

Plot Analysis:

Megatron, unimpressed with his troops, blasts through a roster of failures: Hook’s wasted glory, Blast Off’s squandered skills, Ravage’s missing savagery. All culminating in a tirade at Starscream, whose screw-up ruined Megatron’s shot at finally defeating Optimus Prime. The Decepticons, stranded on Earth and whimpering in the wreckage of a failed stronghold, hear Megatron’s sermon about peace through tyranny before falling back into their favorite pastime: screaming “All Hail Megatron!” as a pitiful battle cry.​

Meanwhile, Chicago smolders. Optimus Prime and company try to help the survivors amidst ruined skyscrapers, forming shaky partnerships with human authorities. Ultra Magnus faces guilt over failing to protect everyone, and Jazz gives a pep talk just barely good enough to keep the team hopeful for a new round of rebuilding amidst the destruction.​

With Soundwave captured and the Ark restored, the Autobots debate their next steps. An underground facility (Shadow Watch) becomes the new home for government-sponsored secrecy, as Optimus Prime negotiates with the authorities for a tenuous alliance. Mirage and Bulkhead – presumed lost or dissected – are revealed to be hiding in plain sight, but energon shortages threaten any attempts at revival or restoration.​

Back on Cybertron or what’s left of it, the remnants of the Autobots and Decepticons rage against divided leadership, desperate for something to fight for. Elita-1 accuses Cliffjumper of betrayal, believing he threw away the chance to retake the upper hand. Disarray rules the day, hope thins, and Optimus is no longer seen as the savior. He’s now just another enemy in a civil war without end.

Story

Robert Kirkman’s script delivers wall-to-wall conflict, loaded with Megatron’s signature bile and Optimus Prime’s weary determination. Dialogue is punchy and direct. There’s no padding around the edges. Kirkman’s writing knows when to let the robots snarl and when to let them sulk, putting the stakes front and center without letting up.

Art

Dan Mora and Jorge Corona’s visuals are kinetic and raw, driving every panel with steel-clashing energy. Mike Spicer’s colors pop off shattered landscapes and war-torn faces, making every explosion and collapse worth staring at a second longer. Art composition keeps the mayhem readable, even when robot pieces fly in every direction, and character design nods to classic Transformers while staying fresh.

Characters

Megatron is given ample room to gasp and rage. His scenes drip with contempt for his army and disgust at his own failures. Optimus is battered, but never fully broken; a reluctant leader running out of answers. Ultra Magnus is haunted by defeat, Jazz stays practical, and Elita-1 shakes up the ranks with her accusations and emotional punch. Cliffjumper bears the wrath of his peers after a desperate act. Supporting bots – Wheeljack, Arcee, Soundwave – each get their crucial moment, rounding out a cast full of insecurity, resentment, and micro-dramas.

Positives

The comic’s best aspect is its ruthless momentum. No panel is wasted; dialogue and action propel each event like a runaway truck with no brakes. The art style is dynamic, gritty, angsty, and full of splashy battles. Character moments are brief but intense, creating a sense of lived-in exhaustion among the Autobots and Decepticons. Shadow Watch and the underground secrets add depth, showing the stakes are bigger than mere robot brawls.

Negatives

Weakest links? The narrative zigzags so much it feels like the plot got clipped by a wayward Constructicon. Some transitions between scenes, especially on Cybertron, feel abrupt, and character arcs get sidelined for spectacle. Megatron’s ranting, while iconic, gets old after repeated beratement of the same underlings. And the energon shortage subplot is dropped just as it almost gets interesting, leaving it hanging like a loose piece of shrapnel

Art Samples:

Final Thoughts:

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TRANSFORMERS #25 doesn’t do subtle. It’s an issue built like a pile-driver, smashing through despair, robot drama, and the lingering stink of defeat. The story is as relentless as Megatron’s criticism and twice as loud. Narrative speed wobbles at times, and not every character lands their emotional hit, but the overall effect is equal parts exhausting and exhilarating. The Autobots might not have found victory, but the creative team turns hopelessness into a spectacle worth rubbernecking, assuming there’s still enough energon left for round #26.​

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