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Transformers #17 (2023) review





Time to meet a new toy?

Yup! With Robert Kirkman’s Void Rivals having launched Skybound’s Energon Universe, noted writer/artist rolled-into-one Daniel Warren Johnson takes the reins on the linchpin of this initiative, the flagship Transformers comic series! Well, he maintains the reins on the writing of this series at least, as does Mike Spicer on colors. Jorge Corona has taken over regular penciling duties with a style all his own.

In this seventeenth issue, Arcee’s team tracks down Ultra Magnus, the Autobots protect innocents caught in the crossfire on Earth, and on Cybertron a new Autobot is born thanks to Cliffjumper!

So yes, a new toy.

Probably! Eventually! Elita One’s team on Cybertron aid Cliffjumper in reaching the Well of All Sparks, which turns out to be this big contraption with a really easy user interface! Cliffjumper’s plan is to use the spark remains of his dead clan to create a new Autobot, and by the last page we meet them! Skybound has been promising the introduction of a brand-new character, and while we’ve already had our first original Skybound Transformers character in Starscream’s ill-fated friend Genvo, we get a full-on proper debut here!

So… how does this new creation stack up with the likes of Drift, or Windblade, or many other hyped-up and original comic characters so far? Um… it’s too early to tell… but I guess I’ll say that it definitely has the creators’ stamp on it! Honestly, I kind of burst out laughing at the last page, which I’m not sure is the reaction DWJ and Corona were going for, but at least it was a strong reaction!

Anything that isn’t worth laughing at?

Uh, PTSD is a serious issue, but I fail to see how Ultra Magnus’ pillow fort is a solution. The other Autobots get to protect humans from being collateral damage from another Devastator/Bruticus battle. Also Starscream tries to call Soundwave a female dog? I think? I dunno.

Frankly I’m struggling to grasp at things I like here. Blades showing up was nice, I guess, and this issue was almost saved by Ratbat appearing and actually talking (I would have pegged DWJ as a “No animal cassettes talk” guy based on Ravage and Laserbeak), but honestly those were the only things I thought were neat here. I’m getting tired of saying it, but this book just isn’t for me.

Cube?

I have no idea where this arc is going and I assumed it was getting Megatron fully back in the picture but that seems to be for the climax of the story next issue. We still have no idea what those visions that are affecting Optimus Prime are, and now we’ve got another element in the mix with the new character introduced at the end. It all seems a little meandering and decompressed, I’m saying.


Buy Transformers # 17 this week, or Starscream will call you the B-word too!











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