Who do you belong to?
Nobody! 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 but this issue sees Ludo Lullabi fill in for a Megatron solo story!
Sooo, we’re NOT following up on last issue’s cliffhanger?
Nope! You’ll have to wait another month to see the fallout of the return of Megatron, because DWJ decides to give us some backstory on how Megatron became the mad, bad dude we’ve barely seen so far! He brings in the Quintessons here, who haven’t featured much in this book but play a big role over in Void Rivals, so it’s nice to see some cross-continuity ties to the larger Energon Universe.
In an effort to perhaps provide some insight into Megatron’s motivation and determination, we see him abducted by the Quints and forced to undergo repeated brutal combat trials. His overseer, a Quint Prosecutor named Dezimir, nearly breaks Megatron’s will but as we’ve come to expect… Megatron overcomes all in the end. Sort of!
So what purpose does this issue serve?
Well, we learn where Megatron got his tank… gun… mode! Also that its ability to control those who wield him in this form is a gift granted by the Quintessons. With how consistently it’s been drawn since its last appearance, one wonders if a toy is in the works. While Hasbro has said they can’t do another gun mode Megatron at scale, maybe they can fudge it enough so it’s just a tank with a handle underneath!
The art by Ludo Lullabi is kinetic and expressive and a nice change of pace, even if I do like Jorge Corona’s work on the series. I liked the action scenes and Megatron’s desperation towards the tail end of the trials is well-portrayed.
Cube?
This issue provides more of a look into the character of Megatron right before he’s back in the mix proper next issue, but it’s really not much we haven’t seen before. I don’t know that I care so much to see a “vulnerable” side of him, and he doesn’t even escape Quint imprisonment on his own. I guess it’s more of a showcase for how powerful the Quintessons are in this universe at that.
Buy Transformers # 19 this week.
