Transform and Rest Up!
Cuz this is a slow one. 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, with Jorge Corona on pencils and Mike Spicer on colors!
In this twenty-second issue, the Autobots recover from last issue’s clash with the Decepticons, while the ‘Cons prepare their final offensive. Also, Cliffjumper comes to a momentous decision, one that will cost him dearly!
What’s Cliffjumper done now?
He’s simply presented with an opportunity to give Carly the best chance at survival and takes it, even at the cost of his fellow Cybertron-bound comrades. Elita One sure ain’t happy about that and I can’t help but be amused at the irony of the word “traitor” being flung in Cliffjumper’s direction.
Speaking of Carly, her and Ultra Magnus get some momentum and are headed towards the big fight by the end of this issue. Nice to see Magnus claw back some of his former clout at least, as Optimus Prime himself is in dire straits at the moment. The Autobots will need a big truck leader-guy to survive as the Decepticons amp up the destruction.
Oh yeah, Prime was all messed-up last issue.
Yeah, while he’s removed Megatron’s arm, its lingering effects on his system have reached a crisis stage and Spike has to take drastic action to correct it. I’m sure he’ll be back to fighting strength by the end of this arc, but it looks like Prime has one more personal journey to undertake before taking on Megatron again.
Speaking of Megatron, he’s ready to teach Optimus and the Autobots a lesson and he starts by desecrating the corpse of one of Prime’s earliest losses (in this series, at least.) That’s right... Megatron digs up... THE DEER. Yeah. Then the Decepticons launch their massive attack and set the stage for Daniel Warren Johnson and Jorge Corona’s final two issues on this book.
Cube?
What do you want me to say at this point? This series has never really impressed me as much as it seems to impress others and this is a particularly slow issue of setup for a finale. Aside from some always-great Corona art to rightfully fawn over, I’m mostly just waiting for Robert Kirkman to take over now.
Buy Transformers # 22 this week because even Optimus Prime needs to plug the current toyline in his Matrix-visions.
