COUNTDOWN: Skybound Transformers #1 – 5 ways it feels fresh!

After months of hype and plenty of teasing, Skybound’s brand-new Transformers #1 landed today, and it’s fair to say it’s well worth the read!

Although we’ve already seen some pretty overt nods towards the robots in disguise in Robert Kirkman’s sister comic Void Rivals, which kicked off what will be known as the ‘Energon universe’ first of all, this main series effort from Daniel Warren Johnson is likely where a lot of fans will be jumping on. Should you do so, you’ll find a heartfelt love letter to the classic iteration of the franchise, but with enough twists plus a sense of urgency and stakes that make it feel new and worthwhile.

So, for today, let’s examine how the new storyline feels fresh versus old-school Transformers… before we talk about all the many ways it doesn’t another time!

WARNING! MAJOR SPOILERS ahead for Transformers #1 and Void Rivals

#5: A smaller cast

The world of Transformers is gigantic, with enough characters introduced over the last forty years to rival even the most grandiose of fictional properties. True, not all of those exist within one universe, but stories related to G1 have often felt quite ‘epic’ in scope, with the roster of Autobots and Decepticons reflecting that. Whilst subsequent series have frequently pared that down to more manageable casts, one only needs to flick back to the pages of the classic Marvel comics to see what I’m talking about, as the robot head count was off the charts, with many characters only ever appearing as random background fodder if anything. Colour me intrigued, then, to witness Skybound take a significantly different approach by introducing but a small handful of faces to the adventure so far and, even more surprisingly, purposefully limit the currently functional characters by having Optimus remove the route to repairing their comrades from stasis. This first issue features just three Autobots and four Decepticons, and whilst we know from cover teases and the like that more faces will soon be joining the fray, it’s a very different place to start considering the otherwise familiar set-up.

#4: The transformations

OK, I appreciate this point is probably going to sound a little silly regarding a series called Transformers about transforming robots, but boy, do we get a decent dose of transforming in this one. I’ve highlighted before how I’m often left cold by the off-screen conversions found in some of the more modern animated adventures of the franchise, and there has historically been a bit of that found in the comics, too. Sure, the characters are at their most engaging when in robot mode, for obvious reasons, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to see them performing their signature move whenever the story serves, and Skybound certainly seems to be tapping into that! The first evidence was seen in Void Rivals #1, where artist Lorenzo de Felici treated us to some exceptionally detailed and frankly gorgeous panels of Jetfire undertaking the route to robot mode, but there’s plenty more on show from Daniel Warren Johnson in this main title effort. I particularly adore how much focus is put on the various panels and body parts shifting and snapping into place, giving the transformations a tangible, almost visceral quality that is also a true treat for the eyes. It feels a world away from the more simplified methods used to portray the process on the page previously, and I’m most definitely here for it.

#3: The pace and the stakes

Transformers has always been a franchise that ebbs back and forth in tone, wavering between grim and gritty through to more family-friendly fun. Still, there are plenty of examples of high-stakes storylines from over the years, with serious consequences inflicted on the characters and the devastation of war vividly demonstrated in creative ways, especially in the comics. This trend was firmly set by the classic Marvel stories of the ’80s, where Autobots and Decepticons would frequently be dispatched with almost reckless abandon, to say nothing of the sheer bloodbath that is the 1986 big-screen movie. Yet Skybound has delivered something a little different here, as there’s an almost immediate and quite palpable sense of dread from the moment the action gets going, all of which is assertively expressed by the panel of Starscream shooting a comatose Bumblebee square in the face. It’s a firm and very purposeful kick up the backside for a franchise that has put the little yellow fellow front and centre in so much of its storytelling in more recent times and serves as a true testament to how Skybound intends to treat this kid’s property without kid gloves moving forward. From there, it’s a non-stop, nail-biting onslaught of perilous activity, all served up with a relentlessly brisk pace that gives the tale a true sense of urgency a world away from the more slowburn happenings of the equivalent origin stories found in the ’80s cartoon and comic, despite them starting on similar ground. By the time the issue ends on a mournful note with Jetfire’s demise, itself an untimely upset considering his brief role in ushering in this universe during Void Rivals #1, we’re left in little doubt that no one is safe in this storyline, and the stakes are very high indeed.

#2: The Decepticons have control

When you think of the classic set-up of the ’80s Transformers storylines, a few constants probably come to mind, one of which is the Autobots’ base of operations. Whether you know it as the Ark or something else, the downed spaceship is almost as memorable as its typical inhabitants, providing the setting for a fair bit of the action and character beats besides. Yet despite kicking off proceedings in much the same manner, the Skybound story fairly swiftly turns expectations on their head by having the Decepticons take the upper hand almost as soon as they’re revived, with a surprisingly on-form Starscream quickly working out that they need to drag their fallen comrades towards Teletraan One to help bolster their ranks. It puts Optimus in a tough spot as he realises the Autobots are outnumbered and outgunned, forcing him to destroy the computer and prevent any more bad guys from being reassembled before making a swift retreat with the lifeless bodies of his own troops in his trailer. We don’t yet know if this status quo will stick for long, but it all means that for now, Optimus’ band are on the run whilst the Decepticons remain in situ occupying the Ark, which is sure to make for an intriguing dynamic moving forward!

#1: Humans are killed

I’ve already made mention of the robot cast that are taken offline in this debut issue, but make no mistake, it’s the very last page that presents the most shocking moment of all and, above all else, the single defining aspect that separates this series from any other franchise fiction I can think of right now. As Starscream searches for fuel, he inadvertently encounters human dadtagonist Sparkplug and his work colleague Davey in a set-up that feels fairly familiar for anyone who has ever encountered an Earth-set Transformers story. Yet there’s a big twist as the Decepticon picks up Davey and rather unceremoniously and grotesquely squishes him to death, splattering himself with the human’s blood in the process! It’s an entirely unprecedented event the likes of which have typically felt off-limits for even the darkest corners of the robots in disguise franchise in the past, and especially with this level of graphic gore (even if it is comparatively tame next to Skybound creator Robert Kirkman’s other fare!). I’ve sat through countless unspeakably ruthless robot deaths during my time as a Transformers fan, yet this is the first instance where I’ve ever seen a flesh and blood character being offed in such a fashion. It makes it crystal clear that this series is not messing around and will absolutely take things in a new direction when needed, as much as so many of the ingredients might feel familiar to long-time fans.

But that’s another article!

So that’s our list! Did you enjoy Skybound’s Transformers #1?

TTFN