COUNTDOWN: 10 noteworthy moments from Skybound’s Transformers #13

As another month rolls in, so does a new issue of Skybound’s Transformers! This chapter was quite a departure from the initial 12-part first-year arc, so let’s dive in and see what there is to say about #13!

WARNING! MAJOR SPOILERS ahead for Transformers so far!

#10: New art!

Undoubtedly, the first thing any reader will spot here is the new art! Jason Howard assumes visual duties from Jorge Corona, proving to be as much of a change in style as the latter was during his first outing in #7. Still, the book looks gorgeous (and is, as ever, beautifully bolstered by those epic Mike Spicer colours!), with some of the line art and the dotted print-like finish giving off a major Marvel vibe in many ways. I know that’s an epithet I’ve ascribed to the book’s previous pencils, but where Corona had a distinct Generation 2 flavour, this feels almost classic Marvel UK somehow and brings a very different vibe to the ongoing story.

In any case, the other thing to note here is that none of this issue happens in the ‘present’ of the comic (despite the opening panel describing the initial action as happening ‘now’), as we begin by going back to the moments following Starscream’s defeat at the hands of Soundwave in #7, and from there we flashback even further to the pre-war days of Cybertron! Though we have had brief interludes to the past before, it makes for quite the departure for this issue overall, as more of the backstory to the saga is filled in over time.

#9: Starscream survives

To no one’s surprise (well, not mine, as I did speculate about this happening!), it seems Starscream did not die in #7 after all! Yes, his falling off a cliff to an undetermined fate proved to be just the narrative convenience needed for a comeback. However, it’s fair to say he’s seen better days, especially as he later also loses his legs in an Anakin Skywalker-esque lava accident here. Still, the point is he’s alive and will no doubt return to wreak havoc another day, leading us to wonder just why Soundwave wouldn’t bother to confirm his kill in this case! Anyway, it all leads to some near-death introspection as Starscream begins to recall his past on the peaceful days of his homeworld, with perhaps the biggest shock here being that he used to be… nice?!

#8: Flashbacks

From here, we flashback from the flashback to the early days of Cybertron before the war, and the revelations come thick and fast! Firstly, Starscream is revealed to have been known as Ulchtar, a very niche nod to the original treatment for Transformers back in the 1980s before Bob Budiansky came on board, where this is indeed what the character was considered to be called. Secondly, we see some of his time as a friend of Jetfire, which has been a staple of G1 fiction since the beginning and was established back in #1 of this series. We also meet another ally of Starscream’s (and Skybound’s first original Transformers character), Genvo, a brash bot already allying himself with the fledging Decepticon movement. Again, the biggest revelation here is that Starscream was much calmer and content at this point, displaying none of the rampant malice which becomes such a signature of his portrayal elsewhere in the book. He even admires the beauty of some small Cybertronian insects, making for quite the stark contrast from what we already know of him.

#7: The passing

As if to demonstrate Starscream’s previously positive sense of wonder, we then see what it is that he, Jetfire and Genvo have assembled to witness: the passing of a giant robot, which quite clearly here is either meant to be Omega Supreme or another similar Guardian of Cybertron. It’s an awesome panel that fully communicates the incredible size of the titan before them! Starscream, or rather Ulchtar, is so enamoured with the sight that he zooms off and breaks into an ammunition locker for the Cybertron Defence Force, before setting off a stolen explosive to capture the massive robot’s attention. It’s our first indication that Starscream is not one to follow the rules and quite likes the sense of attention so prevalent in his future.

#6: The Golden Age of Cybertron

One intriguing thing to see here is how Cybertron appeared back in the days prior to the war. This period has been visited in various Transformers media before (and notably can be seen in a very different take in Transformers One right now!), and Skybound’s depiction has a classic quality to it. It’s clean, crisp, angular and full of metal, which is essentially how it was always portrayed in both the 1980s cartoon and comic, although here it retains its signature blue hues, unlike the more golden colourisation seen in the animation. There are also nods towards the 1986 film, such as the inclusion of Moonbase Two. Whatever the case, it’s a visual treat, and one hopes we might revisit this era further down the road during Skybound’s tenure.

#5: The war begins

Of course, the peaceful and serene Cybertron setting doesn’t last long before war breaks out across the planet! Here, we see the rise of the Decepticons in action, although, no concrete information is given as to why this is all happening, just that there is ‘fighting’ going on. Still, it’s interesting how quickly things escalate as we see snippets of classic characters like Shockwave in action, alongside what appears to be a take on Overcharge, an established toy repaint of Blitzwing based on the original Diaclone figure!

#4: Genvo falls

With war beginning to consume Cybertron, we glimpse what is seemingly a turning point in Ulchtar’s evolution into the twisted tyrant he will become. Firstly, his lab is destroyed in crossfire, and then, his friend Genvo is shot through the back as they attempt to flee the scene together. It’s a double whammy of tragedies which undoubtedly has a traumatic impact on his psyche, as punctuated by the moments that follow. What is noteworthy here, though, is how Genvo inadvertently grants Starscream the inspiration for his new moniker, using his dying moments to commend his friend on having captured the Guardian’s attention earlier and declaring that he “screamed the stars into seeing us“. It’s as contorted an explanation as you might expect but it just about works in the context of this storyline and goes some way to explain how the future Decepticon got started on a darker path.

#3: The Autobots advance

As Genvo dies, we then cut back to see the cause of his injuries, as Optimus Prime and his fledgling Autobot forces advance on the scene in a manner which makes them seem quite intimidating and brutal! There’s no doubt a bit of interpretative licence here, given that these are Starscream’s memories of the event. However, it’s surprising to see how this story is evidently painting the outbreak of war as a matter of perspective, given the clearly callous atrocities committed by the Decepticons in the present-day setting thus far! That said, we have recently heard from Elita-1 how Optimus used to be rather ruthless, so perhaps this is evidence of more grey to the situation than we might first imagine! Again, it only serves to make this early era of Cybertron ripe for more exploration at another time.

#2: Life of MARS!

As Starscream’s consciousness briefly snaps to the present of this issue, we pan back to reveal that his injured body has been discovered by a group of employees from MARS Industries, which is already established elsewhere in the Energon Universe as being the weapons manufacturer run by Destro! It’s the first big GI Joe-related presence in Transformers since Duke’s run-in with Starscream back in #2, and it loosely ties into events in that character’s own book and Destro being intrigued about the news of a robot turning into a jet. Also of note here is the presence of a HISS Tank, and although it is not a Cobra-affiliated vehicle at this point, it still helps to widen the scope of the universe! One suspects the crossovers will be coming thick and fast from this point on.

#1: Megatron, is that you?

Finally, one of the biggest reveals happens after Starscream slips back into unconsciousness and remembers his past, as a shadowy figure arrives on the scene following Genvo’s death. It is, of course, Megatron, seen here in active form for the first proper time in this book outside of brief snippets and his comatose appearance in #4 (not to mention his turns in both Cobra Commander and the Free Comic Book Day Energon Universe Special). He appears as intimidating as one would expect, although, like Optimus Prime here, he has a very different demeanour. He offers consolation to Starscream and the opportunity to avenge his friend, as he transforms and shrinks into his alternate form, a sort of strange mash-up between a tank and a handheld pistol! At this point, Starscream declares his new identity and his eyes quite ominiously shift from blue to red, with the future now set in stone. The ending states this story is “to be continued”, so perhaps there may be more next time!

So that’s our list! Did you enjoy #13?

TTFN