COUNTDOWN: 10 noteworthy moments from Skybound’s Transformers #15

We’re back for the latest Skybound spectacular!

#15 feels like a return to the norm for Transformers, after a 2-part flashback Starscream focus. So, let’s dive in and see what’s going on!

WARNING! MAJOR SPOILERS ahead!

#10: Thundercracker’s quandary

This chapter opens in familiar form (and with established artist Jorge Corona back on pencil duty!) as the Decepticons are merrily destroying a human city to draw out the remaining Autobots by exploiting their compassion. Soundwave rather handily summarises the state of play following #12’s planet-sized climax, and it seems his band of bad guys is no longer in possession of the Nemesis either, leaving them firmly on the back foot. Thundercracker makes a meagre attempt to voice his objections to their current plan of action, asserting that they should be searching for the fallen chunk of Cybertron in the ocean instead. Still, his leader insists they must act as ‘agents of death’, which clearly does not sit well with the blue boy. Thus, when it comes his turn to open fire on a building of huddled human survivors, he quietly encourages them to run and allows them to slip away before he does so. This ongoing thread of the Seeker’s uncertainty about the Decepticon cause remains intriguing, and I can’t wait to see how it develops more in the future!

#9: Back on Cybertron

In another beat that picks up directly after #12, we finally discover Cliffjumper’s fate, as it seems he remained behind on Cybertron as it was transported back to its rightful place in the galaxy. He only has a brief moment to get his bearings before he bumps into fellow Autobots Bluestreak and Warpath, the latter of which we last saw seemingly being blown to smithereens as part of Elita-1’s crew in the opening pages of #7! Although he evidently survived, he’s clearly in bad shape here, and it appears his comrades were not nearly as fortunate, given we get a glimpse of Kup’s mangled corpse in the background. A characteristically speedy Blurr then arrives, explaining that this troupe is being hunted by Decepticons and must leave if they wish to survive. It’s great to see that the Cybertron-set adventures will continue!

#8: Arcee & Optimus

Meanwhile, back on Earth, we get our first glimpse of the Autobots since Beachcomber surfed his way to rescue Optimus Prime from plummeting out of space at the end of #12! Arcee is despondent about losing her cool when faced with Shockwave, as she blames herself for the Decepticons escaping and now roaming free. Prime reassures her that it is not her fault, but they both acknowledge how hard it is for them to keep the hate they feel for their enemies at bay, with the Autobot leader citing it as a ‘daily struggle’. In a tender classic ‘robo-dad’ moment, he gives Arcee a hug and reassures her that she will always make him proud. However, it seems she has decided to depart on a quest to find the missing Ultra Magnus, who we last saw fleeing the battlefield in #11, although at least she will have company…

#7: Beachcomber departs

We discover that the recently-revealed Beachcomber will join Arcee, along with human allies Spike and Carly! Before departing, he and Optimus have a quick debate about the necessity of violence in their ongoing plight against the Decepticons, with the small Autobot maintaining his vow of pacifism is sacrosanct as far as he’s concerned and that the best way the Autobots could help the Earth is by leaving. Prime asserts how their enemies would not follow suit, so their presence is necessary to protect the humans. Ultimately, a pin is popped in the matter for the time being as the new band of allies goes off in search of Magnus and we must wait to find out what awaits them another day!

#6: Matrix matters

As Prime, Wheeljack and Jazz swiftly depart to intercept a Decepticon attack, the former two begin pondering the visions Optimus has been experiencing ever since Sparkplug entered the Matrix back in #6. Wheeljack initially diagnoses no apparent problems in his leader’s neural net but asks whether any organic being has ever ‘interfaced’ with the Matrix before, which Prime doesn’t believe to be true. Ultimately, no conclusion is reached, although it serves as a timely reminder of this ongoing plot thread before what is soon to come.

#5: Prime rampage!

Optimus and the other Autobots arrive at the burning husk of the city the Decepticons have left behind and swiftly begin trying to rescue some of the human survivors they encounter. However, it’s not long before the military intervenes, mistaking their would-be protectors for more of the same bad guys and opening fire on them! As Prime takes a shot to the back, he becomes enraged and begins experiencing more of the same dark and disturbing visions of a human child being overcome with horrific cybernetic components. He flies into a berserker-like trance and attacks the humans, bending the cannon of their tank before Jazz is able to pry him away and reason with him. Though they make a hasty exit for fear of creating more harm than good, this ongoing story beat is far from concluded, as the true nature of Optimus’ visions appears to be ever more sinister!

#4: Decepticon spies

As the Autobots depart, we discover the Decepticons have been watching from a distance. Although Scrapper suggests they attack immediately, Soundwave has a different plan. He wants to see where they head to, allowing his forces to strike ‘at their heart’, and sends Laserbeak to track them. We also see Soundwave still carrying around the battle-damaged Ravage (since #1!), although he has concluded that his pet’s repairs must wait, at least for now. Can’t a cat-dad catch a break?

#3: The good guys?

Back on Cybertron, Cliffjumper’s new allies encounter a lone Decepticon scout (an unsuspecting Ramjet!). However, to his surprise, it’s not long before Bluestreak has brutally shoved a knife through the bad guy’s back and left him to ‘bleed’ out, something which clearly doesn’t quite sit right with the self-styled red devil. Bluestreak briefly explains the reality of life on Cybertron, as things have become ‘messy’ in the millennia since they last saw one another. Cliff attempts to explain how Optimus has shown them a better way to proceed, but Elita-1 reappears and asks when the last time Prime had to ‘truly survive’ was. This thread of the differing styles of Autobot resistance and the use of brutality in combat will no doubt be a recurring theme!

#2: Three-way war!

Optimus, Wheeljack and Jazz return to the dam, attempting to bring Trailbreaker back online. Unfortunately, it’s not long before they’re rather rudely interrupted by Starscream’s new brigade as Astrotrain fires on them and seemingly destroys the necessary machines! Trailbreaker’s fate is left open as the Decepticon forces appear out of nowhere and begin charging at the Autobots, with Starscreanm’s rather bizarre new body leading the way! However, in a twist, they’re not interested in the good guys, with Starscream rather hilariously trundling past Prime to face off against Soundwave’s troops, who have also arrived on the scene. The two factions of Decepticons are preparing to go head-to-head… with Optimus caught in the middle!

#1: Bruticus

And finally, we come to the moment that many of us have been waiting for since the Combaticons first began cropping up in this book, with them merging into the mighty Bruticus! There’s no word here on how and when Starscream’s band managed to fix Brawl’s lower half (although he appears to be intact here) – nor why they couldn’t do the same for Starscream himself!) – but no matter, it’s an extraordinary moment nonetheless, and it sets the scene nicely for an inevitable showdown with Devastator next time!

So that’s our list! Did you enjoy #15?

TTFN