COUNTDOWN: 10 noteworthy moments from Skybound’s Transformers #23

It’s incredible to say, but the penultimate chapter of Daniel Warren Johnson’s run on Transformers is here!

Needless to say, #23 spared no time in bringing us plenty of action and heartfelt moments, so let’s dive right in and see what it was all about…

WARNING! MAJOR SPOILERS ahead! Check out our previous parts here.

#10: Shredhead arrives!

This issue opens ominously under the Pacific Ocean at the site of the former Decepticon base, as the now serene scene is disturbed by the opening of a pinkish purple portal! We then see it is Shredhead arriving on Earth, having been unceremoniously catapulted there by Cliffjumper last time. It’s a weirdly eerie moment that is not entirely unlike the early Terminator films in how it portrays this kind of teleportation effect, with the art and colours all working overtime to make it impactful. Clearly, Shredhead is on a mission here, as they immediately focus on an image of Carly and head off in search of her. This particular thread has been building for several issues now, so clearly we’re working towards a payoff of sorts in #24. Let’s hope Shredhead gets their moment to shine!

#9: Decepticon attack

We then cut to the Decepticons as Starscream singlehandedly starts attacking Trailbreaker and Arcee, who are desperately trying to help evacuate the human population from the nearby town. They withdraw after Silverbolt finds a place to recoup, and Starscream returns to Megatron to boast about having located their foes. However, the bad-guy-in-chief is less than impressed, as it turns out they’ve spent a week quietly following the Autobots in an attempt to mount a surprise attack, but that opportunity has now been ruined. Again, like last time, this moment captures the dynamic between the two characters that long-term Transformers fans will remember from the classic 1980s cartoon, although here the setting and tone are considerably darker. Soundwave quite callously offers to start killing innocent humans to demoralise the good guys, but Megatron declines, instead ordering his forces to begin moving in for a full assault!

#8: In the Matrix

Next, we pick up with Optimus Prime, whose consciousness has travelled inside the Matrix. The scene is presented in the same artistic style as the stunning splash page from last issue, with a gorgeous classic Marvel-esque block colour palette and a distinct Ben Day dots finish to the whole affair, making it feel highly retro in its approach. Prime wanders through the Hall of the Primes, as it transpires that it wasn’t the actual Thirteen we were seeing but statues and monuments representing them. However, the infection that had taken root in the Autobot leader has spread here too, as a strange web threatens to entangle him, forcing twisted visions similar to what we have previously seen of Spike as a baby. That is, until Sparkplug mysteriously appears on the scene, his very presence appearing to repel the plague, as he tells Prime to roll out and follow his lead!

#7: Saying thanks

Back in reality, the Autobots huddle inside a makeshift stronghold and gather around their incapacitated leader as the Decepticons mount their assault. The stakes are high, as it is clear our heroes hold no real hope of surviving the coming conflict, although Wheeljack reveals he has crafted a new arm for Optimus in the event he wakes up again. As they prepare for the inevitable, Doc Lio interrupts and states that some of the human refugees want to pay their respects to Prime whilst they still have time, as we then cut to a montage of various people saying heartfelt thanks to the Autobot leader for saving their lives or their loved ones. It’s a touching moment which reminds you of the greater stakes of this conflict, especially as it can be all too easy to let such beats get lost in the chaos of robot-on-robot action.

#6: Autobots: Endgame

It’s at this point we see that Ultra Magnus and Carly have returned, somehow making it past the Decepticons to arrive unscathed in the nick of time! No matter, as the large Autobot’s presence is a welcome tonic for his comrades, as he offers a rousing note of defiant hope in the face of overwhelming odds, cajoling them into action and encouraging them to make a final stand for the sake of their currently fallen leader. Magnus shares his own insecurities and says he does not know how to be brave like Prime, but that they can all go out and fight for him all the same. This all leads into a truly awe-inspiring sequence as the Autobots and Decepticons meet face-to-face on the battlefield as Megatron and Magnus lead their troops into a clash reminiscent of similar moments in films like Avengers: Endgame or The Lord of the Rings. Jorge Corona’s detail-laden pencils are once again almost Generation 2 in style, and the whole sequence sings in terms of presentation.

#5: The plague

Back in the Matrix, Sparky explains to Optimus that he has no idea how long he has been there, as he only remembers waking up right as he appeared. Prime’s visions continue, as he sees images of Bumblebee’s destroyed body. However, as Sparky observes, they become mixed with his own memories, including Spike playing in the garden as a little boy. The infection continues to spread rampantly through the Matrix, consuming the monuments to past Primes and preventing Optimus from seeking the wisdom he desires. However, Sparky is the one element the plague cannot touch, as we see a huge statue in his likeness, which is driving it back somehow.

#4: Beachcomber down

Meanwhile, the situation looks highly dire to the Autobots, as the Decepticons appear to be making quick work of them on the battlefield. Arcee, Jazz and Trailbreaker have all fallen, and Starscream strikes down a one-armed Superion before breaking through to reach Optimus’ body, despite Megatron’s instructions to wait. The Decepticon raises his weapons and prepares to destroy the Autobot leader as Carly selflessly shields the comatose Spike. However, Beachcomber jumps into the line of fire at the last second! Initially, it seems like he is going to be ok, but Starscream simply fires again, putting an end to the heroic pacifist in one of this book’s most memorable and disturbing moments. We knew there would be some fatalities along the way, but this one hits hard…

#3: Sparky saves the day (again)

As the situation worsens in reality, we cut to Optimus’ Matrix quest for the final time to see him and Sparky enter a structure underneath the statue of the human. There, they find Spike, lying dormant halfway through a Matrix-like portal, as Prime mentions to his friend how his son tried to sacrifice himself to save him, just as his father had done previously. Sparky embraces his boy whilst Optimus has his own tender moments with some of his fallen comrades, including Bumblebee, Jetfire and Ratchet, all whilst the human explains how the infection wants the Autobot to put up walls, much in the same way he had in his own life. Sparky thanks Optimus for everything he has done for him, and asks that the Autobot take care of his son as he once again prepares to sacrifice himself to save the day, seemingly clearing the infection in a flash of light as he goes. In truth, the exact mechanics of this scene are a little unclear. Still, similar to the moment in #6 when Sparky first entered the Matrix, it works emotionally if nothing else, delivering a tender moment at welcome odds with the otherwise grim tone of the rest of this book.

#2: Saved by Megatron?

Meanwhile, Starscream is once again ready to fire at Optimus’ body. However, he is prevented this time by an unexpected intervention from Megatron! The Decepticon leader furiously beats his subject whilst reminding him that he was told to wait, also stating he has deeper plans than “vapid, one-note violence”. He then turns his fusion cannon to aim at a group of surrounding humans, as Prime awakens from his vision at last and steps up to save the day…

#1: You know the line!

This chapter ends in a manner almost too inevitable but still just as rousing, as the two faction leaders face off at long last. Megatron is clearly gleeful at the prospect, even ditching his trademark fusion cannon as he evidently wants to tackle Optimus without the added advantage. Surprisingly, we don’t get him uttering his classic line, “I’ll crush you with my bare hands“, but that might have been overkill considering how the moment is immediately followed by Prime’s own iconic phrase as he declares that “One shall stand, one shall fall!“. It’s strange to consider we have yet to see these two battle one-on-one, but the upcoming #24 looks set to not disappoint in that regard!

So that’s our list! Did you enjoy #23?

TTFN