Transformers (2023) issue 12

2024-11-05T04:37:09Z

Orini: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2023 comic)|Transformers]]'' #12
|prev=Transformers (2023) issue 11
|next=Transformers (2023) issue 13
|image=Transformers 2023 12 Cover A.jpg
|caption=
|title=
|publisher=[[Image Comics]] [[Skybound Entertainment]]
|date=[[September 11]], [[2024]]
|coverdate=September 2024
|written by=[[Daniel Warren Johnson]]
|art by=[[Jorge Corona]]
|colors by=[[Mike Spicer]]
|letters by=[[Rus Wooton]]
|editor=[[Ben Abernathy]]
|continuity=[[Energon Universe]]
|chronology=
}}

'''Optimus Prime faces a choice. And he makes one.'''

==Synopsis==
On the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', [[Carly (G1)|Carly]] watches as the [[Decepticon]]s surround the [[Autobot]]s. Realizing she needs to help them, she gets in her van and drives through the [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] generated portal, ramming a [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]-wielding [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and saving [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]]. Carly apologizes for not being there when Cliff needed her, but their heartwarming reunion is cut short by [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] smashing her van. Cliffjumper manages to rescue Carly but is flung by Devastator through the portal to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], crashing into the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]]s. [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] uses this opportunity to rally the rest of the Autobots against Devastator, blasting him until he falls and crushes Shockwave's energon harvester. This disconnects the [[space bridge]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] reports to Optimus that Cybertron is returning to its original place. While the portal is still active, Shockwave retreats to summon reinforcements, but Optimus chases after him to stop the Decepticon leader and rescue Cliffjumper.

Bursting through the portal, he swiftly and savagely attacks the Combaticons, forcing them to retreat, much to the irritation of Shockwave. Shockwave threatens Cliffjumper as Optimus approaches, but Prime simply blasts his arm off with his [[Ion blaster|ion blaster]]. Dropping his weapon as he continues toward the Decepticon, he decries Shockwave's irreverence for life, savagely beating him into the ground and grabbing his cyclopean head. As he does, he once again sees a vision of himself holding the small human baby... before the vision changes to a nightmarish version, his hands as claws and the baby surrounded by wire. The vision overtakes Prime and he crushes Shockwave's head with his bare hands. As he regains his senses, he is horrified at what he's done, but [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] is happy to see that he's regained his ruthlessness.
[[File:TF2023 no.12 - Elita Pleads with Optimus.jpg|200px|thumb|left|I know this is a serious moment and all, but goddamn is Optimus' head small]]
With Cybertron returning to its proper place in the galaxy, Optimus picks up Cliffjumper and prepares to head back to Earth, but they are halted by Elita blowing up the portal. She tells Optimus that the Autobots need him here on Cybertron, and that with the [[Energon]] Shockwave collected with the harvester, they can use it to strike back against the Decepticons and revive their planet. Optimus refuses to use Energon taken from the life and resources on Earth and activates the charges to destroy the harvester, but nothing happens. Elita reveals she never set the charges; Earth has so much to give to Cybertron. This could save their world! But Optimus can't allow that. He won't save his world with the blood of another. He aims his fusion cannon at the Energon. Elita pleads with him, saying that they need him. He apologizes to her and fires.

The Energon explodes, creating a blast that severs the connection between the Energon harvesters, closing the portal and blasting off a huge chunk of Cybertron, which begins falling into the Earth's atmosphere… along with Optimus Prime. As he begins to burn upon reentry, he wonders if he's about to die and marvels at Earth's beauty. His sentiment is shared by [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]], rocketing up to Prime on his rocket surfboard. He grabs the Autobot leader's hand and the pair shred down to the surface. Optimus looks in horror at what he's done as the piece of Cybertron falls into the ocean.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (2)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (3)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (4)
* [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] (5)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (9)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (12)
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (16)

|c2=
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (1)
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (7)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (8)
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (10)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (11)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (13)
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (14)
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (15)

|c3=
* [[Carly (G1)|Carly]] (6)
}}

==Quotes==
"Is this all you do, Shockwave??? Ratchet! Magnus? '''LIFE??? ALL YOU DO IS TAKE AWAY WHAT IS GOOD!'''"
:—'''Optimus''' confronts Shockwave

"Welcome back to the war, Optimus Prime. I finally see your old self returning."
:—'''Elita''', after watching Optimus gouge out Shockwave's eye.

"Earth needs me. Earth needs us." 
"Please! Your people need you!!! I need you!!!" 
"I'm sorry, Elita." 
"DON'T ABANDON US AGAIN!!!"
:—'''Optimus''' and '''Elita'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Carly and Cliffjumper's relationship had been on the rocks since Cliffjumper chose not to execute [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] in [[Transformers (2023) issue 6|issue #6]].
* Cybertron's energon shortage was first made known back in ''[[Void Rivals]]'' [[Void Rivals issue 4|#4]], and expanded upon in [[Transformers (2023) issue 7|issue #7]].
* Optimus' prioritizing the needs of Earth above the Autobots' own has been a recurring theme in this series, first appearing in [[Transformers (2023) issue 2|issue #2]].
* Shockwave had been portrayed as startlingly, uncharacteristically emotional in issues [[Transformers (2023) issue 9|#9]] and [[Transformers (2023) issue 11|#11]]. Perhaps getting his head pulverized into tinfoil will be used to explain a switch to his more "expected" behavior.

===''Transformers'' references===
* Elita One's motorcycle alt-mode is based on that of her ''[[Transformers One (film)|Transformers One]]'' counterpart.

===Covers===
* '''Cover A:''' by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover B:''' by Jorge Corona and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover C (1:10 Copy Incentive):''' Connecting cover, by [[Karen S. Darboe]].
* '''Cover D (1:25 Copy Incentive):''' by [[Chris Stevens]].
* '''Cover E (1:50 Copy Incentive):''' Optimus & Elita, by [[Cory Walker]].
* '''The Comic Mint Cover:''' by [[Skan Srisuwan]].
* '''TopShelfComic Cover A:''' by [[Livio Ramondelli]].
* '''TopShelfComic Cover B:''' by Livio Ramondelli.
* '''Big Time Collectibles Cover A:''' by [[John Giang]].
* '''Big Time Collectibles Cover B:''' by [[Mel Milton]].
* '''High Horse Comics / Heavy Mental / Joey from Pico Cover:''' by [[Juan Gedeon]] and [[Carlos Cabrera]].

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 12 Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 12 Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 12 Cover C.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 12 Cover D.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 12 Cover E.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 12 The Comic Mint Cover.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 12 TopShelfComic Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 12 TopShelfComic Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 12 Big Time Collectibles Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 12 Big Time Collectibles Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 12 Juan Gedeon Cover.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
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* Experience the Energon Universe in the trade paperbacks for ''Transformers'', ''[[Void Rivals]]'', ''[[Duke (comic)|Duke]]'', and ''[[Cobra Commander (comic)|Cobra Commander]]''

===Reprints===
* '''''Transformers Volume 2: Transport to Oblivion''''' ([[November 13]], [[2024]]) ISBN 1534345272 / ISBN 978-1534345270 
** Collects issues #7–12 and the [[Transformers Energon Universe Special story|''Transformers'' story]] from ''[[Energon Universe Special 2024]]''.
** Trade paperback format.

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 V2.jpg|'''''Volume 2: Transport to Oblivion''''' – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer
</gallery>

==External links==

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Transformers (2023) issues]]

MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Transformers (2023) issue 12