Editing Transformers (2023) issue 20

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2023 comic)|Transformers]]'' #20
|prev=Transformers (2023) issue 19
|next=Transformers (2023) issue 21
|image=Transformers 2023 20 Cover A.jpg
|caption=Daddy's home.
|title=
|publisher=[[Image Comics]]<br>[[Skybound Entertainment]]
|date=[[May 14]], [[2025]]
|coverdate=May 2025
|written by=[[Daniel Warren Johnson]]
|art by=[[Jorge Corona]]
|colors by=[[Mike Spicer]]
|letters by=[[Rus Wooton]]
|editor=[[Ben Abernathy]] 
|publication design=[[Andres Juarez]]
|production=[[Ashby Florence]]
|continuity=[[Energon Universe]]
|chronology=
}}

'''The Autobots revive allies old and new following the return of Megatron, who has his own scores to settle.'''

==Synopsis==
In the ruins of [[Seattle]], now reunited with the [[Decepticon]]s, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] prepares to pursue the fleeing [[Autobot]]s. However, he is interrupted by a challenge from [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], as the furious [[Triple Changer]] finally confronts the object of his hatred. Megatron welcomes the challenge and, even in his injured state, savagely beats Astrotrain and tosses him off a building, mocking him. Astrotrain begs Megatron to go ahead and kill him, but Megatron assures him he still has plans for him.

Elsewhere, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] has been taken to a secret [[United States military]] site to be studied, though progress is slow as they barely know what they're dealing with. [[Doc (G.I. Joe)|Doc]] talks with a private about having recently seen action while the private mentions that he hasn't heard from his brother, who was serving onboard the [[USS Henry Harrison|USS ''Henry Harrison'']]. He asks Doc if he'll pray for him, but Doc simply states that he doesn't do that anymore.

At the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] convenes with [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. Optimus is worried: their forces are spread too thin, and he knows that Megatron will be coming after them as soon as he's reunited the disparate factions of Decepticons. Spike asks Optimus more about the [[Matrix of Leadership]], wondering if [[Sparkplug Witwicky|his dad]] might still be in there somewhere, but Prime confirms that he does not hear the voices of any of the Primes who now reside within it. Optimus confesses that he is worried about a darkness inside him that once overtook him at the start of the war, and fears that he won't be able to find the light; however, Spike reassures him that the light always comes back, just like a sunrise.

The pair's bonding moment is then interrupted by the arrival of [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] and the newly-repaired [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], who have returned from their mission to recover [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]. Optimus thanks SIlverbolt and welcomes him into the Ark, where the rest of the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s are finished being repaired. As they come online, the Aerialbots excitedly embrace Optimus. [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] then informs Optimus that he's set up a diagnostic table to examine Prime's visions, as the [[Teletraan I]]-infused [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] looks on. 

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Shredhead]] talks with [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]], who is worried about [[Carly (G1)|Carly]]. Cliffjumper asks Shredhead if they recognize him, and Shredhead says that while their memories are hazy, they do feel a connection from the [[spark]]s that made them. When Cliffjumper tells Shredhead about his concerns for the human that painted the mural on the side of Shredhead's alternate mode, they enthusiastically transform and suggest the pair go rescue her.

Meanwhile, the Decepticons have reconvened on the fragment of Cybertron that fell into the [[Pacific Ocean]]. Megatron reveals that this particular part of their world housed the Beacon of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|The Ancient]], and that he hid raw materials here during the war. He orders [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] brought into before him and, using the technology available, fully restores the damaged [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]. Starscream grovels before Megatron in thanks before Megatron proceeds to beat him once more within an inch of his life. He then orders Astrotrain be brought in and transforms into his gun mode. Though Starscream tries to resist, Megatron's will overpowers him and he blasts Astrotrain to smithereens. 


==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.<br>
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (8)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (10)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (11)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (12)
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (13)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (14)
* [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (15)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (16)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (17)
* [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (18)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (19)
* [[Shredhead]] (21)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (22)

|c2=
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (1)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (2)
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (3)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (4)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (5)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (20)
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (23)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (24)
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (26)

||c3=
* [[Doc (G.I. Joe)|Doc]] (6)
* Private (7)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (9)

|h4=Others|c4=
* ''[[Omega Supreme (G1)|The Ancient]]'' (25)
}}
==Quotes==
"You are weak, Astrotrain. Weak and naive. Naive to think that there is justice in this life. But there's no justice here. Only '''strength'''. And I am the '''definition''' of strength."<br>
"Ungh..."<br>
"You were pathetic then. You're pathetic now. A stain on what it means to be a Decepticon."<br>
"Please... let it end. Just kill me now."<br>
"Not yet. I still have use for you."
:-'''Megatron''' gives '''Astrotrain''' a dressing-down.


"There is a darkness inside me, Spike. I can't quite tell what it is. No matter how dire our cause has gotten I have always been able to find...'''light'''. Where is it now?"<br>
"Optimus, look. I know there's not organic life on your planet. But...there are suns all over the galaxy, aren't there? Cybertron must have a sunset. Just like Earth?"<br>
"I...yes. You are correct."<br>
"Then there's gotta be a '''sunrise''' at some point."
:-'''Spike Witwicky''' lifts '''Optimus''' out of his funk.


"We must be our own saviors. We must look out for each other. Isn't that right '''Starscream'''?"
:—'''Megatron''' to '''Starscream'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Astrotrain has been on the warpath for Megatron ever since being freed from the brig of the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' back in [[Transformers (2023) issue 8|issue #8]].
* Though it isn't officially stated, the military site where Ultra Magnus is being kept is most likely a [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]-run site given the presence of Doc. What relation this site has to [[Pit (G.I. Joe)|the Pit]] and [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]]'s team is still unclear.
* The private states that he hasn't heard from his brother serving aboard the USS Henry Harrison, indicating that he doesn't know about the destruction of the aircraft carrier by the Decepticons in issue #8. 
* While Optimus may not hear the voices of the previous Primes in the Matrix, Sparky entering it has clearly had some effect, as he has been experiencing visions of Sparky's life since issue #8.
* Jetfire was believed lost after being blasted by the [[space bridge]] energy in [[Transformers (2023) issue 9|issue #9]].
* Skywarp has been fused with Teletraan-1 after being torn apart by Starscream and Soundwave since [[Transformers (2023) issue 5|issue #5]].
* The Ancient, which fans know to be Omega Supreme, was first seen in the flashbacks of [[Transformers (2023) issue 13|issue #13]]. Prior to that, we had also seen a [[Guardian robot]] in a recording from Megatron in ''[[Cobra Commander (comic)|Cobra Commander]]'' [[Cobra Commander issue 1|#1]].
* We first saw how Megatron's gun mode and his ability to impose his will on those who wield it in issue #13.

===''Transformers'' references===
* Silverbolt's fear of flying is a trait that goes back to his original [[Bob Budiansky]]-penned tech specs.

===''G.I. Joe'' references===
* This issue introduces G.I. Joe medic [[Doc (G.I. Joe)|Carl “Doc” Greer]] to the Energon Universe. In addition to being a medical doctor, Doc's original filecard listed his secondary military specialty as "chaplain's assistant." Here, however, the private refers to him as "chaplain" (see "Errors" below). 

===Real life references===
* Beachcomber quotes [[Maverick (Collaborative)|Pete "Maverick" Mitchell]]'s iconic line from ''{{w|Top Gun}}''.

===Errors===
* While it is not uncommon for chaplains to also have some medical training, chaplains are specifically noncombatants, which clashes with Doc having been described as seeing action recently.

===Covers===
* '''Cover A:''' Megatron looms over Starscream, by Daniel Warren Johnson and [[Mike Spicer]].
* '''Cover B:''' The Aerialbots, by [[Jorge Corona]] and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover C:''' Connecting cover by [[David Nakayama]].
* '''Cover D:''' Megatron fights Astrotrain, by [[Howard Porter]] and [[Romulo Fajardo Jr.]].
* '''Cover E:''' Jazz, by [[Simon Parr]].
* '''The 616 Comics Cover A:''' Connecting cover by [[Tiago da Silva]].
* '''The 616 Comics Cover B:''' The other half of Tiago da Silva's connecting cover.
* '''Big Time Collectibles Cover:''' Chibi-fied versions of various Autobots and Decepticons pose in front of a silhouetted Cybertron, by [[Freely Abrigo]].
* '''Clayton Crain Cover:''' The Autobots vs the Decepticons, by [[Clayton Crain]].
* '''East Side Comics Cover:''' Optimus Prime, by [[Raymund Bermudez]].
<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 20 Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 20 Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 20 Cover C.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 20 Cover D.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 20 Cover E.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 20 The 616 Comics Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 20 The 616 Comics Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 20 Big Time Collectibles Cover|
File:Transformers 2023 20 Clayton Crain Cover|
File:Transformers 2023 20 East Side Comics Cover|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* Energon Universe hardcovers
* Explore the Energon Universe in ''[[G.I. Joe (2024 comic)|G.I. Joe]]'' [[G.I. Joe (2024) issue 7|#7]], ''Void Rivals'' [[Void Rivals issue 19|#19]], and ''Transformers'' #21.
* Meet Your New Favorite Decepticon in ''[[Transformers: Worst Bot Ever]]''
* ''Ghost Pepper''

===Reprints===
* '''''Transformers Volume 4: Conquer and Control''''' <small>([[November 25]], [[2025]]) ISBN 1534332588 / ISBN 978-1534332584 </small>
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #19–24 and the [[Transformers Energon Universe 2025 Special story|''Transformers'' story]] from ''[[Energon Universe 2025 Special]]''.
** Trade paperback format.

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 V4.jpg|'''''Volume 4: Conquer and Control''''' – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer
</gallery>

==External links==

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Transformers (2023) issues]]