Editing Transformers (2023) issue 23

{{comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2023 comic)|Transformers]]'' #23
|prev=Transformers (2023) issue 22
|next=Transformers (2023) issue 24
|image=Transformers 2023 23 Cover B.jpg
|caption=
|title=
|publisher=[[Image Comics]]<br>[[Skybound Entertainment]]
|date=[[August 13]], [[2025]]
|coverdate=August 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=
}}

'''As his comrades make their last stand against the Decepticons, Optimus unexpectedly reunites with an old friend in the heart of the Matrix.'''

==Synopsis==
In the middle of the [[Pacific Ocean]], [[Shredhead]] reconstitutes from the shattered remains of the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]''' portal. After a brief moment to gather their bearings, Shredhead leaves to find Carly.

Meanwhile, in the war-torn city of [[Chicago]], [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] are fending off an assault from [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] as they try to get citizens from the city's north side to safety. Once that's been accomplished, Arcee advises that the [[Autobot]]s make some distance, knowing that the [[Decepticon]]s are after [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus]]' head. At the suggestion of [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], Wheeljack has the Autobots relocate to the {{w|Alder Planetarium}}. [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] bears witness to all this from afar, and berates Starscream for ruining an ambush that's been in the works for a week when he returns to his leader's side. [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] confirms that the [[United States military]] forces defending the city have been successfully obliterated, and asks if they should continue slaughtering humans to break the Autobots' morale, but Megatron declines — the time has come for the Decepticons to move in, and for Optimus to learn his most important lesson...

Within the [[Matrix of Leadership]], Optimus wanders through the [[Hall of the Primes]] in search of wisdom. However, all he finds is an infestation of purple tendrils that latch onto him, causing his visions to re-emerge. He's quickly re-awoken by the unexpected appearance of [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparky]], who tells Optimus to transform and follow his lead.

[[File:TF2023 no. 23 - Autobots Vs Decepticons.jpg|left|thumb|250px]]
The Autobots' respite within the Alder Planetarium is interrupted by the beginning of the Decepticons' assault. With the end nigh, Wheeljack tells the still-comatose Optimus that he tried making him a new arm, but even if he somehow woke up, he's not sure it'd even work. [[Doctor Lio]] interrupts to allow the many refugees that've gathered in the Planetarium to pay their respects to their hero, and as people from the likes of [[Seattle]] and [[Tacoma]] say their pieces, Carly suddenly arrives with [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. Magnus remarks that he'd wanted to be the kind of leader Optimus was ever since he first came to know of him, but despite being outwardly strong, he lacks the bravery and leadership skills needed. Nevertheless, he's prepared to die for Optimus' dream of a better world, and Magnus' words rally the other Autobots. And so, as [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] keeps watch from the back lines, the Autobots and Decepticons charge into battle.

In the Hall of the Primes, Optimus asks Sparky how long he'd been in there, but all he can recall is waking up and seeing Optimus being attacked right after. The tendrils latch onto Optimus again, triggering a memory of [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]'s body lying dead aboard the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]''. Sparky remarks that the two's memories seem to be mixed-up as he makes a hard turn to de-entangle Optimus, replacing Optimus' memory with one of Sparky playing catch with a younger [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]]. Though Optimus is keen on seeing what the [[Thirteen|Primes]] have to show him, Sparky observes that whatever's infesting the Matrix has already claimed everything... except, that is, for a monument to Sparky himself, for reasons even the man himself can't explain.

With the Autobots' front line broken, Starscream disobeys Megatron and swoops in to eliminate Optimus, Spike, and Carly. Beachcomber flings himself in the way of Starscream's blasts, but despite reassuring Carly that he's fine, another shot from Starscream takes him down, seemingly for good...

Arriving at Sparky's monument, Optimus and Sparky open the doors to find Spike's body partway through a blue portal shaped like the Matrix's core. Optimus informs Sparky of his son's attempted sacrifice, a gesture that touches the old veteran. Sparky puts Spike's hand to his face, and as Optimus recalls the [[Jetfire (G1)|surrogate]] [[Ratchet (G1)|sons]] he's let down, Sparky muses on the nature of the Matrix's infection: whatever it is, it wants Optimus to surrender to nihilism and block the world around him, just as Sparky did, but it was thanks to Optimus' belief in a better world that Sparky was able to move past it all. To save both Optimus and his son, Sparky gently pushes Spike back through the portal, causing a wave of energy that dissipates the purple tendrils. As the world fades around them, Sparky makes Optimus promise to be there for his son, and Optimus says he'll do it with his entire being.

In the waking world, Starscream prepares to eliminate Carly and the still-comatose Optimus and Spike, only for Megatron to catch up with him and start beating him senseless, intending to do more to Optimus than give him a quick, violent end. Upon noticing the crowd of refugees, Megatron decides to dispose of them... only for Optimus to wake up and warn Megatron that they're under ''his'' protection. The Decepticons are prepared to engage, but Megatron orders them to stand down as he removes his [[fusion cannon]] — this battle is between him and Optimus. Megatron tosses his weapon aside, Optimus puts Carly and Spike on a nearby pile of rubble, and the two rivals' ultimate showdown begins...

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.<br>
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Shredhead]] (1)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (2)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (3)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (4)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (7)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (8)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (13)
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (14)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (15)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (16)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (17)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (21)
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (25)
* ''[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]'' (27)
* ''[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]'' (30)
* ''[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]'' (31)

|c2=
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (6)
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (9)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (10)
* [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (22)
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (23)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (24)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (26)

|c3=
* [[Chicago]] Residents (5)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (11)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparky]] (12)
* [[Washington (state)|Washington]] Refugees (18)
* [[Doctor Lio]] (19)
* [[Carly (G1)|Carly]] (20)

|h4=Others|c4=
* [[Maccadam|Alchemist Prime]] (28)
* [[Vector Prime]] (29)
}}

==Quotes==
"''Um''... Optimus Prime, sir? My sister was in Seattle. She was going to be crushed by a skyscraper. Until you stopped it. With your own body."<br>
"We were in Tacoma."<br>
"I thought we were going to die."<br>
"But you saved me."<br>
"You rescued us."<br>
"You rescued me."
:— Refugees from all over [[Washington (state)|Washington]], including '''Carly''', pay their respects to a comatose Optimus Prime.


"Ever since I knew of Optimus... I wanted to be just like him. But that was always impossible. I am strong on the outside. But on the inside... I don't know how to be strong. I don't know how to be a leader. I don't know how to be brave. But I know how to die. I can die for his dream of a better world for all of us. Including those who are small. '''We can all die!!!''' Protecting the one who has been strong for us, '''for so many years!!!''' <small>For Optimus Prime.</small>"
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' rallies the Autobots as he reflects on his nature as a soldier.


"This infection... it wants to take you away from yourself. It wants you to give up. To put walls up. Just like I did. But I'm not that way anymore. Thanks to you, Optimus."
:—'''Sparky''' finds the Matrix's infection all too familiar.


"MEGATRON!!! These people, this planet. They are under '''my''' protection"<br>
"Megatron! Stand clear! We shall ruin him—"<br>
"No. This is between me and him"<br>
"One shall stand. ONE SHALL FALL!"
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Optimus Prime''' challenge each other. 

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* As was noted [[Transformers (2023) issue 22|last issue]] by [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]], the Earth side of the ''Nemesis''' portal was blown to smithereens during the Autobots' and Decepticons' battle and scattered across the ocean floor, causing Shredhead's body to initially manifest in pieces before painfully recombining.
* Megatron observes that the Decepticons have been quietly following the Autobots for a week, giving us a rough idea of how long the time gap between the end of last issue and the start of this one is. The time gap can also be observed through the Autobots, who were all largely intact last issue, but are now in varying states of disrepair after fending off Decepticon attacks for so long.
* Thanks to being an astral projection within the Matrix, Optimus is finally able to manifest his [[energon-axe|axe]] for the first time since [[Transformers (2023) issue 3|issue #3]], where his physical self's right arm was wrecked ''just'' as the axe made its debut.
* Sparky (or rather, his spirit) makes his first physical appearance since his sacrifice in [[Transformers (2023) issue 6|issue #6]]. He also confirms the obvious: that Optimus' visions, which have been appearing on-and-off since [[Transformers (2023) issue 7|issue #7]], are distorted due in part to Sparky's memories being mixed with Optimus'.
* The refugees recall the Decepticons' attacks on Tacoma and Seattle, which began in issues [[Transformers (2023) issue 15|#15]] and [[Transformers (2023) issue 17|#17]], respectively. The Tacoma survivors' words of remembrance are particularly notable, as they considered the Autobots unwelcome visitors when they arrived to help them.
* Rumble had his right arm destroyed by [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] in [[Transformers (2023) issue 5|issue #5]], but this issue confirms that he had it repaired off-panel (probably shortly after the conclusion of [[Transformers (2023) issue 20|issue #20]], given that Megatron's eyes were similarly repaired between issues).
* The remaining Aerialbots re-combine into [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] to battle the Decepticons, but owing to poor [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]]'s death in [[Transformers (2023) issue 21|issue #21]], he has a stub where his left arm used to be.
* Bumblebee's deactivated body was shot to death by Starscream in [[Transformers (2023) issue 1|issue #1]]. Jetfire went offline the same issue and was only able to be brought back by being [[Transformation paralysis|locked]] into his [[alt-mode]] in [[Transformers (2023) issue 8|issue #8]], but he hasn't been seen since he was retrieved by Silverbolt in issue #20, and considering that he was aboard the ''Ark'' when it was teleported away by [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] in issue #21, his current fate remains up in the air.
* When we first saw him in a flashback from [[Transformers (2023) issue 2|issue #2]], Beachcomber was being shot in the back by Starscream, leading us to (incorrectly) assume at the time that he'd died before the Autobots arrived on Earth. Now, 21 issues later, it's happened again... and since preview pages for [[Transformers (2023) issue 25|issue #25]] already show him working alongside the other Autobots, this means he's likely going to somehow survive this a ''second'' time!
* Ratchet died taking a shot meant for [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] in [[Transformers (2023) issue 10|issue #10]].

===Transformers references===
* Ultra Magnus' speech begins with him remarking on how he's not cut out for leadership, just as he did when Optimus passed the Matrix onto him in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
* Of the three statues of the Primes seen in this issue, the only two that can be readily identified are those of [[Maccadam|Alchemist Prime]] (who we saw last issue) and [[Vector Prime]], who like the previously-seen Primes, is based on his ''[[Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|Covenant of Primus]]'' design.
* Yeah, yeah [[The Transformers: The Movie|"One shall stand. One shall fall"]].
* [[Daniel Warren Johnson]]'s sign-off on the letters pages paraphrases the lyrics of "[[Nothin's Gonna Stand in Our Way]]", one of the licensed songs featured in the '86 movie.

===Other notes===
* In his response to one of the letters, [[Daniel Warren Johnson]] says he's sure time will tell if other combiners like the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s and [[Seacon (G1)|Seacon]]s will show up and opts to cheekily remark "Hmmmmm NO COMMENT." when asked if Bumblebee will wind up being resurrected as Goldbug down the line.
* Energon Experience: Presented by editor [[Ben Abernathy]].
** Character Spotlight: Wheeljack!
** Flashback Fun: A reminder that Wheeljack's as much a gadget man as he is a scientist, with specific mention of him getting the dam to generate [[energon]] in issue #5 and his intergalactic radio from the [[Transformers Energon Universe 2025 Special story|''Transformers'' story]] from 2025's ''[[Energon Universe 2025 Special|Energon Universe Special]]''.
** Creator Spotlight: Ben asks colorist [[Mike Spicer]] which Autobot he'd want with him on a stranded island and why. Mike says [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], because it means he'd at least have tunes!

===Covers===
* '''Cover A:''' Ultra Magnus holds firm with a flag bearing the Autobot [[insignia]], by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover B:''' Optimus and the Autobots in silhouette, by Jorge Corona and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover C:''' Connecting cover by [[David Nakayama]].
* '''Cover D:''' Optimus Prime with his right arm torn off, by [[Doug Mahnke]] and [[David Baron]].
* '''Cover E:''' Soundwave, by [[Simon Parr]].
* '''The 616 Comics Cover A:''' Jazz, by [[Björn Barends]].
* '''The 616 Comics Cover B:''' Foil variant of Björn Barends' cover.
* '''PCB Hobby Cover A:''' Soundwave, [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], by [[Sajad Shah]].
* '''PCB Hobby Cover B:''' Logoless variant of Sajad Shah's cover.
* '''ThatGuyWill Cover A:''' A watercolor painting of Optimus, by [[Ito]].
* '''ThatGuyWill Cover B:''' An oil painting of Optimus blocking an attack, by Ito.

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 23 Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 23 Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 23 Cover C.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 23 Cover D.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 23 Cover E.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 23 The 616 Comics Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 23 PCB Hobby Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 23 PCB Hobby Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 23 ThatGuyWill Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 23 ThatGuyWill Cover B.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisement===
* Explore the Energon Universe in ''[[G.I. Joe (2024 comic)|G.I. Joe]]'' [[G.I. Joe (2024) issue 9|#10]], ''Void Rivals'' [[Void Rivals issue 21|#22]], and ''Transformers'' #24

==External links==


==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Transformers (2023) issues]]