Transformers (2023) issue 3: Difference between revisions
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===Continuity notes=== | ===Continuity notes=== | ||
* One of the citizens' militia, [[Jerry (G1)|Jerry]], was the same man raving about seeing [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] in the [[Transformers (2023) issue 1|first issue]]. | * One of the citizens' militia, [[Jerry (G1)|Jerry]], was the same man raving about seeing [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] in the [[Transformers (2023) issue 1|first issue]]. | ||
*Sparkplug notes the internet is down, throwing the implied setting of the 1980s into question. | |||
===Transformers references=== | ===Transformers references=== | ||
Revision as of 03:52, 8 December 2023
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| Publisher | Image Comics Skybound Entertainment | ||||||||||||
| First published | December 6, 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Cover date | December 2023 | ||||||||||||
| Written by | Daniel Warren Johnson | ||||||||||||
| Art by | Daniel Warren Johnson | ||||||||||||
| Colors by | Mike Spicer | ||||||||||||
| Letters by | Rus Wooton | ||||||||||||
| Editors | Sean Mackiewicz & Jonathan Manning | ||||||||||||
| Continuity | Energon Universe | ||||||||||||
It's Optimus Prime versus Skywarp in a vicious battle, with humankind caught in the crossfire.
Synopsis
Learning her father has been killed, Carly asks Sparkplug how it happened, and Sparky tells her he was crushed by a giant robot. Carly realizes it must have been Starscream and begins to tell Sparkplug about her and Spike's discovery of the Ark. Sparkplug desperately asks where Spike is when they are attacked by Laserbeak. Sparkplug fires at the robot bird, only to get tossed around the room for his efforts. Laserbeak then corners Carly, but she is rescued by the timely arrival of Cliffjumper, who delivers a swift kick to Laserbeak's face. As Cliff approaches Carly, however, Sparkplug yells at him to get away before firing a shotgun at the Autobot's face. Carly tries to get him to stop, but Sparkplug pulls her into the police car he commandeered and they drive off.
In the Ark, an irritated Starscream berates Soundwave for not fixing Teletraan 1. Soundwave tells him that while they have enough energon, the raw materials they gathered aren’t advanced enough to repair the computer. When Soundwave begins to mention what Megatron would do, Starscream slaps him, repeating his order to not say his name. Soundwave receives an alert from Laserbeak and Starscream orders Skywarp to deal with it.
Sparkplug takes Carly to the veterans' bar. Carly asks why they’re there and Sparkplug tells her that the Decepticons are jamming all phone, radio, and internet signals, so they need reinforcements from somewhere. Inside, Danny and a group of other veterans have heard the explosions and already formed a small militia to defend themselves. Carly tries to tell Sparkplug that they aren't all bad, but Sparkplug says that he's been in war: when the shooting starts, people die. At that moment, Cliffjumper appears in the doorway and Sparkplug unloads a machine gun on him. Skywarp then arrives, which the humans mistake for Cliffjumper having called in reinforcements, and they begin firing on both. On the outskirts of town, Optimus and Spike see smoke coming from the battle and Optimus quickly heads in to intervene. With Skywarp shaking off the humans' bullets like they're nothing, Danny decides they need something bigger: he and Sparky pull out a bazooka before the bar caves in on itself. Skywarp approaches Cliffjumper for the kill, but Carly tries to step in and defend him, much to Skywarp's amusement. The pair are saved by the timely intervention of Optimus, who rams into Skywarp in his truck mode. Optimus transforms and tells Spike to take cover while he deals with the Decepticon.
The two fight, Skywarp using his teleportation and Optimus using his energon-axe. Optimus pins Skywarp down and asks him to surrender, but their fight is interrupted by Sparky and Danny firing the bazooka at Optimus, severely damaging his right arm. This allows Skywarp to regain his footing and blast Optimus back. Sparky tells the militia to pour their fire on both of the Cybertronians as Spike runs towards the wounded Optimus... getting caught in the crossfire. Skywarp taunts Optimus as he moves to crush Spike, but Optimus tackles him to the ground. In a moment of desperation, Prime tears off his injured arm, using it as a club to beat Skywarp down. He then picks up Spike, now bleeding profusely from his injury. Sparkplug runs towards Prime, tears streaking his face and a handgun pointed at the Autobot leader, screaming at him to get away from his son. Optimus transforms and tells Sparkplug to come with him; he’s going to save his boy.
Featured characters
Characters in italic text appear only in flashbacks.
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Humans |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Quotes
"I've been in war, Carly. It doesn't matter whose team they're on or what glorious cause they fight for. When the shooting starts, people die."
- —Sparkplug
"Damn, Starscream was right! This is a blast!"
- —Skywarp
"Your kind have played with this planet enough. I WILL HAVE NO MORE OF IT!"
- —Optimus Prime right before ripping his own arm off.
Notes
Continuity notes
- One of the citizens' militia, Jerry, was the same man raving about seeing Jetfire in the first issue.
- Sparkplug notes the internet is down, throwing the implied setting of the 1980s into question.
Transformers references
- Optimus's iconic energon-axe first debuted in the Generation 1 cartoon episode "More than Meets the Eye, Part 2".
- Skywarp swears "by the soul of the Fallen".
Real-world references
- Daniel Warren Johnson hides little references on the license plates of the vehicles and characters' alt-modes:
- The license plate of the police car Sparkplug commandeered has changed, now reading "Murder Falcon", the title of one of Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer’s previous Skybound comics.
- As Optimus drives into town, his front license plate reads "DAP", which stands for Do A Powerbomb, another Johnson/Spicer Skybound title.
- When Optimus transforms at the end, his license plate also serves as Johnson's signature, with a small "DWJ '23".
- The wrestling influence on the action in this comic continues with Optimus Prime performing Kenta Kobashi's iconic Burning Hammer on Skywarp, hoisting the Decepticon over his shoulders before slamming him into the ground head-first.
Storytelling notes
Errors
Other trivia
- This issue contains a four page preview for Cobra Commander #1.
- While it is likely not intentional, the scene of Optimus ripping off his damaged arm and using it as a weapon is similar to a moment where Apeface does the same in issue #49 of the Marvel series.
Covers
- Cover A: Optimus Prime vs Soundwave and his cassettes, by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer.
- Cover B: People cower beneath Optimus Prime and Skywarp rains fire upon him, by Taurin Clarke.
- Cover C (1:10 Copy Incentive): Connecting cover by Orlando Aroecena.
- Cover D (1:25 Copy Incentive): Optimus and Skywarp square off, by Matías Bergara.
- Cover E (1:50 Copy Incentive): A defeated Optimus sits in the shadow of Starscream, by Nick Dragotta.
Advertisements
- The Cobra threat begins in Cobra Commander #1!
Reprints
- Transformers Volume 1 (May 7, 2024) ISBN 1534398171 / ISBN 978-1534398177
- Collects issues #1-6.
- Trade paperback format.
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Volume 1 – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer
