Transformers (2023) issue 26: Difference between revisions
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* On the final two pages, the gun barrel on Megatron's back is colored black like his fusion cannon instead of the proper gray. | * On the final two pages, the gun barrel on Megatron's back is colored black like his fusion cannon instead of the proper gray. | ||
* On the penultimate page, a "Lorem ipsum" placeholder text is placed between the bottom panels. | * On the penultimate page, a "Lorem ipsum" placeholder text is placed between the bottom panels. | ||
* Mayhem has a full scan of Optimus Prime, despite the Autobot leader still not having a fully-repaired right arm. | |||
===Other notes=== | ===Other notes=== | ||
Revision as of 19:03, 23 November 2025
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| Publisher | Image Comics Skybound Entertainment | ||||||||||||
| First published | November 12, 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Cover date | November 2025 | ||||||||||||
| Written by | Robert Kirkman | ||||||||||||
| Art by | Dan Mora | ||||||||||||
| Colors by | Mike Spicer | ||||||||||||
| Letters by | Rus Wooton | ||||||||||||
| Editor | Ben Abernathy | ||||||||||||
| Continuity | Energon Universe | ||||||||||||
With new and unexpected allies alike, Optimus Prime must figure out how he and the Autobots will move forward on the path to ending their war.
Synopsis
Thundercracker wildly opens fire on Jazz and Wheeljack, still panicking after his experience in Cobra-La and screaming "DEATH TO THE AUTOBOTS!" He tries to remove Skywarp from Teletraan-1, but both Skywarp and the Autobots warn him that doing so will kill Skywarp. Thankfully, his rampage is halted by Ultra Magnus, who rips the incendiary guns off his arms. Thundercracker blames the Autobots for Skywarp's condition, not believing them when they say they lacked the capability to undo what Starscream and Soundwave did. However, Optimus Prime then returns, accompanied by General Flagg and his supply of Energon.
Recognizing that Thundercracker still has some nobility in him, Optimus tells the Seeker that they will use their new resources to repair Skywarp. Magnus is concerned about showing this level of mercy to a Decepticon, but Optimus insists they have to find common ground as Cybertronians if they are to have any hope of ending the war. Flagg commends Optimus on his conflict resolution skills, and Optimus introduces the rest of the Autobots to their new human ally. Wheeljack is initially wary of the General, but is thankful upon seeing the recovered bodies of Mirage and Bulkhead. As the two discuss the rebuilding efforts in Chicago, Wheeljack proposes that - with enough resources - he could build the city into something brand new, with state of the art defense capabilities, an offer Flagg readily accepts.
Some time later, Wheeljack reports that he should be able to get Teletraan working again, offering to repair Optimus once he's done, but Optimus insists they start repairs with those who need them most, in this case Skywarp (despite objections from Wheeljack and Magnus, both still uneasy at the presence of Thundercracker). Optimus then shares some of their Energon with the imprisoned Soundwave, but the reception of his kindness is far chillier than Thundercracker's. Optimus questions why Soundwave would remain so loyal to the Decepticons after they abandoned him, but ultimately leaves his prisoner to his Energon.
In Chicago, the Autobots are still aiding in cleanup alongside Carly and Spike. Shredhead especially proves impressive to their new friends, managing to help Beachcomber save a group of humans out from under some heavy debris. Meanwhile, at Shadow Watch, Miles Mayhem examines the 3D scans that they took of Optimus Prime during his visit to their underground base. This will allow them to study the Transformer's transformation. Mayhem asks the technician if he's shared this with General Flagg, believing the fewer people who know about this, the better. When the technician confirms Flagg doesn't, Mayhem pulls out a pistol and shoots him.
On Cybertron, Elita One tasks Cliffjumper with venturing into Decepticon territory to recover the components of Shockwave's space bridge. She sees it as an opportunity to redeem himself for his betrayal, but Cliffjumper insists he did the right thing to help Earth. Elita is tired of hearing about Earth, instead focusing on the plight of their fellow Autobots, many of whom lay in stasis lock around their base.
On the Ark, Wheeljack has finished his repairs to both Teletraan and Skywarp. The Decepticon teleporter seems confused, but when Optimus tries to explain what happened, he attacks the Autobot leader. Wheeljack desperately tries to shield Teletraan from any stray blasts while Thundercracker tries to get his fellow Seeker to stop. However, it is to no avail, as Skywarp transforms and flies through the ship to escape. He comes across Soundwave, who tells him to return to the Decepticons and alert Megatron. Thundercracker tries to talk Skywarp down, reminding him that it was their fellow Decepticons that mutilated Skywarp in the first place, but Skywarp insists that it was just desperation, and that things will return to normal with Megatron back. But Thundercracker refuses to go back, and so Skywarp simply transforms and flies away.
Aboard the Nemesis, Scrapper and Rumble have scoured the seafloor and found what little bits of Energon they could, bringing it before Megatron. Their leader is disappointed, as such a pittance is barely enough for his own repairs, let alone their entire forces. Scrapper suggests that they could overtake human energy generation and use that to create more Energon, but his suggestion is interrupted when Megatron falls to his knees, shrieking. The other Decepticons can do little else but look on as Megatron grabs his head in pain, his eyes glowing purple...
Featured characters
Characters in italic text appear only in flashbacks.
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Humans |
|---|---|---|
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Quotes
"Optimus, is this wise?"
"He cares for his brethren, as we do. How can we ever hope to end the war if we cannot find common ground?"
"I notice you said 'end', not 'win'."
"Forgive me, friend. I find I cannot fathom an end to this conflict that would feel like a win."
- —Ultra Magnus and Optimus Prime
"It's okay. We're strong. We're going to get through this."
"You sound just like him."
"My dad?"
"No. Optimus Prime."
- —Spike and Carly
"You always were weak. The Decepticons don't need you. You will not be missed."
- —Skywarp to Thundercracker
Notes
Continuity notes
- Skywarp was cannibalized by Starscream and Soundwave to repair Teletraan-1 back in issue #4.
- Carly remarks that Spike is sounding more like Optimus Prime, possibly as a side effect of their connecting through the Matrix of Leadership in issue #22.
- Shockwave's space bridge was destroyed in issue #12, when Optimus blew it up to save Earth, but stranding Elita and Cliffjumper back on Cybertron.
- Kup was last seen getting blown up in Elita's assault on Shockwave's lab in issue #7 and his body was seen in issue #15 being left behind by Bluestreak when he recovered Warpath, claiming Kup was "gone." Evidently, Elita chose to recover him at some point, which is good since he isn't as gone as Streak believed.
Transformers references
- Thundercracker uses his sonic boom attack, an ability first listed on his original Bob Budiansky-penned tech specs.
- Thundercracker's doubts about the Decepticon cause is an element pulled from his original profile. Past iterations have also played up this angle of the character, most notably his 2005 IDW continuity incarnation.
- Scrapper's suggestion that the Decepticons could use human-based energy generators is a callback to the Decepticons' usual Energon-harvesting schemes in the Generation 1 cartoon.
- Mayhem having the schematics of Optimus Prime recalls the origins of a few previous man-made recreations of the Autobot leader.
- Following Mora's usual use of toys as references for drawing, the Nemesis is based on its Legacy toy.
M.A.S.K. references
- Miles Mayhem is fascinated by Optimus Prime's transformative abilities, clearly foreshadowing the development of the signature transforming vehicles of M.A.S.K. and V.E.N.O.M..
Real life references
- The helicopters delivering supplies to the Ark are Boeing CH-47 Chinooks.
Errors
- On the final two pages, the gun barrel on Megatron's back is colored black like his fusion cannon instead of the proper gray.
- On the penultimate page, a "Lorem ipsum" placeholder text is placed between the bottom panels.
- Mayhem has a full scan of Optimus Prime, despite the Autobot leader still not having a fully-repaired right arm.
Other notes
- Energon Experience: Presented by Skybound Executive Editor Ben Abernathy.
- Character Spotlight: Skywarp
- Not Your Kup of Tea: Don't worry readers, Kup did indeed survive his seemingly-fatal ordeal from issue #7.
- Creator Spotlight: Ben asks letterer Rus Wooton what his alternate mode would be. Wooton suggests an amphibious vehicle so he could go on land and water.
Covers (9)
- Cover A: Optimus Prime versus Thundercracker, by David Nakayama
- Cover B: Shredhead, by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer.
- Cover C: Connecting cover, by Jorge Corona and Mike Spicer.
- Cover D: The Decepticons, by Kael Ngu.
- Cover E: Design for Optimus Prime, by Dan Mora and Andres Juarez.
Advertisement
- Explore the Energon Universe in G.I. Joe #14 and #15 and Transformers #27.
- The Quintesson War comes to Void Rivals #25!
- The Art of Daniel Warren Johnson
- Invincible Universe: Battle Beast Volume 1 TPB
- Blood & Thunder Volume 1 TPB
