Transformers (2023) issue 12

« Transformers #12 »
Burning this bridge behind me
Publisher	Image Comics Skybound Entertainment
First published	September 11, 2024
Cover date	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

Optimus Prime faces a choice. And he makes one.

Synopsis

On the Ark, Carly watches as the Decepticons surround the Autobots. Realizing she needs to help them, she gets in her van and drives through the Skywarp generated portal, ramming a Shockwave-wielding Soundwave and saving Cliffjumper. Carly apologizes for not being there when Cliff needed her, but their heartwarming reunion is cut short by Devastator smashing her van. Cliffjumper manages to rescue Carly, but his arm and the van's wreckage are crushed together by Devastator's foot. Before anything can be done to free him, he and the van are flung by Devastator through the portal to Cybertron, crashing into the Combaticons. 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 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.

I know this is a serious moment and all, but goddamn is Optimus' head small

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. 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, his optics flushing pink, and he crushes Shockwave's head with his bare hands. As he regains his senses (and his blue eyes), he is horrified at what he's done, but Elita One is happy to see that he's regained his ruthlessness.

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, 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.
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots	Decepticons	Humans
Optimus Prime (2) Jazz (3) Arcee (4) Elita One (5) Cliffjumper (9) Wheeljack (12) Beachcomber (16)	Devastator (1) Shockwave (7) Soundwave (8) Onslaught (10) Thundercracker (11) Swindle (13) Vortex (14) Blast Off (15)	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 in issue #6.
• Cybertron's energon shortage was first made known back in Void Rivals #4, and expanded upon in issue #7.
• Optimus' prioritizing the needs of Earth above the Autobots' own has been a recurring theme in this series, first appearing in issue #2.

Transformers references

• Elita One's motorcycle alt-mode is based on that of her Transformers One counterpart.

Covers (16)

• Cover A: Optimus Prime in front of Cybertron, by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer.
• Cover B: Cliffjumper's face, by Jorge Corona & 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.
• Second Printing Cover A: Vortex, by Jason Howard.
• Second Printing Cover B: Carly and her van, by Jason Howard.
• The Comic Mint Cover: by Skan Srisuwan.
• TopShelfComic Baltimore Comic-Con 2024 Cover A: by Livio Ramondelli.
• TopShelfComic Baltimore Comic-Con 2024 Cover B: by Livio Ramondelli.
• Big Time Collectibles Cover A: by John Giang.
• Big Time Collectibles Cover B: by Mel Milton.
• Big Time Collectibles New York Comic Con 2024 Cover: by John Giang.
• Heavy Mental / High Horse Comics & Games / Joey from Pico Cover: by Juan Gedeon & Carlos Cabrera.
• TopShelfComic New York Comic Con 2024 Cover: by Dan Quintana.
• KRS Comics / The Comic Mint New York Comic Con 2024 Cover: by Tiago da Silva.

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Reprints

• Transformers Volume 2: Transport to Oblivion (November 13, 2024) ISBN 1534345272 / ISBN 978-1534345270
  • Collects Transformers issues #7–12.
  • Trade paperback format.
  • Variant covers:
    • Direct Market Exclusive: by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer. ISBN 978-1534354869
    • TopShelfComic Exclusive: by David Mack. Limited to 300 copies.
    • Verse Comics Exclusive: by Kei Zama. ISBN 978-1534326729

• Transformers Deluxe Edition Book 1 (April 30, 2025) ISBN 1534328238 / ISBN 978-1534328235
  • Collects Transformers issues #1–12.
  • Hardcover format.
  • Variant covers:
    • Bookdelivery Exclusive: by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer. Limited to 200 copies. ISBN 978-1534328679
    • Direct Market Exclusive: by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer. ISBN 978-1534329607
    • Hasbro Pulse Exclusive: by Tom Whalen. ISBN 978-1534398414
    • TopShelfComic Exclusive: by Marcelo Matere. Limited to 200 copies.

• 
  Volume 2: Transport to Oblivion – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer
• 
  Volume 2: Transport to Oblivion Direct Market Exclusive – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer
• 
  Volume 2: Transport to Oblivion TopShelfComic Exclusive – cover art by David Mack
• 
  Volume 2: Transport to Oblivion Verse Comics Exclusive – cover art by Kei Zama
• 
  Deluxe Edition Book 1 – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer
• 
  Deluxe Edition Book 1 Bookdelivery Exclusive – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer
• 
  Deluxe Edition Book 1 Direct Market Exclusive – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer
• 
  Deluxe Edition Book 1 Hasbro Pulse Exclusive – cover art by Tom Whalen
• 
  Deluxe Edition Book 1 TopShelfComic Exclusive – cover art by Marcelo Matere