Transformers (2023) issue 20

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Revision as of 17:09, 14 May 2025 by Jurassith (talk | contribs) (that was definitely Thundercracker behind Teletraan and not Skywarp. Skywarp has the orange visor over his eyes)
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« Transformers #20 »

Daddy's home.
Publisher Image Comics
Skybound Entertainment
First published May 14, 2025
Cover date May 2025
Written by Daniel Warren Johnson
Art by Jorge Corona
Colors by Mike Spicer
Letters by Rus Wooton
Editor Ben Abernathy
Continuity Energon Universe

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 Decepticons, Megatron prepares to pursue the fleeing Autobots. However, he is interrupted by a challenge from 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 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 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. He asks Doc if he'll pray for him, but Doc simply states that he doesn't do that anymore.

At the Ark, Spike convenes with 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 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 and the newly-repaired Silverbolt, who have returned from their mission to recover Jetfire. Optimus thanks SIlverbolt and welcomes him into the Ark, where the rest of the Aerialbots are finished being repaired. As they come online, the Aerialbots excitedly embrace Optimus. Wheeljack then informs Optimus that he's set up a diagnostic table to examine Prime's visions, as Thundercracker observes them from behind Teletraan-1.

Some things never change.

On Cybertron, Shredhead talks with Cliffjumper, who is worried about Carly. Cliffjumper asks Shredhead if they recognize him, and Shredhead says that while their memories are hazy, they do feel a connection from the sparks 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 The Ancient, and that he hid raw materials here during the war. He orders Starscream brought before him and, using the technology available, fully restores the damaged 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.


Characters in italic text appear only in flashbacks.
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots Decepticons Humans Others

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."
"Ungh..."
"You were pathetic then. You're pathetic now. A stain on what it means to be a Decepticon."
"Please... let it end. Just kill me now."
"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?"
"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?"
"I...yes. You are correct."
"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 back in issue #8.
  • Though it isn't officially stated, the military site where Ultra Magnus is being kept is most likely a G.I. Joe-run site given the presence of Doc. What relation this site has to the Pit and 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 issue #9.
  • Skywarp has been fused with Teletraan-1 after being torn apart by Starscream and Soundwave since issue #5.
  • The Ancient, which fans know to be Omega Supreme, was first seen in the flashbacks of issue #13. Prior to that, we had also seen a Guardian robot in a recording from Megatron in Cobra Commander #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 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

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.
  • Starscream's lower legs are incorrectly colored blue for all scenes after his repair.

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.

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Reprints

  • Volume 4: Conquer and Control – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer
    Volume 4: Conquer and Control – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer

References

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