Transformers (2023) issue 32
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| Publisher | Image Comics Skybound Entertainment | ||||||||||||
| First published | May 13, 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Cover date | May 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Written by | Robert Kirkman | ||||||||||||
| Art by | Jason Howard | ||||||||||||
| Colors by | Mike Spicer | ||||||||||||
| Letters by | Rus Wooton | ||||||||||||
| Editor | Ben Abernathy | ||||||||||||
| Continuity | Energon Universe | ||||||||||||
Elita Prime returns with her Autobots to Cybertron, but the journey home won't be an easy one.
Synopsis
Elita Prime and her Autobots emerge from the space bridge back on Cybertron. Ultra Magnus notices that they are in the middle of Decepticon territory. Elita and Cliffjumper managed to sneak in to use the bridge to go to Earth, but their increased numbers will make returning to the Autobot base much harder. Jefire proposes he fly them out a few at a time while Sideswipe would prefer to drive, however, Elita nixes either idea for fear that they might give away their position. However, as they begin their journey on foot, it quickly proves a moot point when they are ambushed by a squad of Decepticons led by Shockwave, alive without a head, much to the shock of Elita.
The Decepticons attack, blasting the remains of Bumblebee that Jetfire was carrying. Ultra Magnus transforms and tells the Autobots to load into his car carrier form, using his alternate mode to ram Shockwave and allow his fellow Autobots to attack the Decepticons. However, the Decepticon forces quickly regain their composure and fight back, overwhelming the Autobots. Seeing her comrades taking such a beating, Elita fears that this may be their darkest hour and tries using the power of the Matrix of Leadership.
Unfortunately, it does nothing. She hits the ancient artifact, demanding it open until a flash of white light emerges and glowing energy emerges from the talisman and forms into the Ghost of the Star Saber. Using her new weapon, she mows down the Decepticons, allowing the Autobots the chance to regroup and retreat. As the Autobots escape, Shockwave realizes that Elita Prime will be a force to be reckoned with. He decides he needs to pay a visit to Alpha Trion...
Featured characters
Characters in italic text appear only in flashbacks.
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
Quotes
"I'm held together with hatred and spite! You can’t crush that!"
- — Shockwave
"This blade hungers for the foul sparks of Decepticons! I hear its song! It fuels me!"
- — Elita Prime
Notes
Continuity notes
- Shockwave is missing his head, which was crushed by Optimus Prime during their climactic battle in issue #12.
- While most of the Decepticons who make up Shockwave's forces are new introductions to the Energon Universe, Ratbat and Thrust previously appeared in issue #17.
- Ultra Magnus has come a long way toward overcoming the trauma that Shockwave inflicted on him while captured (which Elita rescued him from in issue #7). During his last encounter with the Decepticon commander in issue #11, Magnus fled in a panic. Now he is able to confront his torturer head-on.
- Acidstorm asks where Jetfire has been hiding all this time. Readers saw Jetfire depart Cybertron in search of potential energy sources before the war fully broke out in issue #13. Ultimately, Jetfire would miss the entirety of the war, crashing on a planetoid and not being reactivated for millions of years until Darak and Solila found him in Void Rivals #1, the very beginning of the Energon Universe.
- Alpha Trion was previously mentioned and seen in flashback in Void Rivals #17, when Zerta Trion revealed the backstory of the Sacred Ring to Solila.
Transformers references
- Bulkhead remarks on the shoddy construction of the space bridge, echoing his Transformers Animated counterpart's space bridge expertise.
- Much like the 2005 IDW continuity before, the Energon Universe iteration of Blackarachnia is visually based on her Animated counterpart.
- Knock Out refers to Breakdown as "my dear". Their relationship was something fans read into about their Transformers: Prime incarnations, but was later codified in the 2005 IDW continuity. The pair are also seen attacking Bulkhead, who was positioned as Breakdown's rival in the Transformers: Prime cartoon.
- Lugnut expounds on the glory of Megatron, just as his Animated counterpart was so fond of doing.
- Lockdown remarks on Jazz's head making a nice trophy. Taking trophies from his captured enemies was a favorite hobby of Animated Lockdown.
- Elita Prime asks the Matrix to "light [their] darkest hour", the phrase most associated with the Matrix from The Transformers: The Movie.
- The Star Saber is the ancient weapon of Prima, leader of the Thirteen Primes.
- Elita slices off Skyquake's right arm, echoing a similar injury sustained by the zombified Skyquake in Transformers: Prime.
- Makeshift was a one-episode villain from the Prime episode "Con Job", where he was a Shifter who infiltrated the Autobots by disguising himself as Wheeljack. He tries the same trick here by taking the form of Jazz, but Elita sees through it.
Errors
- In the last panel of the second page, Elita says "We'll better avoid detection if we say low." "Say" is clearly supposed to be "stay", just missing the "t".
Other notes
- Energon Experience: Presented by Skybound Executive Editor Ben Abernathy.
- Character Spotlight: Shockwave
- ’Name That Decepticon!: Spotlights Shockwave's forces from this issue.
- Creator Spotlight: Ben asks Jason Howard what his alt-mode would be. Jason answers coffee. Or, if he were a triple changer, coffee and a basketball.
Covers
- Cover A: Shcokwave, by David Nakayama
- Cover B: Ultra Magnus, Warpath, and Bluestreak, by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer.
- Cover C: Octane, Thrust, and Lugnut, by Jason Howard and Annalisa Leoni.
- Cover D: Elita One, Blurr, Bluestreak, and Cliffjumper by Leirix Li.
- Cover E: Design schematics for Shockwave, by E. J. Su.
Advertisement
- Explore the Energon Universe in G.I. Joe #22, Void Rivals #30, and M.A.S.K. #1.
- 3-page preview of the M.A.S.K. story from the Energon Universe 2026 Special.
Reprints
- Transformers Volume 6: Decepticons Attack! (December 9, 2026) ISBN 1534332634 / ISBN 978-1534332638
- Collects Transformers issues #31–36.
- Trade paperback format.
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Volume 6: Decepticons Attack! – cover art by David Nakayama
