Back again folks, with another Transformers review from Skybound! This is issue #21, by the dream team Daniel Warren Johnson and Jorge Corona. Coming up on two years with this book, and we finally kick the main event into overdrive. Optimus Prime vs Megatron! ‘Nuff said. Let’s talk about it.
This issue serves a few purposes, but the most primary is answering the lingering questions about Optimus’ changes. We get an outright confirmation of #EvilArmTheory, though the writing has been pretty clearly up on the wall for a while now. But an actual in-story confirmation comes from Prime himself this time, which brings us to the end of an era… no more cool Megatron Arm Optimus. Almost sad to see it go, honestly. I don’t think anybody would deny that the iconography of that choice is one of the most defining things the Energon Universe books have had, and has made numerous ripples in the fan community, between numerous toy upgrade kits, third party knockoff figures of the design, to the countless piles of fan art… it certainly left its impact. Even now that the story is moving forward toward our real Optimus vs Megatron fight, and thus necessitating this long-running thread be tied up, I think the iconography that idea brought is going to be associated with Skybound for years to come. Goes to show how great an idea it was.
Skybound
Enough waxing poetic about an arm – a lot of other stuff happens in this one. We get semi-resolution to the running background plot of Thundercracker defecting, which is nice, and finally take the Autobot Ark out of the equation as a safety net for either side. We also get the introduction of more members of G.I. Joe after their bot-napping of Ultra Magnus. It really feels like Johnson’s era is coming to a close in a big way – the Autobots are once again on the back foot against overwhelming odds, perhaps for the last time under this pen. I’ve criticized this formula as a bit repetitive in the past, and while I still stand by those words, there’s a bittersweetness in knowing it’s almost over.
The closer to get to that two year finish line, the more I wonder: how can what comes next could possibly live up to this gargantuan bar that’s been set, and who would be the right person to even try? A relatively basic formula we’ve been repeating, true, but one that still worked every time. One has to wonder, what changes will be made? Mind you, the retirement of this particular formula we’ve been repeating isn’t something I’d be sad about, but it’s funny what perspective can do. I’m going to assume with this issue, which will likely be furthered in the next few, that Johnson is setting us up for a big blowout that will lead to our first true stable “status quo” for a little bit, and maybe give the fans that next wild new direction we’ve all been itching for. So long as the character arcs set up are paid off, I think we’ll be fine.
Skybound
The art from Corona and colorist Mike Spicer are great as usual. I am also now wondering if they’ll be sticking around when Johnson leaves… but I’ve pondered that line of thought enough this time. What I do like though, art wise, is how much spectacle we get this issue. Multiple combiners duking it out, Optimus having the Autobots blast his arm off, Megatron’s completed Gun form… lots to love visually in this one.
Transformers #21 is good, as this series always tends to be. It gives me a feeling of somber satisfaction knowing that this era will be coming to a close sooner rather than later, that things will keep developing and evolving into hopefully even bigger and better things, but at the cost of one of the most interesting eras in the Transformers brand’s history. How much more can we ramp up before it’s done? Well I’m gonna keep reviewing these, so I guess we’ll all find out together.
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