Writer: Daniel Warren Johnson
Artist: Jorge Corona
Colorist: Mike Spicer
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Cover Artists: Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer; Jorge Corona & Mike Spicer; Karen S. Darboe; Ricardo López Ortiz; Tonči Zonjić; Mico Suayan; Livio Ramondelli; Jim Stafford; Alan Quah; Alessandro Micelli; Tyler Kirkham
Publisher: Image
Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 10, 2024
Soundwave invited Shockwave to an ocean-floor rave. But the Autobots crashed the party, and the king of Cybertron arrived in time for a royal grapple with Optimus Prime. After the Autobots left, Shockwave discovered two uninvited guests. So, like any good host, he ushered them into the Nemesis for a chat and promised them a howling good time. How will Shockwave fit into Soundwave's plans? How will Elita find life on Earth among her Autobot pals? And how many times has Beachcomber seen Star Wars? Let’s recharge our Energon batteries, leap into Transformers #10, and follow the Cybertronians' transformative journey!
Story
The Autobots fled the chaos of Cybertron. The war followed them. As the Ark entered Earth's orbit, a Decepticon boarding party left the pursuing Nemesis. Amid the Decepticon attack, Thundercracker hurled Beachcomber off the Ark. Gravity caught him in its grip. Beachcomber crashed into regolith. The Autobot rose amid the moon's latest impact crater, dusted himself off, and gazed at the Earth.
In Transformers #10, change comes when Humans venture to their nearest planetary body. The astronauts don't find the giant alien spaceship Kennedy sent them to investigate. Still, after an eon alone, they offer Beachcomber a way off the floating rock. Beachcomber calls a tropical island home and explores this wondrous world of Humans and the delicate animals that Optimus Prime later vows to protect. Perhaps he even becomes pen pals with Buzz and Neil.
In Daniel Warren Johnson's story, Soundwave is a good soldier. He called Shockwave and built a space bridge to bring Cybertron’s leader to Earth. Decepticons like Thundercracker and Astrotrain may dislike torture and unnecessary killing, but Soundwave only cares about his own. He employs force and manipulation to get what he wants. But Shockwave will never share Soundwave’s concerns. Cybertron’s dictator is the ultimate recycler. No matter a person or object's beauty, it's no more than material for whatever he wants to build. And if he can derive pleasure from the recycling process, all the better.
Transformers #10 finds the Autobots on the cusp of change. While the Decepticons use their overwhelming might to mount a relentless campaign, Optimus Prime evokes George Washington's fight-and-flee tactics in the American Revolutionary War. Optimus shares his followers' pain, but their losses keep increasing. Ratchet is dead. Cliffjumper and Jazz are prisoners of war. Jetfire lies on the ocean floor, perhaps damaged beyond repair. Without a medical officer, Wheeljack might repair the torture victim Elita brought to Earth. But after so many losses, will the Autobots continue to follow Optimus or elect a new leader?
Art
Beachcomber's fright gives way to wonder as he surveys the clouds swirling across Earth's atmosphere. He sits in the Sea of Tranquility, content beholding the celestial majesty. After liftoff, Beachcomber clings to the Apollo 11 Eagle. He smiles, the clouds reflecting on his shades. Birds scatter as Beachcomber explores tropical greenery. He clutches a pink octopus, observes a blue Macaw, and watches deer and forest animals. A pink dot on a yellow hologram directs him to the Ark, where Beachcomber becomes a silhouette against yellow framed by inked floor and walls. He studies his fellow sleeping Cybertronians and the cracked viewscreen amid Teletran’s glowing controls.
Mike Spicer lavishes a loaded palette on Jorge Corona’s art in Transformers #10. The water in the rocky bay matches Beachcomber's body and Spike's jeans. His copper canister harmonizes with his Human friend's orange vest. While the Ark's interior allowed colors to shine, purple light fills the Nemesis as Shockwave strides through the control room. Elita and Arcee are pretty in pink. But their visitor dislikes appearing before Arcee so misshapen and gray.
Rus Wooten portrays Human speech with large-size black letters in white dialogue balloons. Transformers use italicized black letters in rectangular balloons with lightning bolt arrows, while Soundwave commands yellow words into blue balloons. When Soundwave tells Shockwave he must repair Ravage, the arrow points to his shoulder cannon instead of his face. The Constructicons’ latest invention grumbles, grinds, whines, screeches, and explosively unleashes its devastating power in Transformers #10. Thanks to Image Comics, Skybound Entertainment, and Hasbro for providing a copy for review.
Final Thoughts
Shockwave becomes the master of two worlds while Optimus Prime’s ranks fracture, a Decepticon becomes a conscientious objector, and a pacifist could prove pivotal in the war for Earth in Transformers #10.
Rating 9.6/10
To enjoy more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.
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