Transformers #12 Review

 

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; Chris Stevens; Cory Walker; Skan Srisuwan; Livio Ramondelli; John Giang; Mel Milton; Juan Gedeon; Dan Quintana; Tiago Da Silva

Editor: Ben Abernathy

Publication Design: Andres Juarez

Production: Ashby Florence

Publisher: Image

Price: $3.99

Release Date: September 11, 2024

 

Soundwave clutches Cliffjumper by the neck as he fires on the Autobot rescue patrol. Carly wanted to accompany them, but Optimus Prime wouldn’t let her. Arcee promised to return with Cliffjumper. Now, she fights for her life. Can Carly aid her friends and help Cliffjumper? Let's recharge our Energon batteries, leap into Transformers #12, and follow this transformative journey!

 

Story

Carly rebuffed Cliffjumper’s kindnesses when he failed to kill Starscream. Yet when she sees Soundwave holding her friend and firing his Starscream Blaster at the Autobots on the Ark viewscreen, Carly ignores Optimus Prime and Arcee’s decision. She leaps into her lovingly painted van, roars through the portal that Skywarp opened for the Autobots, and Evel Knievels into Soundwave’s chest. After Devastator smashes her precious reminder of home, Cliffjumper pulls Carly from the wreckage. Then, with a flick of his enormous hand, Devastator Larry Birds Cliffjumper through the portal to Cybertron.

 

In Transformers #12, Optimus Prime leads the assault on the Decepticons. But when he sees Cliffjumper vanish, Optimus must choose between remaining on Earth and saving his friend. He could blow the portal now using Wheeljack’s explosives. Then he sees Shockwave follow Cliffjumper. Shockwave leads the Decepticons on Earth and Cybertron. He feeds on life. Like the space vampires in Lifeforce, Shockwave sucks Earth's energy before he returns to Cybertron. Now Optimus must decide. His Autobots are in danger. Ultra Magnus abandoned them. Should Optimus leave them to rescue Cliffjumper? Or should he honor his responsibilities to his Autobots on Earth?

 

In Daniel Warren Johnson’s story, Beachcomber didn’t awaken the Autobots because he knew they would bring Cybertron’s war to Earth. War can transform kind people into heartless monsters. Thanks to Sparky’s sacrifice, Optimus also remembers what his Human friend held precious. War broke Sparky. Transformers #12 reveals Optimus Prime’s fragility. While showing strength, Optimus will be appalled by his weakness, and his actions will wreak untold destruction on two worlds.

 

Art

Jorge Corona packs pages with panels as the battle rages on the ocean floor. Autobots clamber over rubble as they fire on the Decepticons surrounding them. Corona pairs closeups inside Carly’s van with the tiny vehicle racing toward Skywarp’s enormous portal. Optimus Prime charges while his squad transforms into cars and a motorcycle. Devastator's limbs blur as he pounds and kicks Cliffjumper. But Corona makes you smile when a flying Cliffjumper bowls over a trio of Combaticons in Transformers #12.

 

Devastator is a jolly green Decepticon Kaiju crashing through Shockwave’s purple and pink accomplishments. Optimus Prime’s red-and-blue shoots and smashes through orange and yellow devastation. After Mike Spicer’s yellow sun shatters a purple arm, a slender blue thread loosens and twists across the starry black void.

 

Rus Wooten fires black uppercase Human speech into white dialogue balloons. Transformers bark, remark, and taunt using italicized black letters in rectangular balloons with lightning bolt arrows. While Soundwave commands yellow words into blue balloons, his Starscream Blaster gets a word in edgeways. Sound effects spice up a Seaworld fireworks show and an explosion that breaks Shockwave’s heart while green letters overwhelm tiny Transformers amid a descent into savagery. Thanks to Image Comics, Skybound Entertainment, and Hasbro for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

As Carly refuses to be a stay-at-home Iron Apprentice and Devastator makes things difficult for everyone on the ocean floor, Optimus Prime must decide which planet needs him more in Transformers #12.

 

Rating 9.5/10

 

For more covers see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.