Transformers #14 Review

 

Transformers #14 Review

Writer: Daniel Warren Johnson

Artist: Jason Howard

Colorist: Mike Spicer

Letterer: Rus Wooton

Cover Artists: Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer; Jorge Corona & Mike Spicer; Viktor Bogdanovic; Jorge Fornés; Derrick Chew; Kael Ngu; Ivan Tao; Clayton Crain; Alan Quah; Livio Ramondelli; Jimbo Salgado

Editor: Ben Abernathy

Publication Design: Andres Juarez

Production: Ashby Florence

Publisher: Image

Price: $3.99

Release Date: November 13, 2024

 

After Jetfire abandoned him, and Optimus Prime and Bumblebee destroyed his life’s work, Genvo died in Ulchtar’s arms. As Starscream, Ulchtar became Megatron’s hand of death. When Megatron’s dominance grew oppressive, Starscream shook off his control and became the leader of the Decepticons on Earth. Then Soundwave challenged his leadership and threw him into an active volcano. Once again, someone made Starscream into a tool. Humans from Destro’s MARS corporation have shackled him to a HISS tank. Will Starscream enjoy rockin’ and rollin’ on his tracked treads? Let's recharge our Energon batteries, leap into Transformers #14, and discover Starscream’s transformative journey!

 

Story

Once, a guard on Cybertron called him a dumbass techno pup. But Ulchtar cherished life in all its forms. Now, Starscream worships himself. His first instinct is to kill those who are different or fail to revere him. Starscream stares down at the HISS tank that replaced his legs, sharing Private Clayton's opinion of him. The Humans have made him into an abomination! But Starscream can’t kill Horton and his Human crew. Their deaths will trigger explosive devices. Then Starscream notices that Private Martin has been sketching him. Finally, an artist yearns to capture his majesty!

 

Like Starscream, Horton yearns for greatness. His father was worshipped as a Real American Hero. MARS has relegated Horton to salvage duty. Still, Destro is always looking for the next great innovation. His Battle Android Troopers haven’t performed flawlessly in field tests. In Daniel Warren Johnson’s story, Horton’s Frankensteined Transformer-HISS Tank could help Destro keep Cobra Commander’s Energon supply flowing and secure the promotion Horton wants.

 

Yet even without his legs and shackled by Humans, Starscream proves resilient. The Autobots destroyed his life, but Megatron made Starscream a slave. Soundwave threw him into a volcano. Still, Starscream survived. This buoys his confidence. So when he meets others who could serve his needs, Starscream mixes truth and lies to bind them to his service. Ulchtar’s youth was filled with wonder. But his worldview was fragile and could not withstand the rigors of reality. Starscream’s life is one of resilience. In Transformers #14, Starscream seeks to improve his situation. His undaunted optimism transforms an otherwise debilitating defeat into an inspiring triumph.

 

Art

A clockwork cascade of images showcases Starscream’s conversion into a Transformer-Tank. Yet the fire from Horton’s lighter forges a link with Razz welding Starscream to the HISS tank. As Starscream raises his arms in horror, Horton slaps Clayton’s back with such force that it knocks the glasses off his stunned face. Starscream slams his fist into the ground, sending the MARS salvage crew flying. Yet the giant hand halts above a Human silhouette. Private Martin raises his sketchbook like Moses offered his work for inspection. The Human's sketch provokes more violence. Yet a cat cooly regards Starscream’s tantrum, evoking Optimus Prime's accidental killing of a deer.

 

Amid the surrounding greenery, the red and yellow that fill the background in closeups hint at the fire from which Starscream’s new life is forged. As Mike Spicer lavishes vibrant colors on Jason Howard’s evocative and exciting art in Transformers #14, he softens Starscream’s violent memories with pastels. Purple and gray shade falls on Starscream's head, linking him with the Humans and their HISS tank. Yet as Horton expresses his dominance within Starscream’s crushing grip, his red hair and beard link him with his giant captive.

 

Rus Wooton fills white dialogue balloons with black uppercase letters and the Transformers’ rectangular ones with italicized words. The letters embolden for intonation, occasionally swell or change color for raised voices, and rarely shrink. The red sound of a rescue victim attacking its protector elicits Starscream’s laughter in Transformers #14, while a red cry for help prompts him to investigate. Yet the sound of Private Martin’s sketching echoes Megatron undergoing mass conversion to become a gun in Starscream’s hands. Thanks to Image Comics, Skybound Entertainment, and Hasbro for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

After Soundwave left Starscream in a volcano like Obi-Wan abandoned Anakin on Mustafar, a MARS team scurries in like Jawas and puts restraining bolts on the Decepticon. But the Humans discover that Starscream isn't as docile as a protocol droid, as the aftermath of Optimus Prime's actions rocks the Cybertronians' adoptive planet in Transformers #14.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

Duke Vol 1 Review

 

Writer: Joshua Williamson

Artists: Tom Reilly & Jason Howard

Colorists: Jordie Bellaire & Mike Spicer

Letterer: Rus Wooton

Cover Artist: Tom Reilly

Editor: Sean Mackiewicz

Logo & Publication Design: Andres Juarez

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $14.99

Release Date: June 5, 2024

 

Sergeant Conrad Hauser has a sterling service record. But lately, he's been acting out. Colonel Hawk wants Duke to shape up and be an exemplary soldier again. But will Conrad, known as Duke by his fellow soldiers, pass the Psych Eval? Let’s leap into Duke Vol 1 and find out!

 

Story

Is Duke suffering from a delusion? He claims his friend Tyler Frost was killed when an enemy fighter jet attacked their plane and transformed into a robot. Colonel Hawk claims it was an accident, and the trauma played with Duke’s mind. But he refuses to show Duke the plane’s black box recording. So, Duke accepts Hawk's offer of time off to hunt for answers.

 

Where do you turn when everyone thinks you're crazy? Conrad Hauser investigates other people with similar claims in Duke Vol 1. He attends a gathering where guests speak of giant robots. Their stories merge with all-too-familiar stories about aliens and UFOs. But one person impresses Duke. Dr Adele Burkhart devoted her life to finding clean energy sources. She discovered a new element, but her superiors hushed up her research. Dr Burkhart may not have seen a giant flying robot. Still, she believes this power source could power war machines like the one Duke saw.

 

Should he trust Dr Burkhart’s claims? Duke has nothing to lose. So he investigates MARS Industries. He doesn't find a flying robot, but Duke discovers the company is making war machines that could unleash incredible destruction. Duke is a great soldier, but that doesn't make him a ninja. Sneaking into MARS arouses Destro’s ire. The head of MARS wants to protect his secrets. Still, he knows how to discredit a soldier who can’t pass a psych exam.

 

When the news media starts attacking Duke, Hawk’s hands are tied. Hawk has no choice but to send Duke’s people to apprehend him. But Duke knows how to hide out. Instead of seeking out relatives or fellow soldiers, he finds Clutch. Once, Lance built vehicles, and Conrad raced them. In Duke Vol 1, Clutch runs a junkyard. He’s willing to help Duke continue his investigation. But will Stalker and Rock ‘N Roll let him?

 

Joshua Williamson’s story is a portrait of a Real American Hero. Duke doesn’t care about fame or glory. He destroys the enemy and saves people’s lives. But now his government has turned against him, and he has incurred the wrath of a well-connected arms dealer. Can Duke convince his fellow soldiers to help him? Or must he side with the enemies of the United States to learn the truth about Frost's death? Duke must decide who he can trust and where his loyalties lie.

 

Art

We meet Duke in training, on the battlefield, and flying a jet. Then Tom Reilly shows Duke slumped in a chair. He shouts and slings files off Hawk's desk. In a flashback, a silhouette of robot arms appears on his goggles, prompting Duke to jettison his parachute, activate his wings and rocket pack, and fire at a smiling robot. Six months later, Duke drives a jeep through Washington DC. He sports long hair and a beard as he enters a four-story house and meets a woman walking with a cane. After studying drawings of power units and war machines, Duke dresses in black and rappels into MARS Industries.

 

Jordie Bellaire applies color sparingly to Tom Reilly’s art in Duke Vol 1. Vibrant green and orange highlight daytime action, while subdued browns, yellows, greens, and grays portray light streaming through the blinds in Hawk’s office. Amid the limited coloring, Destro’s statue is silver, MARS personnel sport red and gray, and deaths heaped at Duke’s door fill panels with red. Bellaire often splashes vibrant colors onto black and white panels, such as red when he sneaks into MARS and blue when Duke speaks with the Baroness. Still, orange dominates his memories of a robot who smiles while killing his friend.

 

Rus Wooton orders uppercase black letters into white dialogue balloons and narrative boxes. Sound effects highlight battles, activated technology, and a vicious slap after a one-night stand. Mike Spicer lavishes cool tones on Jason Howard's art for an epilogue featuring a reunion with colleagues and the organization of a highly trained special mission force to combat emerging threats outside the US Military’s purview. Thanks to Image Comics, Skybound, and Hasbro for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

When his superiors cover up the death of a friend, Duke risks his life to discover the truth about giant flying robots. An arms manufacturer’s bid to dominate the market shakes up the US Military, making a discredited sergeant the perfect tool to pry the lid off a conspiracy of silence in Duke Vol 1.

 

Rating 9.2/10

 

For covers of individual issues see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

To preview interior art see the announcement at Skybound.com.

Transformers #13 Review

 

Writer: Daniel Warren Johnson

Artist: Jason Howard

Colorist: Mike Spicer

Letterer: Rus Wooton

Cover Artists: Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer; Jorge Corona & Mike Spicer; Viktor Bogdanovic; Jorge Fornés; Francesco Mattina; Homare; Ludo Lullabi; John Giang; Björn Barends; Mico Suayan; Alan Quah; Deegan Puchkors; Juan Gedeon; Livio Ramondelli; Erik Eliarrez; Tiago Da Silva; Ivan Tao; Sajad Shah; Patricio Delpeche; Bill Sienkiewicz

Editor: Ben Abernathy

Publication Design: Andres Juarez

Production: Ashby Florence

Publisher: Image

Price: $3.99

Release Date: October 9, 2024

 

Starscream made the most of his Early Bird Breakfast. He blasted Bumblebee and would have wiped all the Autobots out. But Optimus Prime and a handful of Autobots escaped the Ark, and Starscream’s continual failures eventually cost him Soundwave’s respect. Soundwave challenged Starscream for leadership of the Decepticons and hurled him into a volcano. But what turned Starscream into such an Energon-thirsty killer? Let's recharge our Energon batteries, leap into Transformers #13, and discover Starscream’s transformative journey!

 

Story

Once, Starscream was Ulchtar. He cherished peace and marveled at the universe. Ulchtar mapped the stars and worked with Jetfire to chart a course for Cybertron’s future. But his friend Genvo disliked anything he didn’t understand and delighted in killing the smaller beings that inhabited Cybertron’s mechanized ecosystem. Genvo spoke of his charismatic leader and urged Jetfire and Ulchtar to join their cause, believing that war would cure Cybertron’s ills.

 

Starscream, or Ulchtar, respected his friend's decision, even if he didn't understand it. But then, while Optimus (or Orion Pax) collected and organized the literature and knowledge of his race, Ulchtar expanded Cybertron’s understanding of the universe. Like that of a librarian, a cartographer’s life can be a solitary one. Jetfire abandoned Ulchtar to reap the fruits of their partnership. Still, at least there was Genvo. And Ulchtar had his work to fill his days.

 

Transformers #13 reveals the events that destroyed Ulchtar’s world and transformed a soul who gazed upon the universe in wonder into a soldier who squashed smaller intelligent species for amusement. Daniel Warren Johnson reveals why Starscream’s first act upon awakening on the Ark was to kill Bumblebee and his second to attack Jetfire. Johnson’s story shows how those who cherish knowledge and peace can become hardened killers. But then, charisma, intolerance, and hatred will always trump wisdom, peace, and love.

 

Art

Jason Howard portrays Genvo racing down the stairs as Ulchtar connects thick conduits to machinery. Genvo’s face radiates excitement. But in Transformers #13, Ulchtar is more concerned with studying the readouts. Jetfire’s carefree attitude induces Ulchtar to abandon the gauges and monitors. They fly off toward a spiky, hollow moon. As they sit on a hill, a spike-like tower rises behind them. While Ulchtar and Genvo gaze up at the starry expanse, Jetfire studies the pipes and machinery covering the metal planetoid.

 

Ulchtar’s red, white, and blue markings link him with the predominantly white Jetfire, while his yellow chest connects him with yellow, blue, and white Genvo. His enthusiastic friend’s mouth forms a line when Jetfire talks of leaving. Ulchtar places a hand on Genvo’s arm when his frowning friend smashes a green, ant-like creature. Ulchtar’s blue eyes glow, and he smiles as he regards the tiny beings that seem equally fascinated by him. Then Genvo points a blue finger at something that makes his friends rise in Transformers #13. It prompts Ulchtar to hurtle into the purple void. Mike Spicer shows Ulchtar become a streak of orange and red and break the rules governing his civilization to summon a plume of yellow and orange.

 

Soundwave’s blue dialogue balloons match the Energon spraying from Starscream. As the damaged Decepticon leaks blue into molten yellow and orange, his words shrink in wobbly white dialogue balloons. Blue and yellow sound effects enhance Starscream’s battle with Soundwave and Ulchtar’s frolics with his friends, while red and white booms and screeching arise when war erupts in Ulchtar’s corner of Cybertron. Starscream’s words threaten to burst dialogue balloons when the lava threatens to consume him like Anakin on Mustafar. Then, Rus Wooten uses a blue metallic sound to introduce a Human cloaked in shadow. He and his squishy species speak uppercase letters into white dialogue balloons until expressive sound effects and colorful dialogue signal a sad ending and an even sadder beginning. Thanks to Image Comics, Skybound Entertainment, and Hasbro for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

Before he became a gun, someone gave Ulchtar a gun. Transformers #13 reveals why Ulchtar opted to rage against the machine and ravage the universe as Starscream.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

For more covers see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

To preview interior art see the First Look At Transformers #13 on the Skybound website.