An intense battle with an explosive conclusion, leading to reprieve but a tense cliffhanger, Autobots and Decepticons regroup For the next phase of the present day saga.
Transformers #13, instead takes a trip into the past. A quick flashback to a few issues ago where Soundwave beats the almighty crap out of Starscream to fans’ delight, watching the arrogant and maniacal Decepticon get what he absolutely deserved.
We see the aftermath of this beat down causes some sort of cerebral malfunction where Starscream’s memory circuits jumps way into the past which reveals a very different origin story.
This flashback to the far past reveals he was not always a soulless, vile individual. We are introduced to Ulchtar, a Cybertronian scientist along with fellow scientists Jetfire and Genvo, who is introduced as someone questioning the war between Autobots and Decepticons. The three transformers have not pledged a side, that is until Genvo is first to align with the Decepticons.
They remark about the beauty of Cybertron and it’s place in the galaxy, and immediately rush to see something spectacular, something we would compare to watching a shooting star cross the sky. They rush to see the Guardians fly overhead, one in particular who is recognizable as Omega Supreme. Starscream waves, and Omega waves back.
It’s a cute little panel. It is an image of peace, no tension, no war. Just something simply special. A comment is made by Genvo how Ulchtar screams into stars to be seen and heard, even by the titan-sized guardians of Cybertron.
That line is your foreshadowing.
The flashbacks continue to progress forward, Jetfire leaves Cybertron in pursuit of a signal from lost Cybertronians. Genvo is killed in battle, and Ulchtar ultimately meets Megatron.
While this is going on a group of humans discover the remains of Starscream’s body. The intense heat of the lava where Starscream landed completely melted his legs away.
A group of humans working for Mars Industries believes that this discovery will appease their boss. However, one of these individuals believes he may be able to go into business for himself with this discovery. Starscream seems aware of what is taking place but not long enough before he falls back to unconsciousness
The first part of two concludes with Megatron using the size-mass-shape-changing ability of his alt-mode to make a point, asking this Cybertronian: “Who are you…?”
