I’ve been a bit remiss in reviewing the recent issues of Image Comics’ Transformers series. The action has been non-stop, the story gut-wrenching, and absolutely mind blowingly awesome. Skybound has completely won me over with how Transformers have brought new life in comic book form. It’s been gritty, dark, and violently brutal at times, but I feel this shows the true dire nature of consequences if these events could believably happen.
Enough of my gushing, let’s recap. Issue #23 hits local comic stores this week, with September’s issue #24 capping off a spectacular run by Daniel Warren Johnson, Mike Spicer, and Jorge Corona. With issue #25, the reins will be handed over to the spectacular pairing of Robert Kirkman and Dan Mora.
Issue 19 features a massive flashback to how Megatron came to be in the Energon Universe. Abducted by Quintessons, a brash, arrogant Decepticon Leader in Megatron is put through consecutive trials to test his strength. For what purpose? Not 100% clear from the start, but a second Matrix is revealed. Dark Energon Matrix? Decepticon Matrix of Leadership? A Matrix of Evil? Megatron is in a custom-designed hell. Hordes of Sharkticons, Allicons, even giant monstrosities constantly defeat Megatron over and over until he finds a way to turn the tide on his captors, earning his freedom. But with this freedom comes power to manipulate others while in an alternate form of a weapon. This Matrix seems to hold the power of manipulation and influence.
This is a very different Megatron. Not a maniacal, Cobra Commander type with crazy schemes. Not the “Miner turned hero” or a disenfranchised Cybertronian who overthrows a government. This Megatron becomes a cold, calculating, cunning, and methodically sinister Decepticon leader, and warrior.
This is the Megatron, who, in issue #20 returns and immediately takes command of the fledgling Decepticon crew. With ease he dispatches Astrotrain, who fails to take revenge for being imprisoned. The Autobots retreat in horror to the Ark as Megatron has Starscream rebuilt, only to pummel the everloving electrodes out of him, leaving him in a pile of scrap.
Back at the Ark, Optimus Prime confers with Silverbolt about the dire situation, and the resurrection of his Aerialbot team and the discovery of Jetfire. While the Autobots rejoice in their ranks increase in number, Spike and Optimus lament the loss of Sparkplug while Wheeljack tries to determine the cause of Optimus’ visions and rage-attacks.
Issue #21, things go from bad to worse for the Autobots. Megatron launches an immediate attack on the Autobots. The Ark is under siege. However, unbeknownst to both armies, Thundercracker infiltrates the Ark in an effort to rescue his brother Skywarp. This results in its sudden disappearance. However, Megatron is unfazed by the unpredictable event, and continues to press the attack. Bruticus and Devastator suddenly turn on each other, but a scolding from Megatron immediately stops their childish antics. This is something unexpected, to see two giants behaving like overgrown children to impress their boss. As the Autobots try to mount a defense, Optimus again is consumed by what Wheeljack belives to be a virus, and nearly turns to attack his own. Optimus in a fit of rage, tries valiantly to rip off his makeshift arm of Megatron but is unable to do so. Commanding the Autobots to fire at him, the arm is finally separated. Optimus in a weakened state retreats with help from the combined force of the Aerialbots in Superion, who holds off Bruticus and Devastator long enough to escape. Unfortunately, Megatron is in no mood for prolonging the battle, blasting Superion out of the sky, killing one of the Aerialbots. On Cybertron, things become dire and Elita-1 is running out of time.
In case you haven’t caught on, the trend of the Autobots retreating and barely escaping annihilation continues in issue #22, as the humans finally gather their own forces to help with stalling the Decepticon onslaught. It seems the humans have organized, but it is not clear if a certain covert faction is behind it. As humans rescued by the Autobots come to repay the favor, it seems Optimus is fading, the Matrix is not regenerating, and Megatron is getting closer. Spike, believes he can jumpstart it the same way his father did, and starts to walk into the center. However, Prime stops Spike, grabbing him by the arm, and is immediately locked into a sort of stasis, as is Spike. They are alive… but their minds are someplace else. Megatron sees this as an opportunity to strike where Optimus will fail.
In a very contrasting panel, Megatron finds the burial site of the deer Optimus accidently killed in Issue #2. He reflects this as Optimus’ main weakness, to see all life as equal, even if the Cybertronians are superior in strength. One can’t exactly argue with Megatron’s perspective, after all, he seeks “Peace Through Tyranny.” The issue also sees Ultra Magnus having help escaping from his human captors, and on Cybertron, things take a wild turn as Cliffjumper is imprisoned by Elita-1 for subverting her plans.
Here we are folks, issue #23 comes out and will lead to the epic conclusion next month of the first major arc. This has been one hell of a ride, and I can’t wait to see how this one wraps up.
