hello everyone. I’m back again with the latest issue of Skybound’s Transformers. Written by Daniel Warren Johnson and colored by series regular Mike Spicer, the film features a new artist named Jason Howard. Hey, did you know I’m actually involved in this? It’s true! Check out the letters page. My favorite mecha-loving reviewer is at the end. Anyway, let’s jump in and see what the Transformers team has in store for us this month.
Contains spoilers for Transformers #13.
This issue is all Starscream, baby. Given that he’s a favorite of many, including myself, I’m so glad to get an issue that delves into his origins in this continuity. Exploring Starscream’s childhood is, oddly enough, not very well-trodden territory. We’re usually introduced to him fully formed and only get hints as to how he got to that place… but it’s very hard to know the “why” in such detail. It is rare. Starscream’s motivations for becoming a Decepticon are usually taken for granted when compared to other modern major players such as Shockwave, Soundwave, and Megatron. Their dedication to the cause is very well-trodden (perhaps even over-the-top, at times), but old screamers are usually power-hungry bastards or feel fucked up by life and give it up. As someone trying to start over, they just get waved off. Sometimes he’s portrayed as a good bot gone bad, or even a fully redeemable bot (which in itself has become a popular character arc for him), but this is the first time we’ve seen that idea. It’s a serious in-depth look – some sort of “Starscream: Origins” intention.
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DWJ manages to bring Starscream back to before he became the iconic servant we all know and love, giving him a tragic origin that makes us sympathize with him and makes us It made me understand him on a level I’d never really experienced before – not from that angle, at least. We see that Starscream was indeed a good person once. Perhaps the troublemaker he deserves, but at the time he wasn’t actually called by his iconic name, instead being called “Ulhitar”. He took the name “Starscream” as a war nickname of sorts, in honor of his friend who was killed by Optimus Prime. Chills, to be honest, chills.
Well, most of you are probably scratching your head right now wondering what the hell “Ulhitar” is, and the rest of you are probably pointing your fingers and thinking, “Wait…wait!!!” Those in the know know that Screamer’s original marketing name for Marvel Comics was actually Ulhitar before he was changed to his current name. DWJ really took a bit of a joke among fans and gave Starscream’s off-world name change some actual pathos. That’s impressive. This is something I didn’t really think I needed or thought I would do, but hey, I’m not sad that I found out.
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I’ll admit I lost a bit of momentum when GI Joe showed up. I can’t say I’m particularly fond of this series or the many attempts to incorporate it into the more culturally influential Transformers series, but I’ll see where it goes. Oh, and Gunmegatron is back in flashback! And he looks great!
In that regard, Howard’s art is great. I love his blocky style, which feels like it’s still following the path paved by Johnson and further refined by Corona. The ink scratches are still there and Spicer’s excellent colors tie everything together. I don’t know if the Megatron flashback design you see here was his invention or just an idea that Johnson ran with, but I love it. It’s a little tank with a gun handle…genius. Adorable. That’s stupid. fun. What a play! The storied history of trying to get Gunmeg back on shelves amid modern concerns and legislation feels like it’s winking at us. Absolutely interesting and actually a really cool idea.
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Overall, Transformers #13 is a hit. I’m a huge Starscream fan and one of my best friends is too, so I think he’ll love this, and I’m sure many of you will too! And did I mention I’m in on it? I wrote a letter, you can too! Letter pages are fun! In the meantime, we need to get them back to DC. That’s off topic. This is a great issue and probably the definitive origin story for G1 Starscream. We feel this issue could be important for the future of the brand, so don’t miss it.
‘Transformers’ #13 reveals Starscream’s tragic origins
Transformers #13
DWJ is a fantastical and emotional exploration of the origins of everyone’s favorite scheming henchman.
Explore the origins of characters that are rarely mentioned
Great art and coloring as always
Honestly, I love Starscream
The tie-up with GI Joe feels cramped.
