Go back to people again and review another Transformers from Skybound! This is issue #21 due to Dream Team Daniel Warren Johnson and Jorge Corona. He appeared in this book over two years and finally kicks the main event to Overdrive. Optimus Prime vs. Megatron! ‘Naph said. Let’s talk about that.
This issue serves several purposes, but the most important is to answer lingering questions about Optimus changes. You get a full confirmation of #EvilarmTheory, but the writing has been clearly and well up on the wall for a while. But the actual storey confirmation comes from Prime itself this time, so brings us to the end of the era… there’s no cooler Megatron Arm Optimus. Honestly, it’s almost sad to see it go. I don’t think anyone would deny that the iconography of that choice is one of the most defining things the Energone Universe book has. And it spilled across countless mountains of fan art among the numbers of numerous toy upgrade kits, third-party imitations of designs in the fan community… it certainly left its impact. As the story advances towards our true Optimus vs. Megatron battle, we need to tie this long-term thread, so I think the iconography that the idea brought about will be related to Skybound for years to come. I’ll go and show you how great an idea it was.
Skybound
Wax enough poetic poems about the arms – many other things happen with this thing. Gets the semi-resolution of the running background plot of a Thundercracker defect. This is great, and at the end I take the Autobot Ark out of the formula as a safety net on either side. You will also get the introduction of more members of Gi Joe after bot napping for Ultra Magnus. It feels like Johnson’s days are coming to an end in a big way. The Autobot is probably behind this pen last, again behind against the overwhelming odds. I have criticized this formula for being a bit repetitive in the past, but while I still support those words, it’s bittersweet to know it’s almost over.
The closer I get to that two-year finish line, the more I wonder. What’s coming next, how can you withstand this huge bar set up, and who will be the right person to try? The relatively basic formula we repeat, true, but it still works every time. Should you wonder what changes will be made? Be careful, this particular official retirement we’ve been repeating is not sad for me, but it’s weird that we can take a perspective. We assume this issue that Johnson is setting us up in a big blow that leads to our first true, stable “current status quo” and establishing us for the big pimples that lead to the next wild new direction. As long as the set-up character arcs pay off, I think we’ll be fine.
Skybound
Corona and colorist Mike Spicer’s art is as amazing as ever. I’m now wondering if they’ll stick when Johnson leaves…but I’ve contemplated that line of thought fully this time. What I like is artistically, how much of a sight to show this issue? Multiple combinations take it, and the Autobot blows its arm away, Optimus, Megatron’s finished gun form… There’s a lot to love visually.
Transformers #21 is good as this series tends to always be. It gives me a calm and satisfying feeling of this era coming closer than it is late. How much can you increase before it’s done? Well, I’m going to continue to review these, so I think we’ll all know together.
“Transformer” #21 Review
Trans #21
The final showdown of DWJ’s Transformers reaches an inevitable conclusion with the more powerful Decepticons than ever before.
Amazing art
Solid and consistent writing
DWJ TF Formula is casting spells on me again
