WARNING! Spoilers ahead for Transformers #12
Optimus Prime may be heading down a dark path in the Energon Universe, as the first year of Skybound’s smash-hitTransformersofficially draws to a close. Prime even goes so far as to kill a major Decepticon in the finale to the current story arc, which could signal adark change coming for the Autobot leader.
Transformers#12 – written by Daniel Warren Johnson, with art by Jorge Corona – features Optimus Prime dealing with the threat of Shockwave once and for all, asin a fit of rage, Prime crushes Shockwave’s head, taking the Decepticon out of the picture for good.
It’s a huge moment for Prime, one that is complicated by the “memories” Prime has been seeing sinceSparkplug Witwicky sacrificed himself into the Autobot leader’s spark. That led to Prime getting a supercharge of power inTransformers#6, but the result is that he’s seemingly taken some of Sparky’s memories.
Optimus Prime Kills Shockwave, A Move That Will Reverberate Through The Energon Universe
Transformers#12 – Written By Daniel Warren Johnson; Art By Jorge Corona, Mike Spicer & Rus Wooton
Skybound’sTransformersseries has provided one of thebest depictions of Optimus Primeever, taking the Autobot leader back to his roots as a leader favoring compassion over the complete annihilation of his enemies. This is why Shockwave’s death is such a shock, as Prime is pushed to the absolute brink and seemingly sees no resolution to his conflict with the Decepticon ruler of Cybertron. While Prime’s act is brutal and unforgiving, it could be the result of subsuming Sparkplug Witwicky into his spark, the Transformers’ equivalent of the soul.
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Prime’s visions appear to be twisted versions of Sparky’s memories, as readers get to see things like Prime holding Sparky’s son Spike as an infant. The memory is then corrupted, as Prime witnesses the infant Spike become infected with some manner of nefarious circuitry, something that Prime sees as he subdues Shockwave.This is apparently what causes Prime to lose it and crush Shockwave’s head in, as Prime’s eyes turn from their natural blue glow to a purple hue. Prime seems shocked by his own actions afterwards, surprised that he went as far as he did.
Whatever Is Happening To Optimus Prime Will Have Major Implications For The Franchise
Another Energon Universe Casualty Of The Cybertronian War
The newTransformershas had a high body count, butthe death of Shockwave promises to be a game-changerfor the Energon Universe. Whatever is going on with Optimus Prime, it will almost certainly lead to more Earth-shaking storylines in the pages ofTransformers. Given thatMegatron is still out there in the Energon Universewaiting to make his move, he’ll have to approach Optimus Prime with more caution, as the Autobot leader might be taking no prisoners moving forward in the pages ofTransformers.
Transformers#12is available now from Skybound Entertainment.
Transformers (2023)
Optimus Prime was supposed to have led the Autobots to victory. Instead, the fate of Cybertron is unknown, and his allies have crash-landed far from home, alongside their enemies—the Decepticons. As these titanic forces renew their war on Earth, one thing is immediately clear: the planet will never be the same. New alliances are struck. Battle lines are redrawn. And humanity’s only hope of survival is Optimus Prime.
