A crashed ship. Two warring factions of giant robots. A human who befriends them. You may know the basics, but things are about to change. Your Major Spoilers review of Transformers #1 from Skybound Entertainment awaits!

TRANSFORMERS #1

Writer: Daniel Warren Johnson
Artist: Daniel Warren Johnson
Colorist: Mike Spicer
Publisher: Skybound/Image Comics
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: October 4, 2023

Previously in Transformers: 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.

A NEW START

The first page of this issue shows us several strange, seemingly disconnected moments before transitioning to a skeevy bar where young Spike Witwicky tries to wake his dad, Sparkplug, from a drunken slumber. The barman lets him know that the elder Witwicky has been in the bar since noon, and a disappointed Spike tells the old man that he’s on his way out to go stargazing. The old man heads off to work a night shift at the local power plant, with Spike and his friend Carly set off to climb Hangman’s Rock. That’s where they discover a strange cavern (the hard way, by falling into it during a rockslide) and an alien spacecraft full of what looks to be dead giant robots. And then, another robot enters, programming a giant computer he calls Teletraan I with information about the world, and beginning the process of rebuilding the destroyed mechas.

And then, it all gets complicated.

A FAMILIAR TABLEAU

As someone who picked up Transformers #1 off the stands at my local drugstore back in 1984, bits and pieces of this story seem very familiar. But I’m almost certain that writer/artist Daniel Warren Johnson read it, too, because several important moments break from that story’s pacing. The centering of Optimus Prime and Starscream, with no sign of Megatron in these pages, is an interesting choice, as is taking Spike and Sparkplug’s life to a much darker place. There’s also a poignant moment that implies the permanent destruction of a member of the Transformers cast that surprised me greatly. The art sells that moment really well, which can be tough with robots, but my favorite moment in the whole issue is seeing Optimus Prime break out a suplex in battle. Carly’s cool van is also a highlight of the visuals of this issue, but the last page makes me, for perhaps the first time, fully aware and very afraid of the presence of giant metal monsters on Earth.

BOTTOM LINE: BACK TO THE PILOT?

It’s not quite 40 years since the first Transformers comic, but Transformers #1 gives us a well-crafted, well-thought-out beginning that repurposes elements of the Marvel Comics and the cartoons in new and interesting ways, earning a cautiously optimistic 4 out of 5 stars. The lineup of characters on the alternate cover also gives me hope that we’re going to see different ‘bots highlighted in this volume, which is exciting in itself.

---

Dear Spoilerite,

At Major Spoilers, we strive to create original content that you find interesting and entertaining. Producing, writing, recording, editing, and researching requires significant resources. We pay writers, podcast hosts, and other staff members who work tirelessly to provide you with insights into the comic book, gaming, and pop culture industries. Help us keep MajorSpoilers.com strong. Become a Patron (and our superhero) today.

TRANSFORMERS #1

80%

80%

It's Like 1984 All Over Again

DWJ takes us back to the beginning with attractively rough art and a new(ish) take on the arrival of the Transformers on Earth, and it's honestly refreshing stuff.

• Writing

  8
• Art

  8
• Coloring

  8
• User Ratings (2 Votes)
  8.7