The Transformers Comic Is Breathing New Life Into A Classic Cartoon Storyline

“Starscream’s Brigade,” take 2 has been a long time coming. Part of Skybound and Daniel Warren Johnson’s “Transformers” pitch to Hasbro was a drawing (by Johnson) depicting Starscream and Bruticus. It’s no shock that Johnson wanted to write this team-up, especially since his pitch was a winning one.

The ending of “Transformers” #14 leaves the warring Decepticons evenly matched: Soundwave, Thundercracker, and Devastator vs. Starscream, Astrotrain, and the Combaticons. Johnson has also confirmed in a Reddit AMA that he’ll be leaving “Transformers” after issue #24. So, I’ll make an educated guess on the rest of his run.

Megatron is still alive and coming back. “Transformers” #4 pointedly ended with Starscream declaring himself Decepticon leader now and forever, only for the comic to cut to a frozen, deactivated Megatron somewhere in the Arctic. Skybound’s “Energon Universe Special 2024” includes a short (written by Johnson, drawn by Ryan Ottley of “Invincible,” and to be reprinted in “Combiner Chaos”) explaining what happened to him: Megatron was grievously wounded while fighting Optimus Prime on the Autobots’ ship in orbit of Earth. Starscream took his chance and blasted his leader out of a hole in the ship’s hull, sending him crashing down to the planet below.

So, it’s likely that “Combiner Chaos” will feature Starscream and Soundwave fighting a civil war until, at the end of this arc or the beginning of the next one, Megatron returns and reunites the Decepticons under him. Johnson’s finale arc will be an explosive one, featuring Optimus Prime and the Autobots pushed to the limit when their greatest enemy returns.

Will even the ever slippery Starscream survive a vengeful Megatron? I don’t know, but the series has already shown why the Decepticons still revere Megatron (even in seeming death) over the still alive Starscream.

In the original “Transformers,” Megatron transformed into a handgun. He would shrink down to be wielded by other Decepticons, Starscream included. This has always been pretty silly, so newer “Transformers” series usually have Megatron turn into a jet or a tank instead. Skybound Megatron, though, has his original alternate mode and adds a new, powerful resonance to it. Megatron literally puts the power to destroy in his followers’ hands. “Transformers” #14 includes another flashback to the first time Starscream killed Autobots — Megatron transforms and commands Starscream, his executioner, to blast them.

Skybound Entertainment

Megatron fights for his Decepticons, while Starscream fights for himself. Both of them always lose because their ideals have such a poor foundation.

The first 14 issues of “Transformers” — as well as first volume of “Robots In Disguise” (collecting issues #1-6) — are available in print and digital. “Transformers” volume 2, “Transport To Oblivion,” releases on November 26, 2024, and is available for pre-order.