| Transformers' latest issue is a new jumping-on point for new readers with issue 37. Sure, you can say you missed the first 36 issues, but fear not; Skybound is reprinting them if you need to backtrack to certain issues to catch up to the current storyline, or you can pick up the compiled editions at your comic shop, or have them reordered if they don’t have them in stock.
This issue comes to the story of what happened on planet Cybertron. It picks up after the rest of the Autobots follow Elita-1 back to their home planet from issue 30, with some stories revealing the cost of war, the burden of Autobot leadership, and the weight of bearing the Matrix of Leadership. Elita-1 in the Energon Universe certainly has several rich backstories in past comic lore, but this one certainly reveals her flaws as the new Autobot Leader. This issue focuses solely on the Cybertron side of the story, showing the war that continues to rage on the Transformers' home world, where Shockwave is still alive, with a dangling light bulb, “which is nuts,” according to Bulkhead. If that wasn’t a shock (no pun intended), turning the first few pages, you’ll be wondering what other nefarious plans the robot with a light bulb has in mind. |
With the last issue revealing what the Autobots on Earth have to deal with in the next few future issues of this series, on Cybertron, you got Shockwave, the thought-dead Decepticon, all the way back in issue 12. The first page reveals the fate of Alpha Trion, “the father of the Autobots,” being tortured by Shockwave.
Published: 15 October 2025
Age Rating: Mature Audience
Language: English
Meanwhile, the Autobots are getting their repairs done. Thanks to Hot Rod and Springer coming back from their trip in Agoria (See Void Rivals Issue 24), they brought them enough Energon for this war effort. But with most of the Autobots, including Moonracer, returning online, they still can’t revive Bumblebee after being destroyed several times and still missing his lower jaw in this comic panel.
Surely, it’s intentional for Robert Kirkman to keep Bumblebee dead, like Snake-Eyes still doesn’t exist in the Energon Universe. It’s not a running gag, but in some sort of way, it makes sense from a narrative standpoint to shed the spotlight on certain characters in G.I. Joe and Transformers, focusing on the ones who never got the story they needed compared to previous comic books.
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Also, the subtle details of the word balloon are interesting, with one page dedicated to the scene where Blurr and Hot Rod get cornered, and Elita-1 springs into action, showing that you can read and imagine it in your head how Blurr speaks just like the movie. It’s comical in some sense that the letterer put emphasis on how the character speaks, so good that you can say, hey, it’s Blurr!
In this issue, the burden of leadership takes a toll on Elita-1 until she gets a dose of reality check for her flaws, not knowing in the previous missions that the Decepticons had planted a mole that almost took her out. But before waking up, she gets to meet Sparky (who last appeared in issue 24), who has become sort of the only human inside the Matrix Leadership who talks to all the Primes.
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This issue has Karl Kerschl doing the artwork, a seamless transition from Jason Howard’s work from the previous issue, as this month’s guest artist. The tone of the series is still the same, slow as the narrative rolls, rather than edgy like the first twenty-four issues. But this one is certainly action-packed, focusing on the war on Cybertron, with its narrative spread out a little less to other characters, and centered on Elita-1’s decisions and realizing the burden of leadership shifts from the cold-blooded warrior that she was prior to receiving the Matrix.
In the heart of that, Sparky is still inside the Matrix, making her realize it’s not all about leading the Autobots to Victory, but what matters, and he still asks how his son is doing after becoming one with the device that can destroy a planet-eating monster.
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In the end, Shockwave reveals his plans and has taken control of Vector Sigma after taking something from Alpha Trion to access the supercomputer that brings Transformers to life, and if you haven’t seen Vector Sigma in the original cartoon, then you’re in deep trouble, or the Autobots, for that matter.
NEXT: Transformers #38 on November 11th!
Transformers #37 is a continuing series published by Image Comics under Skybound Entertainment, and this is sold internationally for $3.99 USD ($ 5.77 AUD | ₱ 251.37 Pesos), but this was acquired at a local comic shop in the Philippines for ₱ 280.00 Pesos ($ 6.42 AUD | $ 4.44 USD). Please contact or visit your local Comic Shop for availability.
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