Image Comics reviews 6/11/25 – Transformers 21, Geiger 15
Transformers 21
Transformers 21 sees writer Daniel Warren Johnson stack the odds against Optimus Prime and the Autobots once again.
Megatron brings Starscream, Soundwave, Lazerbeak, Devastator and Bruticus to the Autobots’ base, The Ark, in preparation for a major ambush.
Elsewhere, GI Joe medic Doc is finding some strangely insightful common ground with the captured Ultra Magnus. Until General Flagg arrives…
Meanwhile back on Cybertron, Elita-1 prepares to send Shreadhead to Earth to bring back Prime and the others. Hopefully he’ll arrive fast.
The Ark battle is beautifully chaotic and action-packed. Artist Jorge Corona has such a creative approach to these large-scale battles making every firefight seem like a frenzied desperate attempt to stay alive. Mike Spicer’s vibrant and lively colors along with Rus Wooton’s electric lettering add another punch to the bombastic presentation.
Johnson works in some awesome touches like having Devastator and Bruticus squabbling like little children, Doc attempting to rekindle his faith while talking with Ultra Magnus and Prime fighting the evil influence of having Megatron’s right arm attached to him.
As entertaining and unpredictable Transformers 21 is, Johnson once again leans too heavy into the opinion that Transformers stories can’t have greater gravitas unless an issue features a character death. Early on in the run that was more impactful.
By this point in the series and Transformers 21, the character deaths occur so frequently you’d need a program to keep up. More of a problem is these deaths don’t have the same impact now that they’re so commonplace.
Johnson sets up a pretty wild twist this issue that actually would have made for a more effective cliffhanger than merely killing another character. Either way, Transformers 21 makes for another exciting read as Johnson nears the end of his tenure as the series’ writer.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Photo Credit: Image Comics
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