Transformers #23: Gearing Up For The End

Transformers #23 picks up with the Autobots pinned down in a battle for the Earth in Chicago. Meanwhile, Optimus Prime questions his reality as he meets an unexpected companion within the Matrix of Leadership, racing against the clock as Megatron rapidly approaches. The tide is turned when Ultra Magnus shows up with Carly, opting to lead the leaderless Autobots to victory after giving a riveting speech. While the Autobots are seemingly fighting back against their inevitable defeat, the possibility of a new player and Optimus’s return set up a final issue to Daniel Warren Johnson’s run that promises to leave a very shocking conclusion.

More than anything else, Transformers #23 will make you dread the loss of Daniel Warren Johnson on the title. The way each issue has felt so full of content and action is a testament to how well Johnson capitalizes on the page real estate that each issue is allotted. This issue alone sees a lot of the story arcs coalesce, with Megatron’s assertion of control over Starscream, Ultra Magnus’s ability to overcome his trauma, and Optimus’s journey within the Matrix of Leadership all coming to a head. This sounds like a lot to jam into one issue, but Johnson balances everything wonderfully.

Jorge Corona continues to kill it with this issue, expertly depicting the action in fine enough detail to see the parts of these Transformers that break off with every hit they take. This also makes the action feel impactful, raising the stakes and making it feel like none of these characters are safe. Corona’s art really shines within the Matrix of Leadership, making the unexplainable place feel like a cosmic force of nature.

As this series barrels towards the conclusion to one of its most important chapters, it really becomes amazing to see how all of the minor storylines became so important in the grand scheme. At the end of the day, the main plot of the series is very basic in comparison to the character work being done. This, perhaps, is what makes the series so wonderful every month, with the actions of these characters feeling impactful and worthwhile beyond anything else.