Transformers #2 (Energon Universe) - Video Review by ComicBook.beer

Since a computer, a human brain will be replaced by a computer. Since the computer of the open brain will be replaced by a computer. In the future, the human race will be replaced by a computer. In the future, the human race will be replaced by a computer. Sounds good. You. You.

Best elevator ever. All the way from November of 2023, seems like a lifetime ago, it is Transformers number two from Image in their Energon Universe. I love this series. This is my favorite of the Energon Universe comics. They are basically mashing up the Hasbro franchises, G.I. Joe, Transformers, and then they have some new characters in their Void Rivals series, which is also very good, but Transformers is my favorite, and I will show you why.

Let me get to the beginning of the comic here. I think it is important to point this out because we have Starscream here, and he is reaching out, he is reaching for a beer, but he just cannot grab the beer. Open it up. So you think the issue is going to start with action, explosions, maybe Optimus fighting Megatron. Nope.

What is the first thing that happens. Optimus Prime steps on a deer. Then he has the audacity to not make a venison sausage out of it. Have you ever been to Pennsylvania? That is perfectly good sausage right there. You squashed it. Moron. Optimus is overrated sometimes.

All right, now the star of this series is right here. Daniel Warren Johnson. This guy draws about the best action scenes I have ever seen. Just a phenomenal artist. The color work is really good. It is a beautiful book that captures everything we love about Transformers.

One of my favorite things is they wrote Bumblebee out in the first issue. Bumblebee sucks. And they basically replaced him with Cliffjumper. In fact, the artist even said he wanted to draw someone other than Bumblebee, so he went with Cliffjumper, who is way cooler than Bumblebee because he is not Bumblebee. And we have some new characters. We have Spike. Well, it is Spike. It is this version of Spike and Carly. They are friends. She drives a custom van, so that is cool. The comic has a custom van in it, so it is like a throwback to those old 70s comics that taught you how to customize vans.

I will move on. I mean, look at this. That is just terrific. He draws these little squiggly things and the action. He really captures the sense of motion and intensity. Just a terrific artist. Transformers. I think he did a series on wrestling or something. I am not into wrestling, but I am so psyched to see that he is doing Transformers. I think he is the writer too. Amazing artwork.

And this one ties together a bit of the G.I. Joe and Transformers universe because this is a complete reboot of the Transformers that those of us from back in the day grew up with. They arrive on Earth, they are in the Ark, and of course they wake up and they are all fighting each other because what else do they have to do. Except there is a plane, an F‑18, carrying someone. You do not know it yet, but he is carrying Duke. They lock on to this rogue jet and it transforms right in front of them.

This is brutal. There is a level of intensity here that you just did not get back in the 80s comics. They eject this not‑Duke. That is the pilot. Starscream squashes him. They reference that in one of the G.I. Joe comics. There is a great panel up here I want to show you. Right there. Look at this. Starscream squashes the humans. Little arm there. Those little details. This book is phenomenal. The whole series. I think they are up to issue sixteen as of this recording. And it does not stop. It is this good the whole way through.

If there is any downside to these issues, it is that they are a bit short. But they are so much fun to reread over and over again. You always pick out little details and admire the beautiful artwork on the Transformers. In fact, this one has less action than many of the others. You had to open up the whole page with Optimus admiring nature. And then you go and step on it. Way to go.

This is highly recommended. The whole series. Check these out. I think there are a bunch of trade paperbacks out there now. So I saved you a couple bucks. Get a bunch of issues all at once. Transformers in Image Skybound’s Energon Universe. You must read this if you love Transformers. It is great.

Give me a high five. You cannot have my beer, Starscream, because you are an asshole. Oh.