Transformers #30 (Energon Universe) - Video Review by ComicBook.beer

Welcome back to ComicBook.Beer, where we're all staring into Elita One's eyes. She just looks perpetually displeased. How can she be so angry when she has turn signals on each side of her head?

Anyway, this is Transformers issue number 30 from… what year is this? 2026. Part of the Energon Universe from Image Comics and Skybound Entertainment. And this is a very cool series. In fact, this is my favorite current comic book series—Transformers. And I love Transformers.

They've just knocked the ball out of the park with this new Transformers series. If you're new to this and you haven't read any of these and you're like, they're making new Transformers? Like, I didn't even know this, you have to start from the beginning. Start from issue number one. These are available in trade paperback by now. The plot's getting pretty complicated.

There's been an awful lot of conflict. A whole lot of Transformers have come and gone, and they've died, and they've been created, and they've been reanimated, and there's Optimus Prime.

Jazz, Bulkhead, Mirage was my favorite Transformer back in the day because he was my first Transformer. Eventually I got Shockwave, who surpassed my love of Mirage. But it's good to see Mirage back. We've got Ultra Magnus back there, Jetfire, Arcee, lots of familiar faces—and there's Shredhead. You see him back there? Shredhead's a custom van, for those of you who may be new to this. So the new Transformers are just fabulous.

And it's hard to say exactly what's going on in issue 30 without giving away some very important plot points, which I don't want to give away because I think you should read this. As you can see, the artwork is illustrated by Dan Mora, with colors from Mike Spicer. These are just two of the absolute best artists in the business right now. And as you can see, it's a gorgeous book filled with color, filled with, well, Transformers.

And Elita One's a pretty important character in this series, so for those of you who may not know, I'll just jump into this real quick. We all know who Optimus Prime is, and Prime is fighting on Earth. So the Energon Universe is pretty similar to the old-school Marvel series or the old cartoons, with some significant differences, but the overall concept is the same. Prime is fighting the Decepticons on Earth, but...

Elita One remained on Cybertron, where she waged war against the Decepticons there. So yes, she's an Autobot. How are there male and female robots? We don't know. But it is kind of implied here that Optimus and Elita One may have had some history together. I mean, apparently, well, she's kind of annoyed about that.

Actually, what she's really angry about is that Prime is fighting for Earth and not Cybertron. So that's what this whole issue is about. Love the expressions.

There is no shortage of action in the new Transformers series, but this issue in particular is just like one giant fight scene between Prime and Elita One, where she's just taking out like a million years of aggression on him. Literally, they've been fighting for like a million years on Cybertron. And she's really angry.

And Prime's just kind of holding back, and he's trying to reason with her. You know, he's being optimistic. You can't read this without hearing Peter Cullen's voice in your head, of course.

Though I don't think Elita One has come across as a particularly likable character, because she's always pissed off. Her motives are understandable, given the situation where the Decepticons are just tormenting, torturing, and destroying all of the Autobots on Cybertron.

So at some point, think about issue 10 or 11, she made her way to Earth on Shockwave's space bridge thing.

She's joined the Autobots, but Elita One believes that she should be leading the Autobots. And you might be wondering, what the hell is Thundercracker doing on the Autobots? You've really got to read this from the beginning. I assure you, it does not disappoint.

And I'm not going to give away the key plot point here in this issue, because, well, it's a lot. It's something they haven't done before in the Transformers series, as far as I know.

And look, even all of the other Autobots are freaked out by what happens here. Use your imagination. It's a great issue.

And personally, I'm hoping to see a lot more from Shredhead. And when you start the series, there's a character named Carly who you'll meet right away in the first issue. And she's got a custom van that later, this is a bit of a spoiler, but you know, what are you gonna do? Here he is: Shredhead. Custom van in the Transformers.

When do I get my AMC Eagle and El Camino Transformer?

Please, Robert Kirkman, give me that much. Come on.

Here's the creative team. Transformers issue number 30.

Hopefully you've been listening to my daily comic book missions, where I did give the idea for an AMC Eagle Transformer, or at least an eight-track player Transformer with woodgrain named Disco, who could be best friends with Jazz.

I just want to point out this panel here. I love this panel. It's like a bit of Calvin and Hobbes in the middle of an intergalactic war with robots.

Transformers number 30, highly recommended.

Make sure you're listening to ComicBook.Beer's daily comic book missions, and look, we've even got some new videos. See, the future isn't completely terrible. It's not as good as 1979, but, you know, what are you gonna do?

Like, where's the beer? Well, it's like 10 a.m.

But I just want to point out here that the insert beer output fun glassware does hold seltzer in addition to beer. Insert sparkling water output fun doesn't fit as well on the glass.

I am working on some new comicbook.beer glassware, but until then, you can always insert beer or any other liquid, as long as it's not lava or sulfuric acid.

Cheers.