Transformers #4

Transformers (2023) (Single Issues)

by Daniel Warren Johnson, Mike Spicer (cover_art)

"DANIEL WARREN JOHNSON is full of surprises.” —ComicsOnline When the Decepticons attack the Autobots at their weakest moment, an unlikely new hero joins the battle! With human and Transformer robots' lives at stake, can Optimus Prime unlock the true power behind the Matrix of Leadership to save them both?

Genres: Comics, Science Fiction, Comic Book

32 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 10, 2024

About the author

Daniel Warren Johnson is a Chicago-based comic book writer, artist, and illustrator. He's worked on titles for most major publishers, including Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, and Image. His current series with Skybound/Image Comics is EXTREMITY, a sci-fi/fantasy title he is writing and drawing, and continues to update his webcomic Space-Mullet in his spare time.

Reviews

[Caleb Sabo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this is the way Optimus should be written. Kind when he needs to be and a warrior when he has to be. Respecting all life. Even if it's at the expense of himself.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heft 4 von Vol.4 der Transformers Serie von 2023. Optimus schafft Spike ins Krankenhaus, welches von den Decepticons angegriffen wird. Die Autobots können den Angriff abwehren, sind aber angeschlagen. Beiden Fraktionen fehlt es an Energie und sie handeln sehr unterschiedlich um das zu ändern.

Issue 4 of the 2023 Vol.4 Run of the Transformers. Optimus Prime stays the focal point, fighting for the humans and little Spike. He takes him to a hospital which gets attacked by the deceptions. The Autobots can fight them off and keep it running but only via high costs. Both factions still lack Energon and the deal with that very differently.
Still a hell of a series.

[Nathaniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

RIP Skywarp

[Matthew A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes and no. I like it, but am still enamored with IDWs run with Roberts et al.

The transformations are muy cool visually though. Simply amazing art detail work.

Starscream’s violence feels uncalled for, and at times I do feel as if I’ve walked into Transformers Walking Dead.

The final page of this issue is pretty darn cool and unexpected.

[Eugene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a huge fan of the IDW series, so I was bummed with it being relaunched. So far so good though.

[Cybernex007 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel it is important to note that this was the issue that really did it for me, this is the one that had me crying. Absolutely breathtaking, I love this series so much. And I totally called that last big reveal, oh hell yeah!! As we jump into this issue, skywarp is down (of course not dead) and Optimus is rushing off with Spike and his father in his cab to get help after spike was accidentally shot last issue. Starscream showed up to the aftermath of the fight utterly disappointed in skywarp, leaving him there unable to move while he went age everyone. Ratchet was in the middle of repairing another of their brothers when Optimus called in for help. He is desperately trying to get spike help, he has taken major damage, and starscream is shooting at them. Ratchet runs off to get them more firepower, all while starscream terrifyingly lands right in front of Optimus in the road. But not all is lost, as at this moment Carly is barreling towards Starscream inside of cliffjumper, who quickly drifts in and knocks starscream over so Optimus can run over him!! Starscream also sends out a call to soundwave for immediate backup as Optimus is able to get to the nearby hospital. There really isn’t a chance to ask many questions about the giant transforming robots when a child’s life is on the line, and these doctors deserve medals as they just became battlefield medics with Optimus and cliffjumper providing covering fire. At this point I am legit wondering how may cassettes Soundwave can keep in his body, even though the robot dog was destroyed, he also has the vulture and a little decepticon called rumble whip is a total pain in the ass for cliffjumper. Soundwave is able to run in and bash Optimus to the ground, but right as he was about to blow Prime’s brains out…starscream stops him. He suddenly realizes they are at the place where they “fix the squishy ones,” and he wanes Optimus to be alive to see all of them die as starscream begins to unload explosives into the hospital, destroying their generator in the process and cutting all power. Fortunately this barrage doesn’t last for long, even if the damage is immediate, as suddenly ratchet, pulling the trailer, and the newly revived Jazz come roaring through to join the fight! Jazz is immediately able to blast starscream down and grab soundwave by the head and drop him into the ground. Suddenly the decepticons are outnumbered and go into a full retreat, but even then things are dire as Optimus looks down into the blasted hospital. They were able to stabilize Spike but he needs a machine to keep him breathing and if they don’t get power soon he won’t be the only one to die tonight. It’s like we can see the sadness and frustration translated from Optimus Prime’s eyes as he has seen this situation all too often when families are ripped apart. So he says no more, no more death tonight even if it comes at a price. He opens up his chest plate to reveal a slice of power ratchet stopped him from using earlier, he suddenly lifts it up and an electrical surge runs from it and into the hospital powering everything as if by magic. They are back just in time…thank you Optimus.

The decepticons are desperate. They continue to fail and starscream is the one who is continually held responsible and who continues to shift the blame. They need the ship fixed now but they can’t do that without materials existing in cybertronian tech. But wouldn’t you know it, skywarp happens to be laying right there…filled with tech they can use and unable to fight back when they begin to rip him apart for his parts. Absolutely brutal.

Back at the hospital, Sparky is sitting next to Spike’s bed wondering what to do. He came here to get as far away from the war as he could and to have a safe place for his son, and ever since his brother died he has had a hard time finding the good in the world and now Spike isn’t even here to remind him of it. But you know who is? Optimus prime. Sparky can’t help but look outside the hospital room window to see Optimus sitting there as a sick child approaches him and asks to see him turn into a truck. Optimus is weak and a little worse for wear but he gladly meets the request and brightens the child’s day by shifting into a truck and then shifting back when spark approaches to talk to him. That’s my Optimus right there!! Hell yeah!! Sparky can’t help but ask if that was Optimus that saved his son back there, and Optimus explains it was not him, but a gift that was shared with him many years ago. Sparky asks if Prime can do it again, to fully bring his son back from his coma. Optimus cannot and he used every bit that was left, or is up to the great spark now, which sparky of course attributes to their idea of a god. This leads to an interesting interaction where Sparky attributes Optimus to a god, but Optimus doesn’t see it that way and believes he could say the same of humans. They may be different in size but he sees how mighty they are.

Back inside the hospital, Ratchet was able to fix their generator but he does not agree with the matrix being depleted to do it as it channels the spirit of the host, so when it’s drained it drained Prime as well and they need him. Ratchet argues that he could have used it to repair his arm or broken body. But Optimus saves an innocent life after they brought this war to them. Ratchet argues they are not innocent, they were the ones that hurt spike and they are prone to anger and destruction. Optimus points out that the humans are just like them then. Suddenly jazz collapses, ratchet used all the energon they had left in their fellow autobots to revive him and they didn’t have enough for jazz to stay up any longer than to help fight. The are in desperate need of more energy and ratchet may has a solution. He walks over to the trailer and shows Optimus something in side, even though we don’t get to see what it is…Optimus immediately shoots the idea down, which I have to admit terrifies me a bit. But suddenly Sparky comes up to both of them, he has an idea to fix their energy problem.

Elsewhere cliffjumper is sitting next to Carly in the hospital, he asks if she is okay and she can’t help but dismiss it after this day. He knows how she feels, his entire clan was killed by starscream and he joined the war effort the very next day. Carly can’t help but break down from hearing this, she wanes some kind of solace that the feeling inside of her will go away, that it will get easier. Suddenly Optimus interrupts their conversation as he walks up with a new silver arm and even bigger cannon attached to it. Where in the world did he get that?! But if that sight wasn’t confirmation enough, Optimus asks if they are ready to go on the offensive? Elsewhere, skywarp has been brutally ripped apart and it seems like the decepticons are rebuilding. Starscream cannot help but laugh out in victory as he is the one true decepticon leader forever…EXCEPT, we also take a small trip out into the Arctic where a certain megatron, with on red light on, is brutally ripped apart and frozen in the ice. I KNEW IT! I totally called it that if the deceptions attacked the arc, then that may mean megatron is out there somewhere. A little worse off than I expected but oh wow that’s not good.

P.S. OH DUH!! OMG, that’s megatron’s arm with the giant Canon!! How did I not recognize it at first?! That’s why he didn’t have it when we saw his body. That’s wicked. Is that also the thing Optimus was against using at first?

[Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hold up, DWJ doing Transformers?!.. wow. The book in my hold I can’t wait to read… I feel like a teenager again. Running to the comic shop to pick it up the day it comes out… just to see more of the story unfold and the amazing art! Dreams really do come true.

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 5 out of 5]

MENUDA LOCURA. Toda esta reimaginación de la historia base de Transformers mediante el descarnado sentimiento de Daniel Warren Johnson lleva a este monumental momento donde Optimus hace quizás la mayor muestra de heroísmo de toda su historia como personaje (gracias... ¿al metal?). Por otro lado, se potencia aún más lo deleznable y oscuro de los Decepticons con esa canibalización literal que deja todo listo para la nueva colisión de la guerra de Cybertron en el nuevo campo de batalla que es la frágil Tierra.

[Nicolo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Autobot team is starting to fill out.

Optimus Prime, as the leader of the Autobots, is the obvious pick. Cliffjumper is a curve ball, but a good choice. A medic is a necessity, and Ratchet is the best. In this issue, we get Jazz, a favorite of mine gets added to the time.

The last panel is a nerdgasm. If you're planning to stick around, I'd reveal it in my review of the fifth issue.

[Stephen Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Transformers are BACK

I haven't felt this excited for a Transformer series since the night of IDW! Optimus is a heroe, the Auto boys are ALL heroes. The fighting is kinetic and exciting and I'm really looking forward to the next issue.

[M Sholihin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This run is so damn good. Will continue...

[Edward Covington · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5🤖s

[KJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've only just started getting into the Transformers IDW comics and 4 issues into this, I already know it's a favourite

[David Beer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ooooohhh she’s getting dark.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

At times the visuals are too chaotic to keep you in the story. Some of the transitions between frames change perspective in unfollowable ways. Holistically, I’m in on the story though. I mean it’s mostly nostalgia; “Oh, what are they going to do with my childhood cartoons?!?”, but the t seems to be solid storytelling so far.

[chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

truck dad is back <3

[John Sandoval · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good

Much slower issue, which is by no means a bad thing. I really like how they're building a Megatron and I can't wait to read next issue

[Sara Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Optimus Inferior!

This series has been so good, the art is fantastic the storyline is great! If you love transformers this series is for you!

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable

I like it and I think you would too. If you grew up with the transformers and gi joe, guess what? They're all rolled up into one. Enjoy

[Adelaide Metzger · Rating 5 out of 5]

7/17/24 - I hate Starscream, but I love Cliffjumper.

[Dennis Brock · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Art on this book is really well done! I'm loving the Energon Universe!!!

[ComicBookCult Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those last couple pages 🤯 that was worthy of five stars alone, anything else is a bonus.

[cicada]

rip skywarp

[Paul Moran · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good but a bit short

As the title says it was a great comic but it is kind of short and the art style is quite good for the type of comic

[Isabel :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

HURRRGHHAAHHGGHHH! Wooow they really rent Skywarp asunder so hesitation wow 😦 I love the art so much😊

[Dragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Transformers Are Back!!

This comic is phenomenal!! Great pacing, high stakes, great characters, amazing art, it's got everything! Only 4 issues in and already so much has happened, definitely one of the best stories.

[Susan :3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

January 25th, 2024 Initial Read: Did not expect THAT to happen to Starscream in issue 4 also, who is JIMMY?

December 31st, 2025 Reread: It's Skywarp not Starscream.

Jimmy is Spike's brother.

Also, Love that page of Optimus at the end, might attempt a redraw.