NEW STORY ARC THE SECRET ORIGIN OF STARSCREAM After the stunning events of his battle with the Decepticons, Starscream has been left for dead. Now the secret to surviving the future may be revisiting his shocking past...
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.
Transformers #13, Daniel Warren Johnson takes readers on a poignant journey into Starscream’s past, highlighting his innocence before his fateful encounter with Megatron. This issue is a masterclass in character exploration, offering a fresh perspective on one of the franchise's most complex figures.
Johnson crafts a narrative that reveals Starscream’s early days, showcasing a time when he was not yet tainted by ambition or betrayal. The contrast between his innocence and the harsh realities he later faces is both compelling and heartbreaking. This backstory adds depth to Starscream, allowing readers to empathize with him in ways they may not have before.
What stands out is how Johnson manages to humanize Starscream, illustrating the vulnerability and hope that defined him before he was swept up in Megatron’s ambitions. This exploration of his character creates a rich emotional landscape, making the stakes feel personal and significant.
Overall, Transformers #13 is a standout issue that blends thrilling action with deep emotional storytelling. Fans will appreciate the thoughtful dive into Starscream’s early innocence, while newcomers will be captivated by the engaging narrative and stunning visuals. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys well-crafted character arcs!
“You did it, Ulchtar… you yelled at the gods. You screamed the stars into seeing us…”
Y’all this issue did not need to go this hard.
Johnson has consistently been bringing his A game to this run of Transformers. Throughout the series, Johnson consistently has the Decepticons drop throw away comments about how the Autobots are “evil.” I didn’t think much about these comments at first, but this issue really drives home the fact that the Decepticons, or at least Starscream, see themselves as in the right. I had no idea I could actually be rooting for Starscream as a tragic character, but here I am, actually feeling sorry for him. Skybound’s Starscream truly could’ve been an Autobot, if only things had turned out differently.
If you haven’t already, you need to check out Skybound’s run of Transformers. Truly one of the best comics I’ve read so far.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Starscream, in various iterations of the Transformers mythos, spent eons scheming to usurp Megatron's position in the Decepticon heirarchy. In the Darren Warren Johnson (DWJ) Transformers that I have been enjoying recently, Starscream got his chance to be top dog. Until he got deposed himself. Soundwave superior, Starscream inferior.
As cover A, the one with the DWJ art, Starscream may be at lowest point he has ever been, but he's going to get a chance to redeem himself, with unexpected aid from an unexpected faction.
Podría suponer un bajón el tener un número de historia de origen de Starscream con un nuevo dibujante asignado con un estilo más "limpio" que los previos... Pero Daniel Warren Johnson no ceja en su empeño de que su etapa comiquera de Transformers pase a los anales de la historia de esta franquicia.
Finished 10/9/24 - I like Jason Howard's artstyle so much more than Jorge Corona's. Corona is good, but Howard's style has so much character and is even very cute at times. And Johnson is BLOWING away this origin story for Starscream. Excellent all around! I will be rereading this issue many times.
Even though it's written and illustrated well in this issue, I'd like for the "mass murderer with sad backstory" character trope to stop trending already. It's gotten overused in the last decade or so, and I find it harder to buy into than the idea of giant alien robots.
Regardless, this is a professionally executed exposition issue disguised as a flashback issue: we got Omega Supreme (along with some beautiful panels), hints of Bayverse Optimus the earlier issues wouldn't stop bringing up, the GI Joe universe seamlessly merging further with Transformers, and we even got to see Megatron's delightfully goofy alt mode and one of the methods he used to garner such a dangerous army. This universe feels alive and there's never a dull moment.
Also, the way Starscream got his name doesn't feel too out of place to me, considering the fact that this franchise is inherently sorta kinda silly to begin with, and this comic run is no exception. It's just that the silliness here is more subtle, presented as just another part of reality of this universe instead of being a vehicle for obvious jokes.