Transformers #30

Transformers (2023) (Single Issues)

by Robert Kirkman, Dan Mora (Artist), Mike Spicer (Artist)

END OF STORY ARC WHO WILL LEAD THE AUTOBOTS? It’s Optimus Prime vs. Elita-1—and the future of the Autobots hangs in the balance! One shall stand and one... ah, you know the rest.

Genres: Comics

Kindle Edition

Published March 11, 2026

About the author

Robert Kirkman is an American comic book writer best known for his work on The Walking Dead, Invincible for Image Comics, as well as Ultimate X-Men and Marvel Zombies for Marvel Comics. He has also collaborated with Image Comics co-founder Todd McFarlane on the series Haunt. He is one of the five partners of Image Comics, and the only one of the five who was not one of the original co-founders of that publisher.

Robert Kirkman's first comic books were self-published under his own Funk-o-Tron label. Along with childhood friend Tony Moore, Kirkman created Battle Pope which was published in late 2001. Battle Pope ran for over 2 years along with other Funk-o-Tron published books such as InkPunks and Double Take.

In July of 2002, Robert's first work for another company began, with a 4-part SuperPatriot series for Image, along with Battle Pope backup story artist Cory Walker. Robert's creator-owned projects followed shortly thereafter, including Tech Jacket, Invincible and Walking Dead.

Reviews

[doowopapocalypse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Optimus gives up the Matrix of Leadership to get his ex to leave him alone.

[Machiavelli · Rating 2 out of 5]

Transformers #30 wraps up the first arc of the current phase of the Energon Universe with big battles and major developments in the Autobot–Decepticon war. Dan Mora’s art looks fantastic throughout, delivering dynamic action and some striking visuals.

But for me the finale didn’t quite land. A lot of big things happen in this issue and across the arc, yet the story never really pulled me in emotionally. The pacing often feels rushed, like the book is moving from one major moment to the next without letting those moments breathe.

Compared to the earlier parts of the series—especially the Daniel Warren Johnson issues that really hooked me—the characters here never clicked the same way.

There’s plenty of spectacle, but the arc ended up feeling flatter than I hoped. Especially with Mora leaving, think I am too. 2.5 stars for me

[Alex]

This issue got a lot of hate due to tanking media literacy rates. I liked DJW’s run but I also like that Kirkman is taking the series in a direction that I’m surprised we’ve never see before.

[Neil Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my third consecutive issue of this title and I'm happy to report that while the previous issue disappointed, the end to this story is strong with a nice surprise and change to the status quo at the end which has me intrigued where the story will go next.

Well, Kirkman rarely disappoints when it comes not only to twists but in keeping them secret. I had no idea about Optimus losing his Prime status and there's even G.I. Joe covers depicting him as Prime - which is either genius misdirection or a happy editorial mistake. Given Kirkman's history, I suspect this is fully intentional and I appreciate being genuinely surprised.
Will this change last? Probably not, but it should make for some interesting stories while it lasts and I can't wait to see what he now transforms into. Maybe a van? Or they could trigger "incels" by making Optimus a 6 seater school run car - especially considering a female Autobot is now Prime 😜.

The art is also great here, and Mora does a great job of conveying emotion in what are robot heads with limited emotional range - he uses light reflecting off Optimus and Elita in a way that could be tears and they touch foreheads that suggests tenderness.
There are several nice splash pages with the transformers posing or in groups that could make nice posters. It is so much better than the previous issue.

This isn't a criticism of this issue but for the arc as a whole: I think this was paced in a way that made the previous issue unnecessarily weaker and chaotic. I'm not entirely sure why, but I think it's because Kirkman really wanted the arrival of Elita to be the cliffhanger tease. Which is great when reading from month to month but it did mean that a lot of action had to be covered in the last issue while there was much less covered in this issue. The splash pages are nice but they demonstrate there was more than enough room for the story beats to occur - I'd argue splash pages lose their impact and start to feel like filler if overused. Given how busy the previous issue was in terms of fighting and art, I would have considered shifting some of the previous issue into this one? Maybe have Elita end the fight by giving the autobots an edge freeing up page space in the previous issue? I'm not sure but it just lead to two issues of varying quality from my perspective. On a positive note it did allow Mora to finish on a high note with artwork of the standard I would expect. The change in status also meant the writer stuck the landing as well.
As a single issue this was excellent but it came at the cost of the previous issue. It may also read oddly once collected but in "binge" mode it's probably easier to overlook. I commend the team for wanting to deliver monthly cliffhangers but think it could have been delivered in a different way that helped each issue in the arc.

Overall = 5/5
Writing = 4/5
Art = 5/5

Will I read the next issue? Yes. Can't wait to see the fallout from this issue.

Wait for the trade collection? I think the arc could read better as a trade collection, although Kirkman knows how to end an issue with a tease.

Did I need to read previous issues/series? It would help but, oddly enough, this last issue in the arc works fine on its own especially given the status quo change only occurs here.

Will I read previous issues? Yes, in trade. Was this arc all about the ending or did other things occur at the start?

[Cruze Reads Comics · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t do single issues reviews but this issue will be the place holder review for the full volume 5 trade paperback. Why just why. The first 4 volume were so strong daniel warren johnson just understand transformers robert kirkman doesn’t. Has made great books in the past but he didn’t really understand transformers for example optimus prime wanted to rebuild some of the dead decepticons and he asks the other autobots to do so and thundercracker is like “nah bro don’t do that” and optimus is like “hmm your right what was i thinking” that ain’t my optimus also thundercracker’s arc felt kinda rushed. Alright ima talk about it elita prime why just why im not mad elita became a prime im upset how she became a prime. Elita goes to earth in the middle of a battle then fights optimus for the matrix of leadership and elita saying she should lead the autobots and optimus said to elita the matrix never choice a leader because of violence. yet she gets the matrix by using violence then optimus is no longer a prime which is another case of robert not knowing transformers when optimus loses the matrix he should be orion pax but no hes just optimus. Also cliffjumper is no longer really a main character anymore so that sucks and what autobots went to cybertron or stayed on earth was dumb you telling me jazz left optimus. It sucks seeing this series not be as good as before. 2/5 stars

[Craig Schorling · Rating 5 out of 5]

An impactful issue where Optimus makes a very difficult decision. I am so eager to see how this impacts the story moving into the next arc.

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 3 out of 5]

En la hiper producción artística de Dan Mora que se uniese a la colección troncal de Transfromers en este plan de Robert Kirkman con el Energon Universe sonaba a algo inaudito con tanto trabajo que tiene a sus espaldas con las franquicias de DC comics. Pero llegar aquí y constatar que ya finaliza su trabajo concretando este nuevo arco argumental que vuelve a agitar el panorama Cybertroniano deja algo de tranqilidad pensando el la salud del artista... En cuanto a este número, como digo, Kirkman vuelve a lanzar uno de sus super medidos cliffhangers e ideas de revolución argumental dando un cambio de liderazgo en la jerarquía Autobot que veremos en qué se traduce en el enésimo embite contra Megatron.

[Justin Trusz · Rating 1 out of 5]

End of a bad series.

Ive put up with this series for 30 issues, bad art, bad writing, but this episode of 'the matrix choosing Elita' takes the cake of *GARBAGE* Writing. Not only should the 'writers' be *Immediately FIRED*, But so too should whomever green lit this MESS.
ATROCIOUS!!
Not one more dime to this *GARBAGE.*

[Fangfang Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, unexpected and exciting!

This issue shatters decades of tradition by reimagining the Matrix of Leadership through Elita-1’s unyielding conviction. I am absolutely electrified by this bold rise of a new era and the high-stakes future it promises.

[Susan :3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLT SHT

HOLT SHIT HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT OMG OMG OMG

GOTTA READ AMD REREAD AND REREAD AND REREAD AND REREAD AGAIN!!!

Soooo...
Is Optimus going to revert back to Orion Pax a little since Elita is Prime now??

[Oneirosophos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kirkman & Mora delivered a true masterpiece.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epic!

[Nathaniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

First issue in a minute that's got me really excited for the future of this series.

[Jarrod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woah

Without spoiling anything, this is a bombshell issue. A must read with great art to match. Four more words required.

[Seth Daub · Rating 3 out of 5]

hm idk how to feel about this one?

feels a little out of character for optimus in my opinion. i. respect the huge swing taken, but i don’t really like the actual narrative choice.

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Feels like we've reached the point in this series where we know what crazy surprise is coming long before it happens (and it takes too long to get there)