Transformers: Transport to Oblivion (Comics) | Review

The war just escalated beyond anything Earth witnessed before. Starscream's brutality pales compared to what Shockwave unleashes from Cybertron. This arc forces impossible choices where heroism means accepting catastrophic losses regardless of decision.

Daniel Warren Johnson (Beta Ray Bill: Argent Star, Wonder Woman: Dead Earth) passes artistic duties to Jorge Corona (Ain't No Grave, Batgirls: One Way or Another) while maintaining full writing control over the entire series. The transition feels seamless. Corona brings distinct visual flair without abandoning established momentum.

Transport to Oblivion balances spectacle with character development. Action sequences hit hard. Between explosions, Johnson injects philosophical conflict. What price justifies victory? When does self-preservation become selfishness? These questions linger beyond pages.

Transport to Oblivion picks up immediately after Robots in Disguise concludes. The Autobots are licking their wounds with insufficient resources for proper recovery. Tensions simmer among the ranks as questions about Optimus Prime's leadership strategy bubble to the surface after brutal battles against forces of Starscream.

Soundwave seizes Decepticon control after Starscream's brutal reign ends. His strategic mind shifts tactics: establishing communication with Cybertron. When he succeeds, Decepticons discover Shockwave's horrifying rule over remaining Autobots trapped there.

Shockwave emerges as the arc's primary threat. This one-eyed menace rules Cybertron through terror, conducting torturous experiments on captured Autobots. Ultra Magnus, once a leading Autobot general, becomes his victim over countless years. Shockwave strips him of resources and weapons without ending his life deliberately.

Elita-One returns to Cybertron, discovering Ultra Magnus in horrific condition. Decepticon depravity reaches new depths. Shockwave proves himself an absolute psychopath whose plans will alter the war's trajectory. His scheme involves draining Earth's life force for Energon.

The moral complexities deepen significantly. Carly uses military equipment to kill Decepticons efficiently. Her frustration and hatred spreads to other Autobots. Arcee's anger intensifies after witnessing Ultra Magnus's condition, showing how warfare affects everyone differently.

Elita-One relentlessly pushes Optimus to abandon Earth and return back to Cybertron. Her frustration with his refusal builds toward explosive confrontation. After stopping Shockwave's extraction operation, they fight bitterly about the harvested Energon. The argument reveals fractures within the Autobot command structure.

Optimus believes Energon acquired through draining life must be destroyed completely. Elita argues lives lost might justify using it for survival. The narrative never sides with either perspective. Both make compelling points and Optimus's decision carries dire consequences.

Jorge Corona takes over art duties from Daniel Warren Johnson here. His organic approach to mechanical beings maintains visual continuity while establishing distinct tone. Mike Spicer continues providing colors that amplify dramatic beats. The transition feels seamless, proving Corona belonged to this title, starting day one.

What separates this from standard fare? War feels like actual war. Characters die meaningfully. Resources matter. Every decision carries weight beyond sequences. Johnson treats the premise seriously while delivering visceral thrills justifying monthly anticipation from readers.

The pacing maintains relentless momentum throughout six collected issues. Each installment delivers satisfying standalone beats while advancing larger narrative threads toward collision. Johnson continues mastering monthly comics that reward single-issue readers and trade-waiters without compromising either experience.

The arc concludes with threads leading into the next storyline. Johnson ensures each volume feels complete while maintaining momentum. New readers get satisfaction, longtime followers get hooks for what's coming and nobody feels shortchanged by the experience.

Corona approaches mechanical beings with organic sensibility making metal feel alive. Where previous artists emphasized rigid geometry, he injects fluidity. His characters breathe despite lacking lungs. The emotional range through mechanical faces rivals human-focused comics.

Combat choreography maintains visceral impact without sacrificing narrative clarity throughout intense sequences. Corona understands how weight and momentum translate visually. When Transformers collide, readers feel the tonnage behind impacts. Spicer's color work heightens dramatic beats through strategic lighting choices.

Corona won ComicBook.com's Golden Issue Award for Best Artist in 2024. The recognition acknowledges his ability continuing Johnson's vision while establishing unique voice. His panel layouts guide eyes through chaos. Action sprawls when necessary, contracts for intimacy.

The designs blend Generation One nostalgia with contemporary grit. These Transformers show mileage from endless conflict. Scars accumulate, armor dents, paint chips away. Corona refuses the pristine aesthetic plaguing previous iterations. His Cybertronians exist as functioning war machines with visible trauma from their choices.

Transport to Oblivion proves the first volume wasn't accidental brilliance. Johnson maintains devastation while expanding scope. Cybertron raises stakes without diminishing Earth's importance. Dual-planet conflict explores how war corrupts intentions regardless of faction.

Corona's artistic contribution cannot be overstated. Stepping into Johnson's shoes presented massive pressure. He delivered work standing beside the original run. His voice complements rather than contradicts established visual language. The creative partnership between Johnson and Corona feels essential moving forward now.

This arc challenges readers more than the debut. Transport to Oblivion weaponizes established groundwork, forcing impossible choices with devastating consequences. Elita-One's decision in issue twelve will polarize fans, proving Johnson crafted genuinely complex moral territory.

Transformers: Transport to Oblivion is available in physical trade paperback formats through bookstores and major retailers. Digital editions can be read via Amazon Kindle, ComiXology and other e-Book platforms that support Image Comics releases from the Energon Universe.