‘Transformers’ #24 Has “The Most Shocking Ending To Any Comic Book This Year,” So What Is It?

Daniel Warren Johnson’s best-selling era on Transformers ends with today’s debut of Transformers #24. Part of the kick-off of Skybound’s massively popular Energon Universe, the series isn’t going anywhere: next month, writer Robert Kirkman and artist Dan Mora will pick up the baton that DWJ and artist Jorge Corona have mic-dropped with this week’s issue. But the pertinent question here is what Skybound has been hyping up for months, that Transformers #24 would have “the most shocking ending to ANY comic book this year!” It’s an ending so shocking that Skybound redacted 12 whole pages from the issue in advance copies, hiding them from the press. So, what is that shocking ending?

Spoilers past this point for Transformers #24.

No, seriously, what is it? Because I woke up early to purchase and read the comic, psyched to see the mind-blowing twists and turns that follow from Megatron and Optimus Prime’s “final” battle in Chicago. Not to pull back the curtain too much, but the press copy — before it devolves into 12 pages of black ink with the red word “CLASSIFIED” emblazoned on them — ends with Optimus impaled on some sort of machinery, forced to choose between saving the lives of humans Spike and Carly, or one of his fellow Autobots.

It’s the classic Trolley Problem, except instead of turning into a trolley, Megatron turns into his cute little gun form and tells Starscream to kill the humans… Which is when the massive Omega Supreme shows up. That’s where the press copy ends. In the full issue, it continues as Starscream’s eyes turn from red to blue, he says his name is Ulchtar — as discovered in the stand-out flashback issue DWJ penned earlier in the run, and Megatron, pissed off, blasts Starscream — sorry, Ulchtar — in the head.

Megatron is stopped from killing Carly and Spike himself by the surprise arrival of Shredhead, who tosses Soundwave off a building and frees Optimus, who proceeds to wreck Megatron. The Decepticons retreat and the day is won by the Autobots. We get a brief vision from Optimus of the day Spike was born — Optimus absorbed Spike’s dad earlier in the run — and the Matrix of Leadership is beginning to heal. Carly notes that it’s small, to which Optimus replies that it’s, “Small, yes… But still mighty.”

Look, let’s be clear about a few things here. This is a pretty great issue of Transformers, with some big battles, emotional moments thanks to the bond between Optimus and Spike, and real stakes, given we’re finally getting to see Megatron and Optimus go roboto a roboto. There’s also lovely art from Corona, particularly a haunting final, full-page splash showing Optimus and friends giving off the only spark of light in an otherwise dark and broken Chicago.

But is any of this spoilery enough to redact 12 whole pages from a comic book? I realize these are champagne problems, as it’s nice to get these review copies in advance. But previous redactions in Energon books have been shocking character reveals, like the initial reveal that there were Transformers in this universe at all, at the end of Void Rivals #1. And nothing against the good press folks at Skybound who are doing their jobs, but this is definitely not the most shocking ending of the year. It’s a good ending; it’s not a jaw-dropper.

I thought perhaps it was just me, since I’m a casual Transformers fan at best, but even over on the Transformers message boards, fans noted that “I don’t think there were too many surprises” while still calling it “epic” and “satisfying.” I’d tend to agree with that — it’s a very good issue! But the selling point here is that Daniel Warren Johnson is wrapping up the emotional story he’s been telling for 24 issues, not some game-changing shocker.

Is this a problem at all? Not necessarily. Comics have been hyping themselves up for decades now, promising “nothing will ever be the same!!” when most of the time, it is the same. That’s part of the reason we love them. But perhaps that, itself, needs to never be the same… At a time when comics are experimenting with different art styles and writing styles, yes, you need to stand out in the marketplace. But Transformers is a great example of a title that has been thriving on the power of its creative team. Perhaps, after all, that’s the real shocker: Daniel Warren Johnson got to end his run on a licensed property exactly the way he wanted; with a focus on heart, action, and family.

Transformers #24 is in stores now.

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