We could obtain a fee on purchases produced from hyperlinks.
Skybound’s best-selling “Transformers” comedian has taken huge swings with Autobot chief Optimus Prime whereas staying true to the character. Within the second challenge of the collection (by Daniel Warren Johnson), Optimus took in the fantastic thing about Earth … after which by accident stepped on and crushed a deer underfoot, exhibiting how he values all life and instructing him Earth life is fragile. For many of Johnson’s run, Optimus changed his broken proper arm with the stolen fusion cannon of Decepticon chief Megatron, reflecting how he should resist warfare corrupting his variety spirit.
The newest challenge, “Transformers” #30 (written by Robert Kirkman, drawn by Dan Mora), takes one other huge swing with Optimus Prime … as a result of he is now not Optimus Prime. The Matrix of Management has chosen a brand new provider, Elita One, who now rises because the winged Elita Prime.
As for Optimus? He is simply plain Optimus now.
Elita One debuted within the comedian’s second arc, “Transport to Oblivion,” the place the Decepticons introduced Cybertron into Earth’s orbit by way of Area Bridge. Elita briefly journeyed to Earth, making an attempt to persuade Optimus to return to Cybertron and assist the determined Autobots there. She failed, and since then, the comedian has reduce backwards and forwards between Optimus’ Autobots on Earth and Elita’s on Cybertron.
In #30, Elita returns to once more make that request. “Via our actions, we now have led to a way of utter destruction to this world,” Optimus says, so the Autobots should defend Earth from the Decepticons. This time, Elita strikes Optimus (who will not hit again) and tries to tear the Matrix from his chest.
Optimus, saying Autobot management cannot be taken, releases the Matrix so it’d make its selection — and it picks Elita.
The Transformers historical past of Elita One and the Matrix of Management
In contrast to most “Transformers” characters, Elita One did not originate as a toy; she’s an authentic cartoon character. In “The Transformers” season 2 “The Seek for Alpha Trion,” she was depicted as Optimus Prime’s beloved, who stayed behind on Cybertron to steer Autobot rebels. She’s since turn out to be a recurring “Transformers” character and was performed by Scarlett Johansson within the animated prequel movie “Transformers One.” The comedian has run with Elita main the Autobots on Cybertron whereas Optimus fights on Earth, however made her relationship with Optimus extra tense.
This is not the primary time Optimus has been changed as Prime, although. The unique Optimus Prime famously died (and traumatized children) in 1986’s “The Transformers: The Film,” which launched The Matrix of Management as a approach for younger Autobot Sizzling Rod (Judd Nelson) to ascend as Rodimus Prime. (The Matrix is a nebulous MacGuffin in that film, however later tales recommend it carries the essence of the Transformers’ godly creator, Primus; every Prime is actually chosen by God to steer.)
Optimus and Elita’s management battle additionally helps mirror the Autobots and Decepticons. In Daniel Warren Johnson’s previous run, Megatron was MIA. Starscream led the Decepticons within the first arc, then Soundwave usurped him within the second. The third arc, “Combiner Chaos,” was a full-on Decepticon civil warfare that noticed Seattle laid to destroy by the mechanical titans. That’s, till Megatron lastly returned.
In contrast to the Decepticons, the Autobots resolve the dispute peacefully and half as pals. About half the Autobots select to return with Elita to Cybertron and about half stick with Optimus on Earth (together with Thundercracker, who lately defected from the Decepticons).
The place does Skybound’s Transformers comedian go after Elita Prime?
Since Elita Prime is the official, Matrix-chosen Autobot chief, Optimus’ group strikes out their Autobot insignias to point out they technically aren’t a part of that faction anymore. Robert Kirkman’s first arc of “Transformers” introduced in a number of new Autobots comparable to Bulkhead, Mirage, Sideswipe, and so forth. This risked making the solid too huge, so dividing the group now is an efficient method to maintain it manageable.
Furthermore, this restores Optimus’ Autobots because the underdogs towards the Decepticons. Again in points #28-29, the Cons rescued three of their offline comrades (Dirge, Slipstream, and Blitzwing) from the Autobots’ base, the Ark. Megatron additionally mercilessly killed the Autobot Trailbreaker by devouring his spark (learn: soul), claiming he would bestow “everlasting loss of life” upon the Autobots. (Because the Transformers are robots, useless ones can typically be revived with the proper tune-up, however not if their spark is extinguished.) If Optimus does not have the ability or knowledge of the Matrix anymore, how can he hope to face towards Megatron?
The Autobots would possibly want some muscle. Notably, one of many Autobots who stayed behind with Optimus is Wheeljack, the Autobots’ inventor. Again in challenge #25, he explored the cave system beneath the mountain that the Ark is buried in and got here throughout a fossilized T. Rex skeleton. That looks like some fairly clear foreshadowing for Wheeljack creating the Dinobots, as he did within the authentic “Transformers” cartoons.
As for Elita’s group, they will face a well-known foe on Cybertron: Shockwave, the Decepticons’ twisted scientist and guardian of Cybertron. Shockwave was seemingly killed by Optimus crushing his head again in challenge #12, however challenge #27 revealed he nonetheless lives. Towards Shockwave, will Elita Prime show to be the chief the Autobots want?




