I feel like we have reached a new golden age for comics. Between Void Rivals, Transformers, Duke, and Cobra Commander, the Energon Universe continues to impress with each new issue. There are so many reasons that I'm enjoying this book, but Johnson's consistent ability to capture heartfelt emotion through the eyes of Optimus Prime is easily the biggest. Read Full Review

Transformers #5rises to even higher heights as the first arc ends in the next issue. Johnson hints that the only way to beat the Decepticons is by focusing on the shared humanity between the Autobots and humans. Considering how Megatron is currently off the table, humanity has not seen the worst with what the Decepticons offer. It truly takes a miracle to improve on perfection, and Johnson already has. Read Full Review

Johnson's story is really getting it up into high gear with some of the most intense robot action I've seen in a western comic. Read Full Review

As Optimus Prime and Starscream race to revive their armies, Transformers #5 asks if war is an inevitable outcome of sentience and reminds us that good things come in all shapes and sizes. Read Full Review

Overall, the issue is another thrilling showdown between Autobots and Decepticons even a surprise fan-moment that changes the course of the war. 'Transformers' hasn't let off the gas and continues to be one of the most satisfying reads this year. Read Full Review

TRANSFORMERS #5 is a thrilling, action-packed installment with strong emotional beats and nods to the original Transformers. Daniel Warren Johnsons departure after issue six is bittersweet, considering his excellent contributions. The series, with its mature edge and consideration for the source material, earns our recommendation. Read Full Review

The ending of this issue is pretty clever making for an excellent cliffhanger for this arc. It'll be fun to see how Johnson wraps it up and where the Autobots and Decepticons go as the next arc kicks off. Read Full Review

Through the creative vision of Daniel Warren Johnson, the world of the Transformers continues to be a must-read series! Strong writing balances the full-throttle action imagery to give fans much to be excited about. This series continues to set a high bar few will reach. Read Full Review

Few artists working in comics today can capture so much chaos so effectively on the page as Daniel Warren Johnson. Read Full Review

Daniel Warren Johnson works his magic with strong character work and action sequences in Transformers #5. Starscream and Optimus Prime continue to stand out as two very different leaders. The newest Transformers introduced into the story get you even more exciting for what happens next. It all leads to Transformers #5 being another incredible showcase for why this series is must-read. Read Full Review

The action really sings in another awesomely constructed Transformers issue, where the good guys smash into the bad guys and then it just keeps building. Read Full Review

Crazy pumped for the finale, I’m glad I waited for it to release before reading the penultimate, too. The wait would’ve been rough.

All I’ll say is that I looked up a toy on eBay afterwards before even starting 6. Look for cover B ;)

How does DWJ deliver epic issue after epic issue? I could quote a panel from basically every page of this book to show how amazing it is, or the moments I chuckled. From the intense but reflective opening about the horror of war to the funny reflector drop, to Optimus' new gun arm its wall to wall action. I also love that we are expanding the cast as people are being revived.

Starscream remains a cruel leader. His back and forth with Prime and the line 'A constant reminder of what you'll never be.' hit amazingly well.

The art remains superb.

The ending was... well kind of terrifying considering the shape prime is in.

Fantastic! Too often, you hear “X is the next Alan Moore.” Big shoes to fill and it’s always a creator that is honing in on one part of Moore’s career: neurotic superheroes, 3x3 panel grids, etc. What they all fail to see is a creator who tried to fully utilize the medium.

Am I saying DWJ is “the next Alan Moore”? No. But his comics jive. The frenetic action, the colors, the lettering… it’s all perfect. This is a comic that could only exist as a comic. I don’t care how woke it is or isn’t, this a book that understands its format and plays to all its strengths.

… And fuck you for introducing Reflector and blowing him up a few pages later. Deep cut followed by a cut that’s deep! If they ever introduce the Trainbots, I hope they live a little longer. more

That was awesome.

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Is it me or does Daniel Warren Johnson’s TRANSFORMERS series keep getting better with each new issue? It took a bit for me to get situated in this new world but after the emotional weight of the previous issue, I was full bought into the new story and Optimus Prime’s place in it. With this week’s issue, Johnson shifts the tone from emotional gut punches to an all-out battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons as we start to understand the series’ larger conflict coming into focus. The issue was perfectly paced from the first page up until the last, with a steady stream of stakes being raised without ever feeling like things were rushed. That doesn’t mean I didn’t wish we got to see more (that just speaks to the awesome story Johnson is telling), but I definitely never felt cheated.

Starscream may be the best antagonist in comics right now. There. I said it. The current Decepticon leader has been absolutely ruthless in his power grab with Megatron currently off the board (though he’s no longer MIA if you’ve been following along with other Energon Universe titles) and he’s been terrorizing the Autobots and humans alike every chance he gets. I appreciate that Johnson has been unforgiving in making him pure evil. With few exceptions, it’s felt like today’s writers seem to give every villain some amount of humor to keep things from getting too dark, but not so here. Starscream hasn’t been shown as a bumbling idiot or a sarcastic foil. He’s just bad. That’s it. A perfect villain. And it works even better when he’s juxtaposed against the way Johnson has been writing Optimus.

In addition to an awesome script, Johnsons’ artwork and Mike Spicer’s colors may have had their best issue yet. Who knew robots could express so many emotions? Yet Johnson and Spicer continuously make us feel all the feels with their visuals. Optimus Prime’s gravitas oozed off the page as he brought Arcee forward to be brought back to life before he’d even think of getting his own wounds healed and I felt his fear when Carly was blown off the perch and nearly fell to her death. It didn’t stop at emotions, the action scenes were palpable too. You could feel the intensity of the battle and felt like you were right there in the moment. And holy crap, Optimus Prime’s new weapon in use is INSANE.

This has quickly become one of my favorite current ongoing series and this issue only added to me wild excitement. more

Some of the action is a little busier than usual and hard to follow but it's still fantastic and emotional as DWJ tends to be.

This issue moves kind of fast, but Johnson makes me enjoy it nonetheless. His art is absolutely fantastic, as always. Plus, I think he especially did a good job here with Sparky and developing his relationship with Optimus a bit. Also, Starscream has quickly become a great antagonist in this series and I loved him just punting the smaller Decepticon.

Good action, great art and another solid issue of Transformers.