NOTICE! Potential spoilers for Transformers #15
The Energon Universe era of Transformers continues to raise the stakes, as the Decepticons have a brutal new battle plan that could spell doom for everyone. Soundwave has shown a calculating coolness as the Decepticon’s new leader, showing that there are no limits to what he will do as long as it leads to the Decepticon’s victory.
Skybound Entertainment shared a preview to Transformers #15 – written by Daniel Warren Johnson, with art by Jorge Corona – which opens with a senseless scene of the Decepticons attacking Tacoma, WA. It turns out this is all part of a new plan to bring the Autobots out of hiding after their last battle.
Soundwave points out that the Autobots’ only weakness is their compassion for humanity, so the The Decepticons will attack humanity until their enemies are brought out of hiding and forced to intervene.
The Decepticons are “agents of death” as the war for Cybertronian supremacy threatens all life on Earth
Transformers #15 – Written by Daniel Warren Johnson; Art by Jorge Corona; Color by Mike Spicer; Rus Wooton lyrics
“We will act as agents of death” proclaims Soundwave, saying that the Decepticons will “city by city, human by human” until the Autobots are forced to act. It’s a grim proclamation, but one that is entirely rooted in Soundwave’s cold efficiency. Unlike the previous leader, Starscream, Soundwave does not engage in these horrifically violent acts out of pettiness or cruelty, but rather as a means to an end. His orders also act as a good opportunity to show some of Thundercracker’s characterization.
Uneasy at the idea of such a senseless massacre, Thundercracker’s reaction is the perfect way to pay homage to his previous characterizations that showed empathy for humanity. Soundwave’s plan will be destructive, but it could end up backfiring in his face. Optimus Prime has shown great care in the way he treats humanity since the Transformers were awakened on Earth. This part of Prime’s characterization was perhaps best exemplified in Transformers #2, where the Autobot leader showed great remorse after accidentally stepping on and killing a deer.
The characterization of Optimus Prime is a central pillar around which Skybound is building the Energon universe
The Autobot leader’s greatest strength is compassion
Earlier in the series, Prime even cut the Autobots’ isolation from Cybertron to prevent further destruction on Earth due to the Autobot/Decepticon war – a great sign of how committed he is to preserving and protecting human life. This is what gives Soundwave the spark of his idea of threatening humanity as an advantage against Prime, but this could also be the key to the destruction of the Decepticons. Given how the Autobot leader has shown concern for Earth’s well-being, Soundwave may have just awakened a sleeping beast in Optimus Prime.
With no fewer than three factions of Transformers currently running amok on Earth, there’s no telling whether humanity will survive in the Energon Universe.
Soundwave will be busy not only dealing with the Autobots, but also Starscream’s new faction of ex-Decepticons. It was recently revealed that the leader of the Seekers survived his battle with Soundwave, and Starscream used the animosity felt by Astrotrain and the Combaticons to form a new faction of Transformers to regain control of the Decepticons. With no less than three factions of Transformers currently uncontrolled on Earth, there is no telling whether humanity will survive in the Energon Universe.
Source: Skybound Entertainment (Instagram)
Transformers #15 will be available December 11, 2024 from Skybound Entertainment