Warning! Spoilers ahead for Transformers #12
The latest Energon Universe Transformers ends with a shocking turn, How Elita-One betrays the Autobots on Earth, in a subversion of her traditional role that will have major ramifications for the future of the franchise. Although Optimus Prime and his allies defeated Shockwave, it was a Pyrrhic victory, as they had no time to celebrate due to Elita-One’s unexpected actions.
Transformers #12 – written by Daniel Warren Johnson, with art by Jorge Corona – brings the current conflict between the Autobots and the Decepticons, led by Shockwave, to a pretty definitive end. While the Autobots are victorious, Optimus Prime winds up facing a major personal betrayal from his old friend, Elita-One.
The Energon Universe has so far been an exciting reinvention of TransformersBut while it has offered twists on classic lore and character dynamics before, this is the most shocking yet.
Elita-One betrays Optimus Prime, in a Transformers twist none predicted
Transformers #12 – Written by Daniel Warren Johnson; Art by Jorge Corona, Mike Spicer & Rus Woton
Transformers #12 is an action-packed climax to Daniel Warren Johnson’s second arc in the series, however The real emotional centerpiece of the issue comes with Elita-One’s betrayal. Before that, in an intense fight scene, Optimus kills Shockwave while crossing the bridge from Earth to Cybertron, joined by Elita-One to save Cliffjumper and attempt to close the bridge once and for all. Prime earlier told Elita to place charges at the bridge to close the gate for good, but his ally reveals in the climactic moment that she never followed his command.
Elita-One’s perspective ultimately isn’t that different from Shockwave’s, making this a morally complex dynamic that the series can build on in subsequent stories.
like Transformers #12 makes it clear, Elita quickly became frustrated with Prime’s affection for Earth, as she wanted to use the Energon gathered from the planet’s sea life to help the Autobots on Cybertron. Prime refuses to put the needs of one world before the other, causing Elita to question his true loyalties. While she certainly has a valid point, Elita-One’s perspective ultimately isn’t all that different from Shockwave’s, making this a morally complex dynamic that the series can build on in subsequent stories.
Optimus Prime makes a fateful choice – and it costs him his closest ally
The Autobots split up
By refusing to use the energon harvested from the blood of innocent creatures, Prime makes a firm decision in Transformers #12, which ultimately causes the schism with his old friend and ally. Elita-One has questioned Prime’s leadership since her debut in the Energon Universe series, Making this a strong character choice, overall. Because she witnessed centuries of warfare on Cybertron, Elita’s point-of-view is corrupted, causing her to see Optimus Prime leaving Cybertron as a betrayal to the Autobot cause.
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Although Elita does not plant the charges on the bridge gate between Cybertron and Earth, Prime still manages to destroy the bridge by blasting Shockwave’s harvested energon. This causes the bridge to close, although a piece of Cybertron may fall through before the gate closes for good. What effect this will have on the Energon Universe remains to be seen, but more pressing is Elita-One’s betrayal of Optimus Prime. Fans will have to keep reading these Energy Universe Transformers Title to find out what happens next.
Transformers #12 is available now from Skybound Entertainment.