Transformers (2023) issue 29

« Transformers #29 »
Publisher	Image Comics Skybound Entertainment
First published	February 11, 2026
Cover date	February 2026
Written by	Robert Kirkman
Art by	Dan Mora
Colors by	Sarah Stern
Letters by	Rus Wooton
Editor	Ben Abernathy
Continuity	Energon Universe

Having just lost one of their own for good, the Autobots wage their battle to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticons.

Synopsis

As he drains the Energon from Trailbreaker's spark, Megatron tells the Autobot that he will honor him by savoring every drop. Aside from a delighted Skywarp, the rest of the Decepticons can only watch in horror as he does so. Optimus Prime then comes across the scene, having been looking for Trailbreaker, and is horrified to see what his archenemy has done. He immediately attacks with his energon-axe, and the two engage in a brutal battle, trading both ferocious blows and cutting words. Just as Megatron prepares to finish Optimus off with his fusion cannon, he is saved by Shredhead, who jumps in front of the blast. The rest of the Autobots then join the fray, and another all-out battle between the two sides begins.

As the Autobots and Decepticons battle, Megatron orders the Constructicons to get to the Ark. Hook, Bonecrusher, and Scavenger manage to penetrate the ship and free Soundwave from his cell but are halted by the Magnuses Arcee and Ultra. Though they are missing half their team, the three Constructicons form the upper half of Devastator to crush them. Meanwhile, Bulkhead contends with Bruticus while Beachcomber tries to protect the local wildlife. Megatron confronts Thundercracker; however, right as he prepares to execute the turncoat, he is once again taken over by pink energy.

This momentary pause gives the Autobots a chance to rally again before a now fully formed Devastator barrels through clutching a number of the stasis locked Decepticons from the Ark as well as Soundwave, who gives the order to retreat as he goes to aid Megatron. Optimus orders the Autobots to give chase, believing this confrontation could secure an Autobot victory, but he is stopped by Elita One and Cliffjumper, now on Earth!

Featured characters

Characters in italic text appear only in flashbacks.
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes

"It is long past time you pay for your foul deeds, Decepticon. The poison of our conflict has spread far enough!"
"POISON?! Where you see poison, I see glorious purpose."

— Optimus Prime and Megatron

"Don’t bother to get up, traitor. You’re right where you belong. On your knees, welcoming oblivion."

—Megatron to Thundercracker

"Autobots! We have them right where we want them! Our time of victory is at hand! We can't let the Decepticons get away."
"NO! Leave them to rule this insignificant planet of mud! It's long past time you answer to me!"

—Optimus Prime and Elita One

Notes

Continuity notes

• Soundwave was captured by the Autobots back in issue #25.
• Once again, Megatron is suffering after effects from his harrowing experience with Dezimir.
• Three of the Decepticons that Devastator is seen escaping with were shown to still be inactive in issue #27.
• Elita tasked Cliffjumper to venture into Decepticon territory and retrieve the parts needed to repair the space bridge in issue #26.

Transformers references

• For one of the only times in fiction, Megatron's fusion cannon visibly has the lens that identifies it as his scope in alternate mode. Mora uses it to great effect by having Megatron's targets reflected within it.
• Similar to Thundercracker using his long-forgotten sonic boom ability 3 issues ago, Mirage's holograms are influenced by his original Tech Spec bio and Rise of the Beasts depictions of the power, allowing him to project copies of himself around the environment instead of just turning invisible like in the cartoon.

Errors

• Similar to Ultra Magnus's blue antennae, Megatron's elbow-joints are incorrectly colored grey the whole issue instead of their usual red.
• While Skywarp is no stranger to his shoulders being miscolored (usually black instead of purple), they are notably colored grey on pages 7 and 8.
• Arcee Magnus is seen fighting alongside the Autobots in the forest on page 8, only to somehow magically appear inside the Ark in the very next panel, defending it alongside Ultra Magnus. Not helped by the fact that being able to take the invading Constructicons by surprise implies that she'd been there a while…
• On page 9, Hook's hands are incorrectly colored purple instead of green.
• Also on page 9, Ultra Magnus's antennas are incorrectly colored blue again. Unlike previous issues though, this error does not persist throughout the whole story, as they are correctly colored white on every subsequent panel.
• Scavenger and Bonecrusher's vehicle-mode treads are colored purple and green respectively in their robot modes, but turn black when combined into Devastator on page 11. At the end of page 18 however, Scavenger's treads are purple again in combined mode, though Bonecrusher's remain black.

Other notes

• Continuing Mora's tradition of highly-expressive art, Bonecrusher raises a sly-brow when Hook commands only half the team to form Devastator.
• Several characters appear to be drawn based on various figures released.
  • Megatron and Optimus take heavy inspiration from their Yolopark AMK model kits.
  • Devastator draws from his Blokees Defender version model kit.
  • Bulkhead's maces/wrecking-balls are based directly off his Legacy toy.
• Energon Experience: Presented by Skybound Executive Editor Ben Abernathy.
  • Character Spotlight: Mirage
  • Uh Oh, Mom’s Home!: A look back at Elita One.
  • Creator Spotlight: Ben asks colorist Sarah Stern what her alternate mode would be. Sarah answers an ice cream truck, imagining Starscream running in fear as she blasts “The Entertainer”.
• In the letters page, a reader brings up the possibility of Barricade, Airachnid, Lugnut, Shatter and Dropkick, Windblade, Tarn, and Flamewar appearing in the comic, to which Robert Kirkman confirms one of them will show up within the next five issues. Place your bets!

Covers

• Cover A: Optimus vs Megatron, by David Nakayama
• Cover B: Thundercracker faces the might of Megatron, by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer.
• Cover C: Connecting cover, by Jorge Corona and Mike Spicer.
• Cover D: The Autobots, by Taurin Clarke.
• Cover E: Design for Arcee, by Dan Mora and Andres Juarez.

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• LEGO Ninjago: Strike of the Serpentine graphic novel
• Corpse Knight
• Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #7

Reprints

• Transformers Volume 5: Generation One (June 2, 2026) ISBN 153433355X / ISBN 978-1534333550
  • Collects Transformers issues #25–30
  • Trade paperback format.

• 

  Volume 5: Generation One – cover art by David Nakayama

External links

References