// Skybound was pretty good

I've been putting off on reading Skybound for no particular reason but I finally got off my ass and read it lol. I binged all 30 issues in two sittings and oh boyy do I have some thoughts. Overall I enjoyed it but there are also so many glaring issues I have with it.

Some Facts About the Series

• the first issue came out on October 4, 2023
• it takes place in the Energon Universe, a shared universe featuring other comic series under Skybound Entertainment, including G.I. Joe and Void Rivals
• interesting observation: in the English-speaking side of fandom people usually refer to Skybound Transformers as "Skybound" or "SB", while the Chinese-speaking side uses "EU" for Engergon Universe; I find nomenclature differences like this fascinating
• the creative team:
• the first 24 issues are written by Daniel Warren Johnson (DWJ)
• issues 25 and onwards are written by Robert Kirkman
• the first 6 issues are illustrated by DWJ
• Jorge Corona is the main artist for issues 7-25
• Dan Mora is the main artist for issues 25-30

My Honest Thoughts (Complaints)

• Megatron getting his gun alt mode because of Quintesson trial. I can only assume this is somehow connected to other stuff happening in the Energon Universe? I just feel like it's kinda weird lol. I guess there's some big alien god plotting something and using him as a vessel of sorts... I prefer Megatron gaining power on his own volition. Though I do like the irony of him imposing his will onto the Decepticons when he himself is at the whim of another higher being.
• things get resolved wayyy too quickly and the aftermath is not shown
• Arcee becoming Mangus: With Ultra Magnus being a mentor to Arcee the set up is obviously there, but the way that this arc concluded feels soooo abrupt. It feels like it happens out of nowhere in a "wait that's it??" kinda way. Arcee gets hooked up to a simulation or whatever and Optimus literally explains what's going on beat by beat--we don't even get to see what kind of trial she's going through! Shouldn't this be a bigger deal?? And then afterwards we never got more time with her; she gets sidelined and we don't get to see how taking on this new role effects her character. The arc started off compelling and ended on a mediocre note :/
• Elita becoming Prime happens way too quickly bro. I love the idea but the execution is TERRIBLE. The conflict gets resolved in one issue which is way too fast. It's like the only reason they made her she show up is to get the matrix, because WDYM she's just gonna leave after this?? What about the boat load of energon that the Autobots have access to now?? By shunning them completely she's also cutting off a source of energon that her team and everyone back on Cybertron desperately needs. Highkey character assassination... DWJ's Elita would've went after Megatron when they finally have the upper hand instead of picking a fight with OP.
• I guess this is more of an issue with the pacing in general. Since I'm binging it in pretty much one sitting it's not as obvious, but I imagine if you waited an entire month between each release it'd be quite jarring. I find that generally whenever a big conflict gets resolved, immediately another conflict is introduced. There's no room to breathe. Everything happens too darn fast! This has been an problem since the beginning. A lot of the earlier issues revolves around the Decepticons trying to takeover some human infrastructure to make energon, the Autobots coming to stop them, and they have a big battle, which can feel very same-y. No one can get a break omg; it's why the aside with Beachcomber is really nice.
• Everyone is dragging Kirkman for the names and I agree—these names are dogwater!!
• Arcana Magnus is RIGHT there come onnn
• Elita Prime is fine I guess; I haven't seen any alternative names that I like but I feel like we be more creative than that
• THIS IS ORION PAX ERASURE!!! Thematically I get it, maybe it's like even though he's no longer prime so much has changed that he can't go back to how things were. Or maybe Orion Pax as a name doesn't exist in this continuity which I would HATE to be the case.
• Maybe in this continuity Prime/Magnus is more like a job title tacked onto the end of the name? I reallyyy don't like this idea (TFA is the only exception where it works well).
• we know so little about Cybertron—its current state and how the war came to be
• Whenever the POV switches to Elita's team on Cybertron (which I love btw), all we see is the desperate state the Autobots are in, and never the full scope of the planet's current state or whatever big threat is looming. All we get is them fighting Decepticon goons. I guess what I'm trying to say is what the hell is actually going on on the planet. We know that Elita's team doesn't have contact with the rest of the Autobots (if there are any left). Shockwave has a big fortress and he's the de facto leader... Well he's dead (kinda), so now what? Megatron is on Earth, now what? What is Elita even trying to achieve on Cybertron? With so many unknowns it's hard to root for the characters because I don't even know what I'm rooting for!! I'm not saying I need everything spoonfed to be but it'd be nice to be actually SHOWN what's going on. You can't just say "Shockwave controls all of Cybertron" well that seems like a big deal maybe show it??????
• Dude I swear Transformers stories are allergic to showing pre-war Cybertron sometimes. WHY do they hide so much. WHY no backstory. How did Cybertron get so bad in the first place that a civil war was needed? Was Megatron just evil for the love of the game? Why did the war start and did he even start it? I hope these are answers that will be answered at some point in the future. Make your bet: Is it left intentionally ambiguous for now, or did the writers never thought out the lore/backstory in any depth? I get that we're focusing on the events of NOW, but when two of your factions are fighting a war it's kinda important to know why they're fighting each other in the first place.
• Shockwave's death should be way more impactful. We are told that he's the de facto leader of Cybertron and has been for a loooong time. His death/absence surely would create a power vacuum, especially with Megatron out of the picture, the planet would be in chaos! Yet his death and its aftermath is barely addressed. I have hopes that maybe this is just delayed, and now that Elita is going back to Cybertron we would see the aftermath.
• This is less of a complaint and more of a personal preference: I don't really like Skybound Optimus. I like my Optimus a little more morally gray 👆 I'm not saying Skybound is making him a flawless character, but I feel like he's portrayed to be in the right in every scenario and that gets on my nerves a bit.
  • My first big eye roll moment was when OP blew up the energon tanks while Elita pleads him to stop. Iconic scene, gorgeous art for sure. But MAN getting rid of energon you desperately need and already have is so stupid. It's made of blood. Who cares. Your soldiers, your people are dying!! Elita's crash out is 100% justified I would be mad as hell too.
  • The second thing that made me let out a groan is when Optimus insists on saving Cliff and Jazz when there are bigger things they need to worry about. Elita's got a point man I think stopping Shockwave and a WHOLE ASS PLANET COMING TO EARTH'S ORBIT is more important. I get that this is what makes Optimus the character that he is, but that doesn't mean I'm not a little annoyed by it lol.
  • The way that he pulled "I understand your feelings" TWICE. First with Beachcomber and then with Elita. C'mon man what are the writers doing?? It feels so patronizing and dismissive.
• I'm a bit meh on Autobot Thundercracker; I feel like his arc should've been given more time to develop. It's shown that he's always been not as cruel as the other Decepticons (e.g., letting humans evacuate), but I would've loved to see more of it, maybe specific events where he REALLY questions his place in the Decepticon army, and how that causes conflict between him and his compatriots. It's also a bit jarring that he almost immediately embraces the Autobot brand (and then only to lose it in issue 30 LMAO). IMO there should've been more of an internal struggle, especially when he cares so much about Skywarp who is now his enemy...
• I saw someone say Shredhead is a writer's OC who only exist to aura farm and I haven't been able to look at their character the same way 💀 I hope we get to see them interact with Carly more and actually develop as their own character.
• In general this run suffers a bit from character bloat. The Aerial bots are introduced, one of them immediately dies, and we don't even have time to see how the others grieve. Having two Decepticon combiners is a lil too much IMO. That's 10 bots man you gotta do something with these characters because otherwise as it currently stands, their sole purpose is to have hype moments in big fights. It's like every time the writer throws in interesting tidbits and dynamics between the support characters, they have to immediately go back to the main cast because the plot needs advancing.

Things I Like About Skybound

Don't let my long list of complaints fool you I actually enjoyed the comics. It's way easier to complain about the things I don't like than to talk about the things I like, but I shall try:

• I like the concept of Megatron's gun alt mode having mind control power; I think it's a neat way to explain why the alt mode makes sense in the first place - what makes him powerful if he is practically immobile in this form and is at the mercy of whoever wields him; "you exist to execute my will" goes harddd
• Everyone being mean to Ravage whenever Soundwave brings up that he wants to fix him, and then the first thing Megatron comes back is to fix Ravage with his dark matrix power. I love how much Soundwave cares about his cassettes.
• Elita I love you they can never make me hate you 🩷 I can't believe there are people who hate her!! She's right!! OK maybe not 100% right on everything but I'm 100% on her side lol. I honestly empathize with her more than I do with Optimus or any of the Autobots on Earth. I think her antagonistic attitude towards Optimus makes a lot of sense and I like the direction that they're going with the conflict at least under DWJ's writing. She's a compelling character with flaws and that's what makes her an interesting character <3 IDK where Kirkman is going with this but I really hope it's not gonna end with Elita doing a 180 and being like "Optimus you were right this entire time and I was wrong."
• The art style is gorgeous!! So many memorable panels. I love the grit and "messiness" of DJW's style and I love the proportions and line art of Mora's style.
• the early focus on humans is nice. I think Sparky, Spike, and Carly are alright characters
• Thundercracker & Skywarp as foils pleaseee I want to see them fight I want angst
• Bruticus vs. Devastator rivalry and them bickering is funny lol.
• Beachcomber is a delight!! I hope he gets lots of love and nothing bad happens to him :))
• Optimus with Megatron's arm thankyouthankyou it's all I've ever wanted
• Skybound Megatron 🤤🤤🤤 eughhh I love how he can be oddly gentle but in a cruel way. also cannibalism 😋 sparkeater Megatron being canon once again thank you bayverse for paving the way. It's unfortunate that they're sticking with the G1 set dressing—would love to see fresh new designs—but I think DWJ gave him a unique flair :3 Especially with the colorful cables connecting to Laserbeak... so cool...