Review: ‘Transformers’ #32 Throws A Ton of New Bots At Its New Artist

Transformers #32 returns to the main ongoing narrative of the series following the previous issue‘s examination of Megatron’s continuing psychosis. It is also the debut of new series’ artist Jason Howard, and writer Robert Kirkman welcomes him aboard with an action-heavy issue in which he’s asked to draw a ton of Transformers — including a number who are marking their Energon Universe debut. The end result can be visually exhausting, but serves as an excellent showcase for Howard’s style as he looks to make his mark on the book.

Picking up in the wake of the great Autobot schism which concluded #30, the new issue opens with the newly-promoted Elita Prime’s faction arriving back on Cybertron, behind Decepticon lines. Before you can say “Chekhov’s blaster”, the Decepticons ambush the Autobots. They are led by Shockwave, making his return to the series following his beatdown at the hands of Optimus Prime in issue #12, and is the worse for wear, still missing an arm and most of his head and his signature glowing eye hanging on by a few strands of wires. The force he brings to bear features a number of Decepticons making their series debut — pulled from various previous Transformers continuities — including Blackarachnia, Makeshift, and Acidstorm.

Howard has worked on the book before, filling in on issues #13 and #14 and contributing a number of variant covers, but the big melee in this issue — and the introduction of a bunch of new characters — gives him a chance to really stretch his muscles and begin to establish the new visual aesthetic of the series. Howard’s figures are looser, more languid and abstract than the more detailed work of Dan Mora, with a style more in the Jorge Corona tradition, with less emphasis on the sharp angles and geometric shapes of Daniel Warren Johnson. Under Howard, the movements of the characters are more exaggerated: every limb as a character launches an attack fully outstretched, every hit resonating throughout their body. It makes the action akin to a kind of violent dance. And for all the chaos of the extended action scene that is this issue, Howard keeps a firm hand on the storytelling, ensuring the visual narrative is clear while still knowing when to zoom out and really sell a big moment.

Though the issue is light on plot, Kirkman does work some effective character beats into the fight. Coming face-to-face with his previous abuser in Shockwave, Ultra Magnus gets a Big Damn Hero moment (one of those aforementioned moments sold well by Howard) that demonstrates how far the character has come since his earliest appearances in the series. Elita Prime, meanwhile, finds it is a lot easier to criticize a Prime than to be a Prime, channeling the Ultra Magnus of the 1986 animated movie in the face of overwhelming odds before finding a way to snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat.

But what ultimately defines Transformers #32 is Jason Howard announcing his arrival with a giant robot-on-robot action melee. While the events of the issue will likely have repercussions down the line, it’s a story clearly designed as an artist’s showcase. And the artist makes the most of it.