Transformers (2023) issue 5

Optimus Prime and Sparky each reflect and share their experiences in their respective wars. Sparky asks Optimus, who has seen so much more than he ever will, why it has to be like this, but Prime solemnly laments that even he isn't sure. Staring at his reflection, with Megatron's arm replacing his missing one, Prime wonders aloud if he's becoming the very thing he fights against.

TF2023 no. 5 – Starscream chews out Reflector.jpg

In the Ark, the Decepticons use Teletraan I, now rebuilt using parts from Skywarp's body, to rebuild their fellow soldiers. Upon revival, Thundercracker is horrified to see what's become of Skywarp, but Starscream reassures him that Skywarp sacrificed himself for the greater good of the Decepticons. Laserbeak alerts Soundwave that the Autobots have discovered their source of energy, so Starscream decides to lead Soundwave, Thundercracker, and the newly-revived Frenzy and Reflector to attack.

At the local dam, Sparky helps Ratchet and a newly revived Wheeljack (currently using only half his body due to their limited resources) to turn the water from the dam to power an energon-generating turbine. Wheeljack offers to repair Optimus, but Optimus insists on using their energy supply to help restore their fellow warriors, reviving Arcee next. Arcee is happy to be back, but the Decepticons' attack interrupts the joyous occasion. Reflector tries to attack Optimus, but is swiftly obliterated by his fusion cannon. Starscream rails at Prime for taking something "precious" to the Decepticons, but Optimus balks at this, taunting that Starscream fears the cannon as he feared its previous wielder. An enraged Starscream turns his null-rays on the water turbine and destroys it, but is ultimately forced to retreat when Prime blasts him with the fusion cannon.

With their number bolstered and the Decepticons retreating, Prime decides now to retake the Ark. Sparky decides to join them and Carly asks to go as well, but both Optimus and Sparky refuse, not wanting her to get hurt like Spike. Optimus orders the Autobots to roll out, but Cliffjumper decides to sneak Carly into his driver's seat, feeling she deserves to be there when they finally stop the Decepticons for good. Night falls as the Autobots arrive at the Ark, but as they approach the ship, they are beset by a convoy of green construction vehicles. A repaired Starscream appears and gloats that he knew the Autobots would follow them back to the ship. He then orders the Constructicons to do what they do best: merge and form Devastator!

Featured characters

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

Autobots	Decepticons	Humans
Blaster (2) Optimus Prime (3) Bumblebee (4) Perceptor (5) (see “errors” below) Ratchet (13) Wheeljack (14) Cliffjumper (15) Arcee (17) Jazz (19) Trailbreaker (21)	Starscream (6) Soundwave (7) Ravage (8) Skywarp (9) Thundercracker (10) Frenzy (11) Reflector (12) Laserbeak (18) Rumble (20) Long Haul (23) Scavenger (24) Scrapper (25) Hook (26) Bonecrusher (27) Mixmaster (28) Devastator (29)	"Sparky" Witwicky (1) Carly (16) Jimmy Witwicky (22)

Quotes

"It is good to be back in focus, Starscream! Where is Meg--"
"Stay focused on the enemy, Reflector! These filthy Autobots want to take what makes our pistons move freely!"

—Reflector accidentally gets on Starscream's nerves.

"How many of those planes are there?"
"Too many--"

—Carly and Cliffjumper are tired of all the Seeker redecos.

"I don't know who you are, but if Optimus cares about you-- then I care, too."

—Arcee, rescuing Carly

"Prepare yourselves for ISO, Autobots!!! Instant Suffering and Oblitera- Oh- Oh dear."

—Reflector realizes how fragged he is.

"YOU! Taking something so precious and using it for your own evil purpose!"
"'Precious'? Are you sure this doesn't make you quake in your jets, Starscream? Last I remember, you were cowering in front of this very weapon. A constant reminder of what you'll never be."

—Starscream and Optimus, on Megatron's fusion cannon

Notes

Continuity notes

We once again get flashbacks to Sparky's experiences in the war and the death of Jimmy Witwicky, both of which we saw in the opening pages of issue #1. This issue also gives us our first proper look at Jimmy in a flashback panel to right before his launch.
Optimus lost his arm back in issue #3 during his fight with Skywarp, with Ratchet replacing it with Megatron's in the last issue after taking it from the Ark back in issue #1. This also affects his vehicle mode, with one corner of the truck cab being grey and the fusion cannon replacing the smokestack.
Ravage was shot by Optimus back in issue #1. At the time, it was not confirmed if he survived, but here it's revealed that he was only injured.
We get more hints about what happened to Megatron before the crash of the Ark, with Optimus saying he last saw Starscream cowering before Megatron’s fusion cannon.
Optimus still seems to be reluctant to use Megatron's fusion cannon - he can be seen wielding his traditional ion blaster in the early parts of the dam fight. He drops it to obliterate Reflector with the cannon.

Transformers references

Arcee and Ratchet are shown to have a close relationship, not unlike their Animated counterparts.
Long Haul has the same vehicle form as his movie iteration.

Real-world references

Jazz continues his use of musical references in his speech.
Almost all of Reflector's speech is comprised of photography puns, including a fun new meaning for the abbreviation 'ISO'. (Which actually stands for International Organization for Standardization and relates to the sensitivity of a camera's sensor.)
Reflector and Long Haul are each branded with logos saying Zony and Kat respectively. An obvious play on words for the real-life companies The Sony Corporation and Caterpillar Inc.
Instead of a nondescript futuristic car, Arcee's alternate mode resembles a 2023 Lamborghini Revuelto.

Errors

In a flashback to the war on Cybertron, Optimus is seen cradling a bot with details that mark him as being Perceptor. However, he is miscolored white and red.
In the same flashback, Bumblebee is shown alongside Optimus, but while he retains his yellow color scheme, his character model is Cliffjumper's.
As the Decepticons attack the dam, an offline Trailbreaker lies ready to be reactivated, but he's colored like Beachcomber.

Other trivia

The digital release of this issue was delayed by a week, meaning that physical customers got it a week early.

Covers

Cover A: Optimus sees his reflection in Megatron’s fusion cannon, by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer.
Cover B: Teletraan-1 reactivates the Decepticons, by James Stokoe.
Cover C (1:10 Copy Incentive): Connecting cover by Orlando Arocena.
Cover D (1:25 Copy Incentive): Cliffjumper and Carly stand in Starscream’s shadow, by Natacha Bustos.
Cover E (1:50 Copy Incentive): Optimus wields the might of Megatron’s arm and cannon, by Karl Kerschl.

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Renegade Game Studios' Transformers Deck-Building Game, Transformers Roleplaying Game, G.I. Joe Deck-Building Game, and G.I. Joe Roleplaying Game
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Skybound Insiders

Reprints

Transformers Volume 1: Robots in Disguise (May 8, 2024) ISBN 1534398171 / ISBN 978-1534398177
- Collects issues #1–6.
- Trade paperback format.

Transformers Volume 1: Robots in Disguise Direct Market Exclusive (May 8, 2024)
- Variant cover version of the above trade paperback, exclusively sold through the comic book direct market.

Volume 1: Robots in Disguise – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer
Volume 1: Robots in Disguise Direct Market Exclusive – cover art by Jonboy Meyers