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Transformers (2023) issue 16 - Transformers Wiki

The Autobots are caught in the crossfire of a Decepticon civil war, and the only hope to end it may be the return of an even greater evil.

Synopsis

Despite her reservations, Elita One leads Cliffjumper and Bluestreak across the war-torn wastes of Cybertron to what was once the home of Cliffjumper's clan, long forgotten by the Decepticons ever since they destroyed it in a bombing campaign. Cliffjumper digs through the rubble to find a spark canister he had hidden away; though there isn't enough remaining to bring back any of his friends, he says there's the possibility it can be used to create something new.

On Earth, Soundwave orders the Constructicons to merge into Devastator to combat Bruticus. As Starscream, Soundwave, and their respective troops clash, Optimus Prime, Jazz, and Wheeljack are caught in the middle of the carnage. Thundercracker tries to reason with Starscream, but the one-time Decepticon leader is too obsessed with revenge and reveals the truth of what he and Soundwave did to Skywarp. As Starscream rants about the universe being made only for the strong, Thundercracker uses the H.I.S.S. tank remote control to steer Starscream's body off a ledge. The blue Seeker then transforms and flies away, abandoning Soundwave to the fury of Astrotrain. Optimus decides the Autobots must intervene, fearing that the Decepticons’ senseless violence could damage the dam and endanger the humans. However, he is again overcome with visions and rage, firing his fusion cannon straight at the dam. Water bursts through the structure and sweeps away all the Transformers. As the water rushes through the woods, Optimus spots two children on bikes fleeing from the waves. He tries to save them but is unable to reach them. Luckily, they are saved by the timely arrival of Trailbreaker, who uses his force field to protect the “strange little creatures,” who managed to survive nearly being crushed by the combiners.

Back on Cybertron, the Autobots return to their makeshift headquarters and Elita explains to Cliffjumper that they’ve been unable to communicate with any other Autobot resistances and that they could be the only ones left. Elita asks Cliff what he plans to do with the sparks in the canister, and he reveals his plan to take them to the Well of Sparks. Elita reveals that the Well is deep in Decepticon-controlled territory, but Cliff insists that they need a new warrior to help them, something Bluestreak echoes. And afterward, Cliff will return to Earth. To Carly.

Meanwhile, Carly and Spike set off on their search for Ultra Magnus with Arcee and Beachcomber. Elsewhere, in some desert, Laserbeak finds that which he was sent to find: Megatron, sitting in a cave, wounded and blinded. Megatron thanks Laserbeak as he grabs the bird, pulls out some of his cables and connects them to his eyes; he orders Laserbeak to act as his eyes and guide him to the Decepticons.

Featured characters

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

Autobots	Decepticons	Humans
Bluestreak (1) Elita One (2) Cliffjumper (3) Jazz (13) Optimus Prime (14) Wheeljack (15) Trailbreaker (21) Warpath (22) Beachcomber (25) Arcee (26)	Soundwave (4) Bonecrusher (5) Mixmaster (6) Scrapper (7) Long Haul (8) Hook (9) Scavenger (10) Devastator (11) Bruticus (12) Starscream (16) Astrotrain (19) Thundercracker (20) Thrust (23) Laserbeak (27) Megatron (28)	Kevin (17) Kevin's friend (18) Carly (24) Spike Witwicky (26)

Quotes

"You think Soundwave is any different than me?! It was both of us that tore your precious Skywarp to pieces, all for his useful metals!!!"
"You-- you lie!"
"Wake up from your naïveté, Thundercracker!!! The universe is only for the strong!!! Turborat eat turborat! Spark versus spark! METAL ON METAL!"

—Starscream shocks Thundercracker with news about their brother.

"Sorry I'm late to the party, I woke up and almost got crushed by those two! What in the spark is going on?"
"Chaos."

—A newly reactivated Trailbreaker finds Optimus Prime in a bad spot.

"My old friend. It has been too long. I must thank you. For finding me, wandering this desolate landscape. But thanks to your temporary sacrifice... I can now, see. Now guide me to my warriors."

—No longer blind, Megatron has returned.

Notes

Continuity notes

We first learned about the destruction of Cliffjumper's clan in issue #4.
Thundercracker initially believed the Autobots to be responsible for what became of Skywarp when he was revived in issue #5, but now knows that it was Starscream and Soundwave that used the Seeker to rebuild Teletraan I.
This is the first time Astrotrain has used his steam train mode in the Energon Universe.
It was unknown why Astrotrain was locked away aboard the Nemesis other than his rage against Megatron when we first saw him back in issue #8. Here, we learn that Megatron was responsible for "ending his love."
Optimus Prime has been experiencing strange visions ever since Sparky entered the Matrix of Leadership in issue #6. However, these visions have been growing more and more corrupted, along with Optimus' eyes turning purple with rage, since issue #12.
MEGATRON RETURNS! The Decepticon leader was last seen in the series proper to be frozen in a block of ice in issue #4, though readers of Cobra Commander know that he was taken by the denizens of Cobra-La to be studied. He escaped from Cobra-La in the Transformers segment of the Energon Universe 2024 Special, though losing his (remaining) eye to Golobulus in the process.

Transformers references

Devastator says prepare for Devastation, Bruticus! Which was actually heard in All Hail Megatron by Devastator himself.
Starscream’s line, “Sniveling FOOL! You cannot kill what is unkillable!”, to Soundwave, during their fight, is an obvious reference to multiple pieces of Transformers media where Starscream survives death through various ways. Such as surviving as a ghost, having an immortal spark, or by having a piece of the AllSpark connected to him.
Thundercracker’s decision to abandon the Decepticons fits in with earlier portrayals of him, calling to mind both his original toy file card and his appearances in the 2005 IDW continuity.
The Well of Sparks, more commonly known as the "Well of All Sparks" is a longtime piece of Transformers mythology, first appearing in the Dreamwave Generation One continuity in Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages #6.

Covers

Cover A: Bruticus vs. Devastator, by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer.
Cover B: Bruticus emerges from a smoking forest, by Jorge Corona and Mike Spicer.
Cover C: Connecting cover by Karl Kerschl.
Cover D: Soundwave vs Starscream, by Manabu Yashiro.
Cover E: Laserbeak perches on Megatron’s arm, by Homare.