The Transformers are about to make their grand return to comics courtesy of Skybound Entertainment, with an all-new Transformers #1 arriving this October courtesy of writer/artist Daniel Warren Johnson to set up the next era in Cybertronian greatness in the brand-new "Energon Universe" continuity.
Yet the question remains: which Transformers will be featured in the new series? What we know of the story involves the Autobots having been scattered throughout the galaxy following a catastrophic battle with the Decepticons on Cybertron. The Autobot/Decepticon war will begin anew as the Cybertronians find themselves stranded on planet Earth, but who will be the major players? Franchise mainstays like Optimus Prime, Arcee, and Soundwave have already been confirmed as returning, and others such as Decepticon leader Megatron are all but guaranteed to make an appearance, but there are hundreds of great characters to choose from in the franchise. In anticipation of the new Energon Universe continuity, here are 15 Transformers who need to return.
15 Ultra Magnus
The would-be successor to the Matrix of Leadership, Ultra Magnus couldn’t quite cut the mustard when it came to leading the Autobots. He still proved himself a valuable ally, becoming second-in-command to new leader Rodimus Prime and offering advice and counsel to the young Autobot whenever he needed it. Ultra Magnus is an old soldier at heart, much preferring to follow orders as opposed to giving them, but he remains one of the most formidable fighters in the Autobot ranks.
14 Omega Supreme
The last of the ancestral Guardian Robots of Cybertron, Omega Supreme is one of the most powerful Transformers around. With an alternate mode consisting of a rocket base and tank combo, he’s also one of the biggest. Omega Supreme is often the last line of defense for the Autobots, able to hold off multiple opponents at a time. His alternate mode also acts as nifty interplanetary transport for his fellow Autobots, making him a must-see for the new Skybound series.
13 Optimus Primal
Beast Wars kept the Transformers franchise alive in the 1990s, so it would make sense to have the leader of the heroic Maximals make an appearance in the Energon Universe. Optimus Primal not only lives up to his Autobot namesake in power and fighting prowess but in sheer bravery. Starting out as the captain of a low-class starship, Primal found himself embroiled in the greatest conflict of his life when he followed a fugitive band of Predacons through a time warp to primitive Earth. Given that Optimus Primal and his fellow Maximals recently made the jump to the big screen, hopefully, they’ll make an appearance in the new comics, as well.
12 Scourge
Created by Unicron from the remains of the fallen Decepticon Thundercracker, Scourge is a deadly hunter and tracker. Acting as the leader of his fellow hunter/tracker Decepticons known as the Sweeps, Scourge is a vicious foe to the Autobots. In his first appearance in Transformers: The Movie, Scourge and his Sweeps tracked down and defeated Ultra Magnus, ultimately dismembering him in the process, solidifying his villainy for all time.
11 Ironhide
As one of the classic G1 lineup, it can’t be too long before the Autobot Ironhide shows up in the Energon Universe. Gruff, ornery, and loyal to a fault, Ironhide has traditionally been one of the toughest warriors in Optimus Prime’s stable. With his Texan drawl and rough’n’tumble disposition, Ironhide easily fits the bill of “Old West” gunslinger to the Autobots, but he also has shown a great sense of humor and lust for life, making him a valuable ally to have in the trenches of the Cybertronian War.
10 Shockwave
Logic and reason rule every thought and action for the Decepticon Shockwave, who doesn’t make any decisions before first running through every computation he can to determine the best outcome. Sometimes portrayed as even more powerful that Megatron himself, Shockwave was left behind to serve as Guardian of Cybertron in the Decepticon leader’s absence, where he effectively held the Autobot resistance at bay. Considering most of the action in the new Transformers series seems to be set on Earth, we may not get to see much of Shockwave, but hopefully he’ll make an appearance in the new continuity eventually.
9 Blitzwing
Imagine a fighter jet approaching a battlefield at Mach-1, only to then quickly transform into a heavy-duty tank at the last second to quickly dispatch enemy forces, and you might have some idea of what it’s like to go up against Blitzwing. As one of the first Triple Changers, Blitzwing has mastered land and air, making him one of the most formidable Decepticons around. In addition to his formidable transformations, Blitzwing’s dark sense of humor makes him an even more frightening foe, as even his fellow Decepticons find his laughter on the battlefield unsettling.
8 Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime
No one expected the inexperienced Hot Rod to take Optimus Prime’s place as leader of the Autobots, but the young Transformer rose to the occasion once he was selected by the Matrix of Leadership. He has the hotheaded temperament of youth, and will often leap before he looks, but Hot Rod ably filled in as Rodimus Prime for Optimus while the Autobot leader was dead for a time. We don’t want to see Optimus dispatched so quickly in the new series, but surely there’s room for a courageous speed demon in the new Autobot line-up.
7 Elita-1
As one of the key resistance leaders on Cybertron against the Decepticons, Elita-1 is very much the female counterpart to Optimus Prime. In addition to being a natural leader and formidable warrior, Elita-1 stayed behind on Cybertron to retake control from the Decepticons while Prime went out to search the galaxy for more Energon. Elita would be a great addition to what has traditionally been a very male-dominated franchise, and the romantic tension between her and Optimus would make for an engaging storyline in the new series.
6 Fortress Maximus
At one time the biggest Transformer available at mass market retail, Fortress Maximus has been seared into the minds of fans ever since they yearned to get their hands on that almost two-foot-tall robot when they were kids. With the ability to transform into a literal fortress, Maximus is a valuable ally to the Autobots, if they can convince the tired, old pacifist to re the conflict once more. Ultimately, Fortress Maximus’ deep code of honor finds him taking the fight to the Decepticons unfortunate enough to cross him, so hopefully he can be coaxed into action once more in the Energon Universe.
