Summary

• Ultra Magnus makes an exciting debut in the Energon Universe in Transformers #7, with hints of a major role to come in the series.
• Fans can expect to see Ultra Magnus play a mentor role, training Autobots like Arcee, and bringing his years of battle experience to the war.
• The addition of Ultra Magnus to the Autobot/Decepticon conflict on Cybertron promises big developments ahead in the Transformers storyline.

WARNING! Spoilers ahead for Transformers #7

Transformers' new continuity has stacked the deck with famous characters from the franchise’s storied history, but one recent addition should have fans excited to see what comes next. Transformers #7 takes readers to Cybertron to see the current state of the Autobot/Decepticon war, and fans get a tease that one major character from 1986’s Transformers: The Movie will be playing a major role in the Energon Universe.

Coming from the creative team of Daniel Warren Johnson, Jorge Corona, Mike Spicer and Rus Wooton, Transformers #7 opens on Cybertron, as a small band of Autobots led by Elita-1 storm a Decepticon stronghold. After several of them fall in battle, Elita-1 manages to break through, where she apparently finds what she’s looking for.

Elita-1 stumbles upon the remains of a large Transformer chained to a wall, remarking, “What have they done to you?” While it looks like little more than an exoskeleton, keen-eyed fans should be able to see this is what remains of Ultra Magnus, the hard-nosed commander of Autobot City first introduced in Transformers: The Movie.

Ultra Magnus Makes His Energon Universe Debut

Ultra Magnus was Optimus Prime’s initial choice to take the Matrix of Leadership after being fatally wounded in his battle against Megatron. Uneasy with the burden of leading the Autobots, Magnus tried his best after the death of Prime, but it was ultimately revealed that Hot Rod was the true leader selected by the Matrix. Ultra Magnus sees himself as a soldier, and is much more comfortable following orders as opposed to giving them. Magnus was far more comfortable as a mentor to the brash young leader, and subsequent interpretations of the characters throughout the later installments have kept true to this characterization.

Ultra Magnus’ role as a mentor to younger generations seems to be a theme that is continuing in the Energon Universe. We learn that he was the one who trained new artist Jorge Corona portrays the Autobot soldier in all his power and glory. His sheer size (and armament) makes Magnus a formidable warrior, but it’s the years of battle-hardened experience that truly makes him a legendary figure in the Autobot ranks.

What Role Will Ultra Magnus Play In the Energon Universe?

Although he’s currently little more than an exoskeleton, fans have to assume that Ultra Magnus will ultimately be repaired and play a major role in the Autobot/Decepticon war. Cybertron has only been portrayed in brief glimpses thus far, but Skybound seems to be teasing big happenings to come on the Transformers homeworld. With the next issue promising a Cybertron-focused issue teasing the return of a major character, the second year of the Energon Universe should be even bigger than the first. No matter how things play out, Transformers fans should be happy with the arrival of a fan-favorite like Ultra Magnus to the Energon Universe.

Transformers #7 is on sale now from Skybound Entertainment.